ASEAN summit ends successfully; VN to host 2010 summit

HUA HIN, Oct 25 (TNA) -- The 15th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with its six dialogue partners, hosted by Thailand, ended successfully in Hua Hin resort Sunday.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said ASEAN must continue playing a “constructive role in engaging with our external partners” to maintain its centrality in the evolving regional architecture.
In his closing address, Mr Abhisit said that in order to embark on a new era of ASEAN cooperation the group must also be certain that its meetings produce “concrete outcomes to help address pressing issues affecting the well-being of our peoples.”

Also, ASEAN must ensure that “continuity in our work so that all our decisions will be translated into real actions,” said Mr Abhisit.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung whose country will host next year’s ASEAN summit in April, said later that he was confident that the proposed regional economic community would become a reality in 2015.

Vietnam will next year celebrate its 15th anniversary as a member of ASEAN and as the host of ASEAN, the country will perform its duty with strong determination and issue policies so that actions could be implemented on agreements that were signed during this summit, Mr Dung affirmed.

Prior to the closing ceremony, five agreements were signed by the 10 member countries, including an agreement on ASEAN privileges and immunities and on setting up an ASEAN-China Centre.

The non-profit ASEAN-China Centre will be located in Beijing and will provide information and activities to promote trade, investment, tourism, education as well as cultural events and exchanges.

ASEAN and China will jointly contribute funding to operate the Centre. ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Its six dialogue partners are China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. (TNA)