The Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung highlights the need for unification in order to ensure security, development and peace in Southeast Asia. He insisted that cooperation is the answer for the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to cope with economic crisis, epidemics, maritime security issues, natural disasters and climate change.
Yearly, the members of the ASEAN) hold a meeting wherein heads of state discuss cultural development and economic issues in order to ensure each of their country’s growth and stability. This year, one of the objectives of the 22nd Summit is to strengthen the bond between nations in Southeast Asia. The aim is to foster unity and continue nurturing good relations between countries in the region.
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
This year, the host of the ASEAN Summit was Brunei Darussalam. Hosting this key event is not a new task for Brunei. This is already the fourth time this prosperous country hosted the said event.
During the Summit the leaders in attendance said that they were largely satisfied with the current progress of the ASEAN Economic Community the setting up of which is scheduled in 2015. So far, 77.57% of the AEC blueprint had been implemented. Additional recommendations were made in order to speed up the realization of the goals that they have set. According to Philippine Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo about ¾ of the single-market target have been reached, but he reminds member nations that there were numerous challenges to be met.
Dialogues between leaders
Prime Minister Dung of Vietnam met with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei in order to discuss a number of agreements on the table. The two leaders vowed to further strengthen the links between their nations. The Vietnamese Prime Minister also sat down for bilateral meetings with the prime ministers of Thailand, Singapore, and the president of the Republic of the Philippines.
Our People, Our Future Together: ASEAN Summit 2013 Theme
For decades now, ASEAN members have continued to improve not only their nation’s stability but also the state of their people. It has been the aim of this annual Summit to discuss steps and programs that will help each country reach its goals. The theme in for this year is “Our People, Our Future Together.” The theme was chosen to mark the leap to expanding the role of ASEAN people not only in nation building but also in securing the stability and future of the region.
On territorial disputes
The disputes between ASEAN members have been all over the news such as claims in the South China Sea. Efforts are clearly going nowhere and every concerned member who attended the ASEAN summit was eagerly pushing solutions that would convince China to engage in peaceful negotiations regarding territorial disputes. Prime Minister Dung expressed support for Thailand, which is now acting as the negotiator between China and the ASEAN.
Pushing for resolutions
Brunei’s leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the host of this year ASEAN meeting, stated in one of his interviews that he encourages all to continue consultations, dialogues and discussions as well as to open all points of communication in order to reach satisfactory resolutions in the least possible time. Other leaders expressed their support of Bolkiah’s declaration. According to other claimants, the disputes should be resolved in a peaceful manner and it should be taken into consideration such that no threatening or harmful actions are sought.
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