[Title] Chairman's Statement of the 16th ASEAN Summit “Towards the Asean Community: from Vision to Action"
1. We, the Heads of State/Government of ASEAN Member States, gathered in Ha Noi for the 16th ASEAN Summit on 8-9 April 2010. We had extensive, open and fruitful discussions on various issues under the theme “Towards the ASEAN Community: From Vision to Action”.
2. We were satisfied with the progress in implementing the ASEAN Charter and the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community and reaffirmed our strong commitments to speed up the effective implementation through concrete measures and activities. We were also committed to strengthening cooperation in deepening regional integration and in addressing global challenges with a view to building a resilient, dynamic and sustained ASEAN Community.
A Resilient, Dynamic and Sustained ASEAN Community
ASEAN's Strategy for Economic Recovery and Development
3. We agreed that ASEAN would act swiftly at national, regional and global levels to achieve sustained economic recovery and development for ASEAN in the aftermath of the global economic and financial crisis. We resolved to effectively implement the existing ASEAN cooperation agreements through effective monitoring, better coordination, sufficient resources, and greater involvement of the private sector. We agreed to focus our efforts on ensuring financial stability, fostering regional infrastructure development and connectivity, promoting sustainable development and narrowing the development gap. We also agreed on the need to incorporate into the economic policy our efforts to strengthen cooperation on environment protection and a network of social security system, including education and human resource development. We agreed on the need to promote Green Growth, including the development of green technology, its application and investment. We were committed to working closely with relevant partners to achieve a more balanced international financial architecture and more effective global governance. We emphasized that all countries should refrain from imposing conditionalities or barriers to trade, investment and socio-economic development on developing countries in addressing global environmental issues.
ASEAN's Connectivity
4. We were encouraged by the ongoing efforts in developing a Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity to be submitted to the 17th ASEAN Summit in October 2010. In this regard, we welcomed the outcome of the First Meeting of the High Level Task Force (HLTF) on ASEAN Connectivity on 9-10 March 2010 in Ha Noi, especially the key elements and principles for the Master Plan. We instructed the HLTF to identify specific measures with clear targets and timelines and to develop viable infrastructure financing mechanisms for the implementation of this Master Plan. Cognisant of the cross-sectoral nature of connectivity, at national level, we resolved to support our respective HLTF representative with the necessary mandate to carry out coordination across Ministries and agencies; at regional level, we tasked ASEAN's sectoral Ministers to continue to guide the HLTF.
5. We emphasized that priority should be given to enhancing intra-ASEAN connectivity, including the need to complete the missing air, sea and land transportation links in Mekong and other sub-regions of ASEAN building on achievements of existing frameworks. We looked forward to enhancing cooperation with our partners to promote a future East Asian connectivity and beyond. We further reaffirmed that priority be given to transport, information communication technology (ICT), energy and cross border facilitation for the smooth movement of people, goods and services. We emphasized the need to ensure synergy and consistence between the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and sectoral strategies.
ASEAN's Response to Climate Change
6. We reaffirmed our strong commitment to intensifying efforts to address climate change and other transnational challenges, at national, regional and global levels. Noting the large number of countries associating themselves with the Copenhagen Accord, we agreed that ASEAN should actively continue to make contributions to the global efforts to achieve a comprehensive legally binding global agreement on climate change as guided by Bali Roadmap that ensures the successful outcome of the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 6th Session of the Conference Parties serving as the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 6).
7. We also agreed to further strengthen ASEAN cooperation to effectively respond to climate change, especially on mitigation, adaptation and capacity building in areas of mutual interests such as sustainable development, environmental protection and water resource management. We were convinced that the ASEAN Climate Change Initiative (ACCI) that was established to provide a consultative platform will serve as an initiative that contributes significantly to these endeavours.
8. We, therefore, adopted the ASEAN Leaders' Statement on Joint Response to Climate Change as a concrete manifestation of our collective commitment to address climate change. We tasked relevant Ministers and senior officials to implement this Statement and other related agreements, including the possibility of developing an ASEAN Action Plan on Climate Change.
ASEAN's Education and Human Resources Development
9. We agreed that education and human resources development should be given a priority in the process of community building, given their crucial role in achieving a resilient, dynamic and sustained ASEAN Community and a people-oriented ASEAN Community. We were committed to strengthening cooperation on education, technical and vocational training and lifelong learning, and others. We stressed the importance of medium- and long- term measures to upgrade the quality of the workforce and developing a workforce responsive to the job market.
10. We tasked our Ministers and senior officials to sustain concrete measures and activities to implement the Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation on Education to achieve an ASEAN Caring and Sharing Community.
ASEAN's Centrality
11. We stressed the importance of and determination to maintain ASEAN's central role in the emerging regional architecture, taking into account fast-changing developments in regional and international situation. We agreed to adopt a two-prong approach with priority given to the acceleration of ASEAN's integration and community building while intensifying ASEAN's external relations and ensuring ASEAN's role as the driving force in regional cooperation frameworks. We emphasized the need to develop ASEAN's strategies with important partners and foster ASEAN's common stance and approach on important regional and global issues . We agreed that any new regional framework or process should be complementary to and built upon existing regional mechanisms and the principle of ASEAN's centrality.
ASEAN Charter
12. We noted with satisfaction important progress in the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, which would provide a legal and institutional framework for the ASEAN Community and beyond. We were pleased to see that ASEAN's new organizational structure has been put in place with the establishment of new bodies, namely the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC), the Community Councils, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) and the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). We appreciated the significant progress in developing legal documents necessary for the implementation of the Charter, notably the signing of Protocol to the ASEAN Charter on Dispute Settlement Mechanisms and the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of ASEAN, among others. We resolved to finalise the remaining pending legal documents as soon as possible.
13. We stressed the importance of bringing the Charter into life in all aspects at the earliest. We, therefore, instructed our Ministers and senior officials to ensure the close coordination among key bodies, improve the working methods and complete a full legal framework for the Charter.
ASEAN Community Building
14. We were satisfied with the progress in implementing the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community by 2015, comprising the Blueprints for the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) and the 2nd Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan (2009-2015). We tasked relevant Ministers and senior officials to speed up the implementation of those agreements through timely ratification of agreements and protocols as well as concrete actions. We stressed the need to set up a monitoring mechanism to ensure the effective implementation, to clearly identify priorities for each period and implementing bodies, and to improve coordination among the pillars and resource mobilization.
15. With full commitment to a people-oriented ASEAN, we encouraged all sectors of the society to participate actively in the community building process. We emphasized the need to enhance the sense of community among ASEAN peoples and to promote the awareness of ASEAN in our partners and the world at large. In this connection, we commended the adoption of Communication Plans for the three Community Pillars.
16. We pledged to do our best to further promote and protect the rights of our people. In this regard, we were pleased with the operationalisation of AICHR as an overarching institution for regional cooperation on human rights. We tasked relevant Ministers to give necessary guidance so that AICHR could finalize its 5 year Work Plan as required by its TOR as early as possible. We noted the kind offer of the Philippines to locate the AICHR Headquarters in Manila and requested the Foreign Ministers to consider this issue at a later stage.
ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC)
17. We noted with satisfaction the significant progress achieved in the implementation of the APSC Blueprint and tasked relevant Ministers and senior officials to enhance the utilization of ASEAN's existing tools and mechanisms such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) and the ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism to ensure regional peace and security. We stressed the importance of effective coordination and collaboration among various sectoral bodies under the purview of the APSC and the need for a strategic and holistic approach in the implementation of the APSC Blueprint. We commended the APSC Council for adoption of the APSC Communication Plan in January 2010.
18. We were encouraged to note that the important role of the TAC as the key code of conduct governing inter-state relations in the region continues to be strengthened with the increasing number of the High Contracting Parties and applicant countries. In this regard, we welcomed the desire of the EU/EC, Canada and Turkey to accede to the TAC.
19. We reiterated our commitment to implementing the SEANWFZ Treaty and its Plan of Action and urged Nuclear Weapon States to consider their early signing of the SEANWFZ Protocol to further promote Southeast Asia as a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone.
20. We noted that ASEAN has submited the Memorandum on Activities Related to the SEANWFZ Treaty to the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which would help highlight the significance of SEANWFZ.
21. We noted the progress made in drafting the Ha Noi Plan of Action to Implement the ARF Vision Statement, which would further contribute to confidence building, peace and stability in the region.
22. We welcomed the progress made in defence dialogue and cooperation under the ADMM framework. We viewed that an ADMM Plus could help strengthen the existing cooperation on regional defence and security between ASEAN and its Dialogue Partners in accordance with the ADMM's open, flexible and outward-looking nature. In this connection, we agreed on the convening of the ADMM+8 on a regular basis and tasked our Defence Ministers to ensure its early implementation.
23. Noting with satisfaction ASEAN's ongoing cooperation in non-traditional security issues we emphasized the need to fully implement the ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism and its Comprehensive Plan of Action. We agreed on the need to further strengthen cooperation and coordination among domestic security agencies of ASEAN Member States.
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
24. We welcomed the outcome of the 3rd AEC Council Meeting, particularly on the progress made in the implementation of the AEC Blueprint. We agreed to intensify efforts in intra-ASEAN economic integration, stressed the need to finalise all remaining measures, and urged for prompt implementation of all our economic integration commitments by all Member States.
25. We took note that since the adoption of the AEC Blueprint in November 2007, significant progress has been made towards achieving the AEC. Beginning 1 January 2010, 99.5% tariff lines in the ASEAN's inclusion lists under the Common Effective Preferential Tariffs for ASEAN Free Trade Area (CEPT-AFTA) stood at 0 to 5%, making this the most tangible high-impact outcome for ASEAN. Intra-ASEAN trade almost tripled to US$ 458.1 billion in 2008 as compared to 2000 when all ten Member States joined the CEPT-AFTA. Together with the progress made in the removal of non-tariff barriers to trade, this process underscored ASEAN's commitment to facilitating free flow of goods in ASEAN. In this connection, we looked forward to the entry-into-force of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement by May 2010.
26. We noted the greater mobility of skilled labour facilitated through Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) and reaffirmed our commitment for the full implementation of all ASEAN MRAs. We also welcomed other continued substantial progress made in the liberalisation of trade in services under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and the improved and expanded investment commitments under the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA). We looked forward to the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA) by August 2010.
27. We welcomed the outcome of Financial Ministers Meeting in Nha Trang. We reaffirmed our commitment to freer flow of capital with the endorsement of the Implementation Plan to promote the development of an integrated ASEAN capital market. We were pleased with the entry into force of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM) Agreement on 24 March 2010 and the proposed establishment of the Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF). We further emphasised the importance of concerted efforts on energy and food security, transportation liberalisation, including the creation of a single aviation market in ASEAN by 2015 as provided for in the AEC Blueprint and other sectoral cooperation.
28. To further expedite the AEC building process, we underscored the importance of implementing measures consistent with the timelines in the AEC Blueprint. To this end, we tasked Sectoral Ministerial Bodies to review the implementation of commitments under their purview to ensure timely ratification and implementation of, as well as, compliance with Agreements and Protocols that had been signed. We also instructed them to exert maximum effort, including allocating adequate resources in implementing measures that would impact the AEC most, taking into account the core objectives of each of the four pillars in the AEC Blueprint. We further tasked Economic Ministers to carry more public – private dialogue activities for a meaningful and effective AEC.
29. We were pleased with the achievements in various external economic integration initiatives in ASEAN as of 1 January 2010, especially the realization of the ASEAN-China and the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreements (FTA), and the entry into force of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) and the ASEAN-India Trade In Goods Agreement. With Japan, further improvement in the trade in services and investment chapters under the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement (AJCEP) are being considered. We recognised that ASEAN's Plus One FTAs have provided substantial market access for ASEAN exports to our major trading partners, especially China and India, the two big emerging economies of Asia.
30. We noted the initiatives being undertaken to take forward broader regional integration by considering the recommendations of both East Asia Free Trade Agreement (EAFTA) and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia (CEPEA) studies together. We looked forward to receiving the progress report at the 17th ASEAN Summit in October 2010 and to discussing with our Dialogue Partners the future direction of regional architecture with ASEAN at its core.
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)
31. We welcomed the outcome of the 3rd ASCC Council Meeting, particularly on the progress made in the implementation of the ASCC Blueprint. We commended the Ministers responsible for ASCC Council for adopting the ASCC Communication Plan.
32. We welcomed the establishment of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Women and Children (ACWC) as another important development of ASEAN. We believed that the ACWC would help strengthen regional cooperation and compliment national efforts on the promotion and protection of the rights of women and children, for their well-being, development, empowerment and participation in the ASEAN community-building process. In this connection, we tasked the ASEAN Ministers responsible for social welfare and development to ensure proper alignment of ACWC with the AICHR.
33. We noted with pleasure that the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) came into force on 24 December 2009. We tasked our Ministers to fully operationalise the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Center) as called for in the AADMER and to finalise the Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief to provide timely relief in humanitarian emergencies. We also encouraged the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre) to establish linkages and cooperation with other humanitarian centres in the region, including the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot in Subang, Malaysia.
34. In the face of continued threat of pandemic diseases, we stressed the need to continue strengthening our preparedness and response efforts. We requested our Ministers and officials to develop a regional pandemic preparedness plan as called for in the ASCC Blueprint based on the results of a to-be-ready region-wide assessment on gaps in pandemic preparedness.
35. We welcomed the outcome of the 10th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers responsible for Information (AMRI) and the 1st ASEAN Information Ministers plus Three Meeting (AMRI+3) held in Vientiane in November 2009, which contributed to enhancing media cooperation in ASEAN community building and created the ASEAN + 3 cooperation framework in information.
36. We welcomed the progress made in implementing the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science&Technology (APAST) and the Roadmaps for Flagship Programmes, which are important guidance and direction for us to implement our science and technology activities in the future to meet our goals of social and economic development. We also noted that Member States' contribution to the ASEAN Science Fund has reached 93% of the total expected target of USD 10 million.
37. We agreed to raise the awareness of ASEAN, instill the “we” feeling, create greater sense of belonging to the ASEAN Community and protect cultural identity and diversity. We also welcomed the initiative agreed by ASEAN Ministers responsible for Arts and Culture (AMCA) to launch the ASEAN City of Culture to strengthen ASEAN identity and raise the profile of ASEAN within the region and the world at large by celeberating ASEAN arts and culture and promote the growth of the region's creative industries.
Narrowing Development Gap
38. We reaffirmed that narrowing the development gap between Member States continued to be one of the priorities of intra-ASEAN cooperation as well as ASEAN's external cooperation in order to accelerate ASEAN integration and help achieve the goal of a more balanced, inclusive and sustained ASEAN Community.
39. We emphasized the importance of good projects and adequate resources for their implementation. In this regard, we instructed our sectoral Ministers to strengthen coordination and accelerate the implementation of the IAI Work Plan II. We tasked the IAI Task Force and the ASEAN Secretariat to coordinate closely with donor partners to ensure the good outcome of the Third IAI Development Cooperation Forum (IDCF-3) possibly in 2010 .
ASEAN's External Relations
40. We expressed our overall satisfaction with the progress in ASEAN's cooperation with external partners within the frameworks of ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3 and East Asia Summit processes. We appreciated the valuable support and financial assistance accorded to ASEAN by its external partners.
41. We reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN's cooperation with external partners in maintaining peace and stability in the region, enhancing ASEAN's internal regional integration, narrowing the development gap, enhancing intra-ASEAN connectivity and expanding ASEAN's connectivity to the wider region.
42. Emphasizing the need to successfully conclude action plans/work programmes, cooperation agreements in trade, economic and socio-cultural fields with ASEAN's dialogue partners, we tasked our sectoral Ministers to work closely with their external partners towards that aim.
43. We recognized and supported the mutually reinforcing roles of the ASEAN+3 process, the East Asia Summit (EAS), and such regional forums as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), to promote the East Asian cooperation and dialogue towards the building of a community in East Asia. In this connection, we encouraged Russia and the US to deepen their engagement in an evolving regional architecture, including the possibility of their involvement with the EAS through appropriate modalities, taking into account the Leaders-led, open and inclusive nature of the EAS.
44. We looked forward to the convening of the 2nd ASEAN-Russia Summit back-to-back with the 17th ASEAN Summit in Ha Noi by the end of this year and tasked our officials to work closely with Russia to make this event a success.
45. We recalled the agreement between the Leaders of ASEAN and the US to hold the 2nd Leaders' Meeting in 2010 and emphasized the importance of this Meeting to further enhance the ASEAN-US partnership for enduring peace and prosperity. In this regard, we extended the invitation to President Obama to participate in that event which Viet Nam offered to host in 2010.
46. We also recalled the agreement to convene the 3rd ASEAN- UN Summit on the occasion of 17th ASEAN Summit in 2010 in Ha Noi and looked forward to working closely with the UN on important regional and international issues of mutual interest.
47. We noted with appreciation the interest of some Dialogue Partners of ASEAN to convene their respective Summit with ASEAN. In this connection, we tasked our relevant Ministers and Senior Officials to look into the issues and make recommendations to us.
International and Regional Issues
48. We discussed extensively the global economic and financial situation and its impacts on our region. We continued to support the G-20 framework for strong, sustainable, and balanced growth. We highly appreciated the G-20's good practice to consult regional organisations to enhance its representativeness and broaden its perspective. In this regard, we strongly believed that the current Chair of ASEAN, Viet Nam, and subsequent ASEAN Chairs would continue to be invited to the G-20 Summits this year and in the future respectively to offer and share ASEAN's constructive contributions, views and good experiences.
49. We reaffirmed our commitment to bringing the Doha round to an early and successful conclusion with a comprehensive and balanced outcome that benefits all parties and makes the Doha Round a round for development. We resolved to reject protectionism and remain open to global and regional trade.
50. We were briefed by H.E. Prime Minister Thein Sein of Myanmar on recent political developments and the progress made in the implementation of the Roadmap for Democracy, especially the preparations for the general election in Myanmar in 2010. We underscored the importance of national reconciliation in Myanmar and the holding of the general election in a free, fair, and inclusive manner, thus contributing to Myanmar's stability and development. We also stressed the need that Myanmar would continue to work with ASEAN and United Nations in this process.
51. We welcomed all internationalefforts to promote nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including the convening of the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C. and the NPT Review Conference in New York. We reaffirmed our full support to the Presidency of the Philippines of the 2010 NPT Review Conference for a successful outcome of the Conference which enables the balanced implementation of the Treaty's three pillars.
52. We noted the recent developments on the Korean Peninsula and reaffirmed our support for a nuclear weapon-free Korean Peninsula. We encouraged all the parties concerned to continue to settlle their disputes through peaceful negotiations.
Other Issues
53. We renewed our commitments to building a people-oriented ASEAN through greater people's participation in our community-building process. We were happy with the outcome of our Meeting with Representatives from ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Ha Noi on 8th April and we instructed the ASEAN Secretariat to coordinate with AIPA's counterpart to develop proper modalities for futurecooperation between ASEAN's executive and legislative branches.
54. We welcomed the outcome of the First Summit of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) held on 4-5 April 2010 in Thailand, including the MRC Hua Hin Declaration on “Meeting the Needs, Keeping the Balance: Towards the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin”, highlighting the need on the sustainable use, management and development of water and related resources of the Mekong and enhanced connectivity for the benefit of the countries and people in the basin and beyond. We also welcomed Viet Nam's initiative to organize a “Dialogue on Mekong Sub-regional Development Partnership” in the year 2010, which would provide a good basis for dialogue and information sharing among partners towards better harmonization of the ongoing projects and more efficient utilization of available resources.
55. We welcomed Viet Nam as the host of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from 6-7 June 2010. As one of WEF's important regional events, the WEF on East Asia 2010 in Viet Nam would be a good platform for international business and policy communities across Asia including ASEAN Member States to exchange views on strengthening and expanding economic cooperation, trade and investment; to discuss and devise solutions to major regional and global issues.
56. We endorsed the exchange between Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam in their turns for the ASEAN Chairmanship and welcomed Indonesia as the ASEAN Chair in 2011. In this regard, we affirmed that such exchange shall not create precedence in the future.