The 4th East Asia Summit (EAS) opened on Sunday in Cha-am Hua Hin, Thailand, with the attendance of leaders from all ASEAN member nations, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
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Leaders of East Asian countries shake hands at the 4th East Asia Summit, Cha-am Hua Hin, Thailand, October 25, 2009
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Leaders all highly appraised the positive development of the EAS, which has helped to promote regional dialogues and cooperation, for the sake of peace, security and prosperity in East Asia.
They reconfirmed their commitment to joint efforts and actions in order to early overcome the global economic and financial crisis and obtain sustainable recovery.
The leaders lauded positive outcomes of the G20 Summit and agreed to continue surveying the feasibility of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia (CEPEA).
They pledged to enhance regional cooperation in economics, trade, investment, finance, transport infrastructure, education, culture and in responding to global challenges.
Speaking at the Summit, Vietnamese Deputy PM Nguyen Tan Dzung sated that the EAS cooperation should focus on education and training in order to develop knowledge economy and cope with global challenges.
He asked the countries with advanced education to take the lead in assisting ASEAN and its developing members; proposed a community educational program to improve people’s awareness of natural disasters and their consequences.
He suggested partner countries to facilitate the foundation of the East Asia Environment Training Center in Vietnam and help Vietnam to realize its national program on response to climate change and sea level rising.
Concluding the Summit, the leaders issued an EAS Declaration on Natural Disaster Control and a Press Release on the resumption of Nalanda University in India.
The ASEAN agreement on preferentials and exemptions and memorandums of understanding on the establishment of the ASEAN-China Center, on Intellectual Property, and on Technical Standards Harmonization were inked on the same day.
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The 4th East Asia Summit (EAS) opens in Cha-am Hua Hin, Thailand, October 25, 2009, with the attendance of leaders from all ASEAN member nations, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand
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VN to chair ASEAN since January 1, 2010
At the closing ceremony of the 15th ASEAN Summit on Sunday afternoon, Việt Nam officially declared to take over the ASEAN Presidency on January 1, 2010.
Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dzung delivered an important speech highlighting priorities and theme of “Towards the ASEAN Community: from vision to action” for ASEAN 2010. He stressed that the ASEAN cooperation plays a strategic important for Việt Nam, an active and responsible member of the Association, so the country will do its utmost to ensure its successful ASEAN Chairmanship in 2010.
The Vietnamese PM stated that priority during the ASEAN Chairmanship next year is to promote solidarity and connectivity in ASEAN, translate the ASEAN Charter into reality, effectively implement the blueprints to build the ASEAN Community, expand and deepen relations between ASEAN and its outside partners, and enhance the role and position of the Association in the region and the world.