ASEAN SUMMIT 17: Towards the Community of Mutual Benefit for Development

On October 28-30, 2010, 11 Summits took place including ASEAN 17, ASEAN+1 (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and UN), ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, South Korea) and East Asia Summit 5. 

Participants were 18 leaders of ASEAN and partner countries and UN Secretary General.  US Secretary of State and Russian Foreign Minister participated for the first time as invited guests of the Summit.

It was the last ASEAN Summit in 2010 and the occasion to review the overall cooperation among ASEAN members as well as with partners to set the orientation for the next stage. It was also the unique change of the year for ASEAN leaders to meet with almost all leaders of important partners. ASEAN and partners have exchanged views and set the course and measures to promote and deepen all-round cooperation for mutual benefit, peace, stability and development in the region.

Pursuing the theme “Towards the ASEAN community: From vision to action”, ASEAN 17 and related summits focused discussion on three issues: Development of ASEAN community, external relations and ASEAN central role, and sustainable development and coping with global challenges.

Speaking at the Summit, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized that the development of ASEAN community is a central and lasting task of ASEAN.  The biggest success of ASEAN 17 is the endorsement of the master plan on ASEAN connectivity to connect infrastructure, institutions and people of ASEAN, especially in Mekong Sub-region, to accelerate ASEAN connectivity and expand it to East Asia.

ASEAN has also made great efforts to develop a people-centered community by approving two important documents: ASEAN declaration on human resources development and expertise for economic recovery and sustainable development, and Declaration on enhancement of welfare and development of ASEAN women and children. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministers for their part approved ASEAN Declaration on finding and rescuing people and wrecked boats at sea.

Concerning ASEAN external relations, the Prime Minister said that in 2010 the relations have been ”developed and deepened with increased dialogue at all levels, especially the top ranking as well as the implementation of action plans of the Joint Declaration on strategic or all-round partnership”.

In addition to strategic partnership with China and Japan, ASEAN 17 has upgraded strategic partnership with South Korea and strategic relations with the US.

An outstanding success of ASEAN external relations at ASEAN 17 is the expansion of East Asia Summit to include Russia and the US as official members in 2011 with ASEAN as centre.

ASEAN leaders approved the master plan on ASEAN connectivity and established a coordinating committee to monitor and implement the plan.

ASEAN leaders also approved a declaration on human resources development and expertise for economic recovery and sustainable development, a declaration on enhancement of welfare and development for women and children. Looking ahead, there remain several challenges for ASEAN. But with successes already recorded and high political will of all members and support ASEAN people and partners, the Prime Minister is confident in the bright future of a strong and prosperous ASEAN community.