The 16th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the first summit in Vietnam’s Chairmanship Year in 2010, opened in Hanoi today.
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| Southeast Asian leaders hold hands during the opening ceremony for the 16th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi April 8, 2010. Photo: Reuters |
After more than four decades of existence and development, ASEAN today has become a closely-integrated political and economic entity, an important player in the region and an indispensable partner of major countries and organizations in the world. The Association has entered a new stage of development, steadily moving towards the realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015 and operating on legal foundation as provided for by the ASEAN Charter.
The meeting carries an important mandate of setting forth the directions and appropriate solutions to accelerate ASEAN integration and enhance its strength in effectively addressing regional issues as well as global challenges.
After more than four decades of existence and development, has entered a new stage of development, steadily moving towards the realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015 and operating on legal foundation as provided for by the ASEAN Charter. The goal of an ASEAN Community manifests in itself the Member States’ shared vision, earnest desire and strong determination.
In his opening speech, Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized that, the most important thing now is to take resolute and strong joint actions, undertake concrete steps and measures to accomplish the set goals and plans our, harmoniously combining national interests with the common ones of the entire region, thus improving the quality of our “unity in diversity.”
During its Chairmanship in 2010, Vietnam will do its utmost and collaborate with other members to achieve concrete results in building the ASEAN Community and properly addressing emerging issues.
The opening ceremony of the 16th ASEAN Summit was followed by a plenary session.
Three important documents, including the ASEAN declaration on sustainable recovery and development and the declaration on responses to climate change and ASEAN Chairman statement will be adopted during the Summit.
