Le Luong Minh, Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) has emphasised the group’s recent achievements in the
all three pillars of politics-security, economics and socio-culture, and
its development orientations in the next five years.
Minh is in
Bandar Seri Begawan , Brunei , for a series of ASEAN meetings such
as the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, and the 9 th ASEAN
Politics-Security Community Council Meeting, that are preparations for
the 22 nd ASEAN Summit later this month.
Addressing the meeting,
the ASEAN Chief said that amidst the evolving regional and global
geo-political landscape, which, at the same time, offers new
opportunities of cooperation, and challenges ASEAN’s ability to maintain
its centrality, ASEAN is continuing its outward looking and inclusive
approach in its external engagement.
While solidifying
its unity, ASEAN should continue to engage its partners constructively
through initiatives and ideas to address challenges faced by the region
by the region, both traditional and non-traditional, he said.
The
broader improvement in Asian economies along with the slowdown in
developed nations have also begun to alter the geo-political conceptions
of the world.
According to the ASEAN Chief, while the world
economy is projected to grow moderately in 2013, ASEAN economies are
expected to grow at 5.5 percent from 5.3 percent last year with expected
increase in domestic demand and modest recovery in export growth.
On
this basis, he suggested, ASEAN would need to review its
accomplishments and its tasks ahead to realise the ASEAN Community by
December 31, 2015.
According to Minh, ASEAN is considering a
number of issues, including Timor Leste’s bid to join ASEAN, the
expansion of strategic partnership with dialogue partners, the
settlement of disputes in and between some member countries.
In
the spirit of promoting dialogue and peaceful solutions of diputes and
conflicts, to maintain regional peace and stability, ASEAN should
continue to ensure full and effective implementation of the Declaration
on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and early conclude the
Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) as a key instrument to ensure
peace and stability in the region.
Mentioning ASEAN’s
achievements in its Community building, Minh highlighted major
challenges facing the group’s regional and international efforts.
He
said the next five years as a period for reflection and greater action.
For the next five years, he said he is confident that ASEAN would
continue to provide a platform for peaceful dialogue and cooperation
among member states and with the rest of the international community.
ASEAN would continue its efforts to transform the region into an economic powerhouse and integrate it into the global economy.
Likewise,
ASEAN would also continue to invest in its people and on various areas
such as culture, education, health care, environment, food security,
among others, to ensure the ASEAN Community’s well-being and resilience.
ASEAN
has acquired the necessary experience and confidence to further
strengthen its central role in various mechanisms and processes and
hence, promote the collective interests of its members, he noted.-VNA