15th ASEAN Summit ends with successful outcomes
Leaders of the 10-member ASEAN and ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan (extreme right) poses for the photo session during the closing ceremony.
The 15th ASEAN Summit and related summits among the leaders of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries and their six dialogue partners in Cha-am and Hua Hin districts in the provinces of Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan ended today with the official closing ceremony at Dusit Thani Hotel.
The summit of the ASEAN leaders with government heads of China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand focused on economic and financial cooperation, disaster preparation and response, food and energy security and climate change.
The regional leaders meanwhile agreed on responding to the global economic meltdown by reviewing trade cooperation as well as entering into free trade and economic partnerships.
The 16 government leaders ratified a statement on disaster management, as natural calamities have become more severe following the recent typhoons and earthquakes in several Asian countries.
The ASEAN leaders also met to confer on other issues on the sidelines of the Southeast Asian summit.
After the signing ceremony of many outcome documents, the closing ceremony took place at the Royal Dusit Grand Ballroom of Royal Dusit Hall.
In his closing speech, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva thanked the wishes of all leaders for a speedy recovery of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Prime Minister Abhisit then narrated the success of the three-day Summit for ASEAN countries and dialogue partners in addressing challenges such as the financial crisis, climate change, food and energy security, disaster management, plan for connectivity, education, youth involvement, H1N1 pandemic, human rights, intellectual property and many other issues for the future of ASEAN.
The Thai prime minister also thanked all countries for their contributions to move the region forward during the Summit and during the duration of Thailand as the ASEAN Chair.
He stressed that ASEAN centrality was not only for ASEAN but for the Asia Pacific region and the world. He also asked all countries to help each other in moving towards the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015.
After the Thai premier’s speech, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung addressed the audience as the next ASEAN Chair with a congratulatory remark for Thailand’s success of the 15th ASEAN Summit and accomplishments during the Thai Chairmanship.
The Vietnam’s prime minister stated that it was a great honor for Vietnam to continue the duty and to move towards the goal of ASEAN Community and then stressed his determination to promote solidarity and connectivity in the region while materializing the community establishment.
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