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14th ASEAN Summit and related summits

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-10 13:35

PATTAYA, Thailand -- The 14th ASEAN Summit and its related summits will be held here from April 10-12. The related summits are an important and integral part of the 14th ASEAN Summit held on February 28-March 1, 2009 in Hua Hin, Thailand.

The Summits' theme "Acting Together to Cope with Global Challenges" captures the spirit and commitment of ASEAN, as a people-centered organization, in working for the benefit of the ASEAN peoples, together with its Dialogue Partners and the United Nations.

The summit begins in the evening of April 10, 2009 with an informal working dinner of the ASEAN leaders. ASEAN Plus One Summits with China, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, respectively, are scheduled for April 11, to be followed by the ASEAN Plus Three Summit and ASEAN Summit Plus One with India in the afternoon.

On April 12, the East Asia Summit (EAS), or the so-called ASEAN Plus Six Summit, will be held amongst the leaders from the ASEAN member countries and the leaders of six ASEAN dialogue partners, namely China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, the 3rd ASEAN-UN Summit is scheduled to be convened on April 12, 2009. This summit will be an opportunity for ASEAN leaders and Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, to discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest including development, food and energy security, climate change, disaster management, and issues of the global financial crisis.

12th ASEAN-China Summit

The leaders of ASEAN member Countries and China will review the development of ASEAN-China relations in the past years and discuss how to further deepen relations between the two sides. Among others, a speedy implementation of ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement will be emphasized. In addition, they will also exchange views on regional and international issues affecting the region.

12th ASEAN-Japan Summit

The leaders of ASEAN member states and Japan will meet and review the developments in ASEAN-Japan relations during the past years and discuss how to further deepen relations between the two sides. At the meeting, the leaders will be presented with a report of the ASEAN-Japan Eminent Persons Group (EPGs) which will recommend measures to deepen and broaden ASEAN-Japan strategic partnership in the coming years.

12th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit

The leaders of ASEAN member states and ROK will review the developments in ASEAN-ROK relations during the past years and how to further enhance relations between the two sides. The President of ROK is also expected to announce the holding of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit on June 1-2, 2009. The situation in the Korean Peninsula will also be discussed.

12th ASEAN Plus Three Summit

The leaders of ASEAN member countries, China, Japan, and Republic of Korea will meet and review ASEAN Plus Three cooperation with emphasis on regional cooperation in response to food and energy security, and natural disaster that affect the region. The summit will also endorse the establishment of ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Fund with an initial fund of three million U.S.dollars to support the implementation of the 2nd Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation and the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Work Plan. In response to the on-going food and energy prices volatility, the leaders of ASEAN Plus Three will adopt the Chiang Mai Statement on ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation on Food Security and Bio-Energy Development.

4th East Asia Summit (EAS)

The leaders of ASEAN member countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and Republic of Korea will meet to discuss on strategic issues of common interest and concern that affect the region. The summit this year will focus on the issues such as food and energy security, global financial situation, and disaster relief cooperation and management. The Leaders also expect to adopt the Chiang Mai Statement on EAS Disaster Management which will tap expertise in the region on disaster response and relief.

3rd ASEAN-UN Summit

The 3rd ASEAN-UN Summit is scheduled to be convened on April 12, 2009 in Pattaya, Thailand. The leaders of ten ASEAN member states will meet with the secretary-general of the UN and heads of agencies and programs in the UN system. The summit aims at promoting and strengthening ties and cooperation between ASEAN and the UN in various aspects beneficial to the peoples in the region.

These topics may include: impacts of the current global financial crisis and measures such as social protection to help cushion the impacts affecting the peoples; cooperation to achieve internationally agreed development goals including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); cooperation in disaster management to explore ways to enhance capacity in the region including Post- Nargis recovery efforts; cooperation to strengthen food security in the region through, for example, resource management, especially, water resources.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.