At 9.30 hrs on 24 October 2009, the second day of the 15th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, Mr. Vitavas Srivihok, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, gave a press briefing on the day’s meetings. He was joined with Mr. Panitan Wattanayagorn, Acting Government Spokesperson, who briefed the press on the outcome of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart.
Mr. Srivihok gave an overview of what is to be discussed during the Meetings with the dialogue partners today, namely the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and India, as well as the 12th ASEAN Plus Three Summit where ASEAN Leaders will meet with Leaders of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to discuss issues that affect the region.
The issue of connectivity will be at the forefront of topics to be discussed, followed by the issues of educational and cultural cooperation, food and energy security, and the efforts to make the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM) operational by the end of 2009.
In the ASEAN-China Summit, in particular, the issue of the connectivity will be on top of the agenda, with the progress of China's initiatives to promote infrastructure development in ASEAN, including the USD 10 billion China-ASEAN Fund on Investment Cooperation and the USD 15 billion Commercial Credit, among the issues to be discussed. The discussion will also touch on other issues that affect the region such as follow up to the ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers Meeting on H1N1.
Mr. Wattanayagorn then gave a short briefing on the outcome of the bilateral talks between the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Japan. This was followed by a summary of the discussion of the ASEAN Leaders during the Retreat this morning.
During the Retreat, apart from the central issue of connectivity, the Leaders also discussed future plans for the organisation to work more efficiently. These include the role of ASEAN in G20 meetings, re-organisation of ASEAN meetings, the importance of maintaining ASEAN centrality, and the interface meetings with the civil society in future Summits. The Leaders also discussed the issues of food and energy security and the need for an early warning system for natural disasters. Various outcome documents recommended by the ASEAN Coordinating Council were also adopted by the Leaders during the Retreat.
For further details on the gist of the ASEAN Retreat held this morning (24 October), see overleaf.
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ASEAN Leaders' Retreat 24 October 2009
- After adopting the various outcome documents recommended by the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the ASEAN Leaders exchanged views on various issues and challenges facing ASEAN, including the issue of connectivity, natural disasters, climate change, the global economic and financial crisis, food and energy security.
- On connectivity, ASEAN Leaders reaffirmed their determination to promote connectivity among ASEAN — both in terms of physical infrastructure — road, rail, maritime and air links, trade, ICT, and in terms of connecting ideas and the hearts and minds of ASEAN peoples. Leaders recognized that greater connectivity would not only generate economic growth and opportunities, promote regional integration and ensure that all ASEAN peoples become beneficiaries, but also make ASEAN an effective partner for East Asia and South Asia and enhance ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture.
- Regarding physical connectivity, Thailand expressed its readiness to develop an ASEAN Highway Center and reaffirmed its hope that ASEAN would develop dual rail tracks, making this a priority in an ASEAN master plan to be developed.
- The Leaders emphasized the importance of mobilizing funds to support infrastructure development projects and tasked the Finance Ministers to develop an idea for an ASEAN infrastructure development fund, building upon the funds that China and Japan have pledged to present at the next ASEAN Summit. ASEAN will also interact with its dialogue partners and external parties to promote ASEAN connectivity and adequate funding.
- The Leaders also tasked the ASEAN Secretariat to develop Terms of Reference for the High Level Task Force on ASEAN Connectivity so that the Task Force can begin its work early next year.
- On promoting connectivity in the hearts and minds of ASEAN peoples, proposals have been made with a view to promoting the ASEAN spirit among ASEAN's future generations, such as programmes to nurture young leaders, get them involved in ASEAN and promote understanding of ASEAN through respective education systems.
- ASEAN Leaders recognised that climate change continues to be a major concern. They pledged to work together and with other countries to contribute to the yearend Copenhagen Summit so that it results in a mutually meaningful outcome for both developed and developing countries. They noted that the ASEAN Statement on Climate Change should serve as a basis for ASEAN to come up with a common approach towards the Copenhagen Summit.
- On the challenge of natural disasters, the Leaders emphasized the importance of better preparedness, and in particular the need for an early warning system and a mechanism to ensure timely dispatches of rescue and assistance, as well as implementation of the Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response, which will enter into force by end of this year. They also noted the need for the defence agencies, which have resources, to be involved in natural disaster relief and management programmes. They also shared their views on the need to pursue cooperation with other countries and international organizations to share experiences and information on disaster management as well as to upgrade skills for concerned personnel. The view was also expressed on the need to have adequate food reserves for times of emergency.
- ASEAN Leaders look forward to the launch of the USD 120 billion Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM), expected to take place by end of this year. This would help restore confidence and enhance the ability to address the impact of the financial and economic crisis. Thailand offers to temporarily host the CMI surveillance unit that will help provide early warning for crises in the future.
- ASEAN Leaders agreed that ASEAN should continue to be represented in the G20, and that ASEAN's consultation process for the G20 be institutionalized. They tasked their finance officials to coordinate ASEAN’s position and agreed to form a contact group comprising Vietnam as the next chair, Indonesia as a member of G20 and the ASEAN Secretary-General, to ensure coordination among Member States.
- On energy security, the Leaders noted the need to cooperate particularly with regard to the development of energy infrastructure, enhancement of energy efficiency and development of technologies for clean and renewable energy.
- On non-proliferation, the ASEAN Leaders pledged their support for a successful NPT Review Conference in 2010, which the Philippines will chair.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th