In the afternoon of 15 November 2009, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya accompanied Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to attend the 1st ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting at Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore under the theme “Enhanced Partnership for Enduring Peace and Prosperity”.
ASEAN and US Leaders reviewed ASEAN-US relations and charted a direction for the future. They also took this opportunity to exchange views on regional and global issues such as the global financial and economic crisis, climate change, nuclear disarmament and nuclear non proliferation, cooperation on food and energy security. The Meeting adopted the Joint Statement, gist as follows:
- ASEAN and the US agreed to enhance further cooperation between both sides particularly in the areas of education, science and technology, people-to-people interaction, regional security, food security, and alternative energy.
- Leaders shared a vision of a regional architecture that is inclusive and respects the diversity within the region. They agreed to work closely together in building the region and reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN Centrality.
- The US expressed US support for the establishment of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and the readiness to build the Human Rights Resource Centre for ASEAN with a University in Jakarta as the hub.
- The ASEAN Leaders welcomed the policy of the US to engage with the Government of Myanmar and expressed their hope that this effort would contribute to political and economic reforms in Myanmar. The Leaders also underscored the importance of achieving national reconciliation and that the general elections to be held in Myanmar in 2010 must be conducted in a free, fair, inclusive and transparent manner.
- Leaders recognized the importance of trade and investment liberalization which is consistent to the results of the 2009 APEC Leaders’ Meeting, and reaffirmed their commitment to accelerate regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region. They also recognized the importance of bringing the Doha Round to a successful conclusion in 2010.
- Leaders are convinced that the establishment of a South-East Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ) will contribute towards global nuclear disarmament and nuclear non proliferation and peace and security in the region.
- Leaders recognize the global warming issue and agreed to work closely together to ensure the success of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
The ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting was carried out for the first time after more than three decades of relations. The Meeting also reaffirmed closer relations between ASEAN and the US and agreed to hold the second Leaders’ Meeting in 2010.
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