ASEAN summit ends with numerous agreements (correction)

Bangkok (VNA) - The 14th ASEAN summit, themed "ASEAN Charter for ASEAN Peoples", wrapped up on March 1 with the Joint Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration on the Roadmap for an ASEAN community (2009- 2015), and a series of agreements, including those on comprehensive investment, trade in goods, petroleum security and the establishment
of ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area.

ASEAN leaders also adopted a Joint Declaration on the attainment of the region's
millennium development goals, among other documents.

The summit was attended by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Addressing the summit, Dung said solidarity among members of the Association of
the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is key to success in the construction of an
ASEAN community of peace, stability and development by 2015.

He shared Vietnam 's experiences in coping with economic crisis and solving
social security issues, focusing on assistance for small and medium-sized
businesses, employment and migrant labours.

The Vietnamese PM also pointed out the need to strengthen ASEAN's cooperation on
the basis of the Overall Framework Agreement and the ASEAN Action Strategy for
Food Security in 2009-2013, and to consider the establishment of a regional food
security fund.

During the summit, ASEAN leaders focused their discussions on measures to cope
with the current global economic and financial crisis, and to materialise the
ASEAN Charter. To mitigate negative effects of the crisis, the leaders agreed to
enhance regional cooperation and resilience, stressing the importance of
macroeconomic policy coordination.

They asserted their determination to stand firm against protectionism and refrain
from introducing and raising new barriers. They also agreed to intensify efforts
for a strong Doha Development Agenda outcome.

The summit welcomed the agreement of the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers to increase the
size of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilaterisation (CMIM) from 80 billion USD to
120 billion USD and to develop a more robust and effective surveillance mechanism
to support the operation of the CMIM.

It urged that more coordinated action by both developed and developing countries
be taken to restore financial stability and ensure the continued functioning of
financial markets to provide support to growth.

It also called for a bold and urgent reform of the international financial system
to achieve a more comprehensive, equitable and inclusive system that takes into
consideration the interests and voices of the emerging and developing countries.


Also at this summit, Australia and New Zealand delivered their official
documents recognising Vietnam 's full-market economy status.-Enditem