ID :
86142
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 01:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/86142
The shortlink copeid
Asia-Pacific leaders to continue discussions on regional forums+
HUA HIN, Thailand, Oct. 25 Kyodo -
Leaders from 16 Asia-Pacific nations agreed Sunday on the significance of
moving forward with discussions on creating new regional forums to promote
cooperation, showing appreciation for various proposals including Japan's idea
of forming an ''East Asian community.''
The leaders also agreed on the need to seek an early resumption of the
six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing North Korea, while encouraging
military-ruled Myanmar, where pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains
detained, to ensure a free and fair general election in 2010, according to the
chairman's statement issued after the East Asia Summit in Thailand.
Regarding climate change issues, the leaders expressed their commitment to
continue to contribute to bringing about a ''successful outcome'' of a key U.N.
climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.
The EAS, which groups the 10-member ASEAN plus Japan, China and South Korea, as
well as Australia, India and New Zealand, was held for the first time in about
two years after political instability had delayed a series of summit meetings
related to ASEAN.
In the spotlight were proposals aimed at seeking further regional cooperation
through the creation of new forums, including the East Asian community concept
put forward by Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
Hatoyama told his counterparts that the East Asia Summit framework would be one
forum that would ''play an important role'' in building the community. But he
noted that ''there is not much significance in discussing now which country
should be in and which country should not be in it,'' a Japanese Foreign
Ministry official said.
Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also explained his ''Asia Pacific
community'' proposal aimed at enhancing cooperation in a broad range of areas
including security and the economy.
''The leaders basically agreed on the need to continue discussions and promote
regional cooperation,'' the Japanese official said, referring to the proposals.
The leaders noted the ideas ''with appreciation,'' the chairman's statement
said, also referring to a proposal made by the Philippines, which noted the
possibility of an economic community of Asia.
''What we emphasized was that it wasn't all that important to decide on some
kind of rigid structure for the time being, but to be well aware that the
regional architecture will continue to evolve,'' Thai Prime Minister Abhisit
Vejjajiva, as ASEAN chairman, told a news conference.
While Rudd's ''Asia-Pacific community'' concept is likely to include the United
States, Hatoyama has been vague on whether the United States should actually
count as a member of his envisioned community, although he has suggested U.S.
involvement.
''There is no need to decide whether to let the United States in at the moment.
My concept is to think flexibly and in multilayered way,'' Hatoyama told
reporters in Bangkok shortly before heading to Japan.
The EAS meeting was the final event of a series of ASEAN-related meetings held
over the weekend in the Thai seaside resort of Hua Hin.
The EAS chairman's statement also noted that the participants agreed to promote
cooperation on a broad range of areas, including economic affairs, and
effectively respond to natural disasters that have increased in frequency and
intensity.
Regarding North Korea, they reaffirmed commitment to implement the U.N.
Security Council resolution aimed at punishing the North for its second nuclear
test in May.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who visited Pyongyang earlier this month, told the
meeting that there is a possibility that the six-party talks will resume and
called on the countries concerned to continue efforts to help reopen the
stalled talks.
China is the chair of the multilateral framework also involving North and South
Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States.
On the situation in Myanmar, meanwhile, there were no remarks pressing the
military government to release Suu Kyi amid recent moves by the government
toward holding dialogue with her.
During his three-day visit to Thailand from Friday, Hatoyama also attended a
meeting between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the
so-called ASEAN-plus-three summit, which involves ASEAN, Japan, South Korea and
China. He also held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from
host Thailand, India, Indonesia and others.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
==Kyodo
Leaders from 16 Asia-Pacific nations agreed Sunday on the significance of
moving forward with discussions on creating new regional forums to promote
cooperation, showing appreciation for various proposals including Japan's idea
of forming an ''East Asian community.''
The leaders also agreed on the need to seek an early resumption of the
six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing North Korea, while encouraging
military-ruled Myanmar, where pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains
detained, to ensure a free and fair general election in 2010, according to the
chairman's statement issued after the East Asia Summit in Thailand.
Regarding climate change issues, the leaders expressed their commitment to
continue to contribute to bringing about a ''successful outcome'' of a key U.N.
climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.
The EAS, which groups the 10-member ASEAN plus Japan, China and South Korea, as
well as Australia, India and New Zealand, was held for the first time in about
two years after political instability had delayed a series of summit meetings
related to ASEAN.
In the spotlight were proposals aimed at seeking further regional cooperation
through the creation of new forums, including the East Asian community concept
put forward by Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
Hatoyama told his counterparts that the East Asia Summit framework would be one
forum that would ''play an important role'' in building the community. But he
noted that ''there is not much significance in discussing now which country
should be in and which country should not be in it,'' a Japanese Foreign
Ministry official said.
Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also explained his ''Asia Pacific
community'' proposal aimed at enhancing cooperation in a broad range of areas
including security and the economy.
''The leaders basically agreed on the need to continue discussions and promote
regional cooperation,'' the Japanese official said, referring to the proposals.
The leaders noted the ideas ''with appreciation,'' the chairman's statement
said, also referring to a proposal made by the Philippines, which noted the
possibility of an economic community of Asia.
''What we emphasized was that it wasn't all that important to decide on some
kind of rigid structure for the time being, but to be well aware that the
regional architecture will continue to evolve,'' Thai Prime Minister Abhisit
Vejjajiva, as ASEAN chairman, told a news conference.
While Rudd's ''Asia-Pacific community'' concept is likely to include the United
States, Hatoyama has been vague on whether the United States should actually
count as a member of his envisioned community, although he has suggested U.S.
involvement.
''There is no need to decide whether to let the United States in at the moment.
My concept is to think flexibly and in multilayered way,'' Hatoyama told
reporters in Bangkok shortly before heading to Japan.
The EAS meeting was the final event of a series of ASEAN-related meetings held
over the weekend in the Thai seaside resort of Hua Hin.
The EAS chairman's statement also noted that the participants agreed to promote
cooperation on a broad range of areas, including economic affairs, and
effectively respond to natural disasters that have increased in frequency and
intensity.
Regarding North Korea, they reaffirmed commitment to implement the U.N.
Security Council resolution aimed at punishing the North for its second nuclear
test in May.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who visited Pyongyang earlier this month, told the
meeting that there is a possibility that the six-party talks will resume and
called on the countries concerned to continue efforts to help reopen the
stalled talks.
China is the chair of the multilateral framework also involving North and South
Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States.
On the situation in Myanmar, meanwhile, there were no remarks pressing the
military government to release Suu Kyi amid recent moves by the government
toward holding dialogue with her.
During his three-day visit to Thailand from Friday, Hatoyama also attended a
meeting between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the
so-called ASEAN-plus-three summit, which involves ASEAN, Japan, South Korea and
China. He also held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from
host Thailand, India, Indonesia and others.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
==Kyodo
