(VOVworld)-The 21st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit opened in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on Sunday under the theme "One Community, One Destiny". In his opening address on Sunday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that ASEAN members should adopt a more comprehensive and cooperative approach, particularly through ASEAN cooperation while realizing ASEAN Community by 2015 should remain top priority of ASEAN. He called for joint efforts to complete a legal framework in line with the ASEAN Charter in order to improve the operational efficiency of ASEAN institutions and processes. The prime minister said that maintaining regional peace and security is indispensable for ASEAN's prosperity and inclusive growth in the entire ASEAN region. Hun Sen highlighted enhancing and expanding cooperation among ASEAN ministers in addressing regional and global challenges while enhancing enforcement culture, especially the implementation of the ASEAN political and security community, the Southeast Asia nuclear free treaty and the Declaration of Conducts of parties in the East Sea. ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation made its debut on this occasion to promote cooperation in the peaceful settlement of disputes and other political and security issues.

21st ASEAN Summit in Phnompenh

ASEAN leaders endorsed and appointed Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh as ASEAN Secretary General in the 2013-2017 term. He was speaking with the press after the appointment: “Priorities of the new secretary general term is to ensure efficient leadership, management and supervision of ASEAN Secretariat in the support and implementation of community building program, ASEAN linkages and initiative to narrow development gaps and ensure sustainable and long-term development for all members.”

In his keynot speech, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed that ASEAN maintains its solidarity and defend its central role when settling issues concerning its interests and cooperation - an important condition for the successful construction of an ASEAN community by 2015. The bloc needs to push on with its Community building roadmap during the 2009-2015 period and accelerate the implementation of free trade agreements with partners before talks commence on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. 

PM Nguyen Tan Dung participates at the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnompenh

He urged ASEAN to use its leadership role to enhance dialogues, build trust, share code of conduct standards, and deploy political and security cooperation tools including the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and ASEAN’s six-point principle on the East Sea. PM Dung underlined the need to create a Code of Conduct in the East Sea and strengthen the bloc’s cooperation in dealing with emerging and non-traditional security issues. He said that cultivating an ASEAN Social-Cultural Community will require prioritising the promotion of equal development, matenance of social security, as well as environmental protection, and effective response to climate change and management of natural and human-made disasters. PM Dung welcomed ASEAN’s adoption of an ASEAN Statement on Human Rights, the first political document of the group that seeks to enhance human rights cooperation in the region. It will adhere to ASEAN Charter’s goals and principles and contribute to making the people-centred ASEAN community a reality. The Prime Minister welcomed and praised the organisation of ASEAN’s global dialogue in anticipation of the Summit, describing it as an opportunity for the bloc to attract international financial support that can be invested in accomplishing crucial regional integration goals.