Several important joint statements have been endorsed during the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits which came to an end in Vientiane on Thursday.
The statements adopted include the Chairman’s Statement of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits, ASEAN Plus Three Leaders’ Statement on Promoting Sustainable Development Cooperation, and the ASEAN Plus Three Statement on Active Ageing.
Other statements were the ASEAN-Australia Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism, Joint Statement of the 19th ASEAN-China Summit to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, and the Joint Statement between ASEAN and China on production capacity cooperation.
As stipulated in the Chairman’s Statement, leaders welcomed the positive progress made in ASEAN Community building and emphasised the importance of the full and effective implementation of this forward-looking roadmap that will continue to provide guidance in charting a path over the next decade.
The leaders also reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, security and stability in the region, as well as to the peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law.
Concerning the ASEAN Plus Three Leaders’ Statement, leaders from ASEAN and the Plus Three countries (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, adopted in New York in September last year.
This is intended to reduce poverty and narrow the development gap within and between countries and to promote the sustainable development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as well as to promote sustainable tourism cooperation.
Concerning the ASEAN Plus Three Statement on Active Ageing, leaders recognised the growing trend of an ageing population in the region and the need to address the challenges in providing adequate care and support and promoting the quality of life and well-being of older people.
They agreed to promote age-friendly communities including in rural areas through sustainable and accessible hard and soft infrastructures, as well as the development of healthcare industries that help older people to be self-reliant in their daily life, and provide convenient access to public services. They also agreed to encourage older people to be economically active after retirement, through part-time employment, self-employment, tax incentives for entrepreneurs, and the improvement of working environments.
Regarding the ASEAN-Australia Joint Declaration, leaders condemned in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attacks around the world resulting in the unacceptable loss of innocent lives and countless injuries.
They agreed to strengthen their cooperation to counter the threat from terrorism and violent extremism through various actions including the exchange of information, law enforcement, border management and the development of effective responses to terrorist threats.
In the Joint Statement of the 19th ASEAN-China Summit, the leaders recognised that ASEAN-China ties are among the most substantial and dynamic, bring mutual benefits, and contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity.
They also reaffirmed the importance of China’s support for ASEAN integration as well as ASEAN’s efforts in realising ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together, including through narrowing the development gap and enhancing ASEAN Connectivity, as well as maintaining ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture.
Source: Vientiane Times
