President Triet chairs the second ASEAN-US Leaders’ Summit

26/09/2010 13:06

President Nguyen Minh Triet, as Chairman of ASEAN in 2010 has proposed that ASEAN and the US to further develop their cooperative relations in various fields from politics-security and economics-trade to socio-culture for mutual interest.

President Triet, who is holding the post of ASEAN Chairman in 2010, said that when he chaired the second ASEAN-US Leaders’ Summit together with his US counterpart President Barack Obama in New York on Sept. 24

At the summit, ASEAN and US leaders agreed that both sides should improved the bilateral relationship and reviewed the progress in the ASEAN-US dialogue relationship since the first conference took place in Singapore in November 2009 and put forward measures and orientations to promote the enhanced partnership.

Presiden Triet ( L ) and US President Barack Obama at ASEAN-US Leaders’ Summit in New York on Sept. 24

The leaders highlighted the importance of both sides’ continued dialogues at senior level. ASEAN and the USA are committed to efficiently operating in carrying out existing agreements especially the action plan which was outlined by the period 2011-2015 and the third ASEAN-US Leaders’ Summit in 2011 on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Indonesia .

They also agreed to establish a group of ASEAN-US famous figures to study and recommend measures to enhance bilateral ties.

Both ASEAN and US leaders reached consensus on carrying out the action plan on the joint vision statement on the ASEAN-US Enhanced Partnership in the current period and the 2011-2015 period.

They emphasised the necessity to closely coordinate in achieving the common targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and promote cooperation in trade and investment, effective energy utilisation, food and agriculture security, people, cultural and educational exchange, science and technology, disaster management, coping with natural calamities, health care, environment, biodiversity preservation and fighting climate change, terrorism and trans-national crimes.

US President Obama wants to enhance its comprehensive relations with ASEAN, , repeating his nation’s support for ASEAN’s central role in the region and regional cooperation forums, including the EAS.

The US leader committed to assisting ASEAN in building the community, implementing ASEAN connectivity, bridging the development gap and implementing MDGs. He also said the US will assist ASEAN in raising its capability to cope with global challenges, especially in the Mekong sub-region, through the annual US-Lower Mekong Ministerial Meeting.

Presiden Triet ( 4th, L ) , US President Barack Obama and other ASEAN leaders’ at the Summit

He commended ASEAN on its role and contributions to multilateral forums, including the G20 process.

On their sides, ASEAN leaders spoke highly of the US willingness to consul ASEAN on the participation of the protocol on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty and welcomed the US support for activities of the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights and the ASEAN Commission on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Women and Children.

Speaking at the meeting on behalf of ASEAN, Vietnamese State leader Nguyen Minh Triet informed the participants of the results of building the ASEAN Community and its external relations with the US . Presiden Triet as well as other ASEAN leaders welcomed the US policy of accelerating the constructive cooperation with the region, the membership of the US and Russia at the East Asia Summit (EAS) as of 2011 and the attendance of the US Secretary of State and the Russian Foreign Minister at the fifth EAS in Hanoi in October 2010 as guests of the EAS President.

The summit issued a joint communique in which ASEAN and US leaders put forward measures to enhance the all-around ASEAN-US cooperation, bringing their ties to a new height.

by Khac Van ( from New York ) - Translated by Tri Dan