Your Majesty,
Your Royal Highness,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I should like, first and foremost to express, on behalf of my delegation as well as well as my own, our sincere thanks and heartfelt appreciation to our host-the Government and people of Vietnam for the warmest welcome and the very generous hospitality that have been extended to us since our arrival in Hanoi, a city renowned for the beauty of its lakes as well as the charm and grace of its traditions and culture.
That we have gathered here in Hanoi for this Summit symbolises how far we have come since the birth of ASEAN in 1967. Even with the current economic crisis, no one can deny the fact that ASEAN has been one of the world's most successful region organisations. We can rightly and truly be proud of what we have achieved together in strengthening the foundations of peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Whatever our critics may say, our successes and our accomplishments were real and substantial indeed.
At the same time, we cannot deny the realities that now confront us. The economic and financial crisis we are going through has somewhat eroded our self-confidence. It has raised doubts and questions about whether ASEAN can regain its vibrancy and vitality. Some have gone so far as to write us off.
And so the tasks fall upon us here at this Summit to prove the critics wrong and to help chart the way forward for ASEAN's recovery and renewal.
What is essential is that we must be united in our common purpose and in our combined strengths if we are to overcome the many pressing challenges facing us.
With the formation of a new government in Cambodia and with the hope that the new government will herald the return of stability and normalcy to Cambodia, we welcome the decision of the ASEAN Heads of State and Government to admit Cambodia into the Association. We in Thailand look forward to the special meeting of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Hanoi where our long-held aspiration for an ASEAN-10 will finally be fulfilled.
The vision of one Southeast Asia that has brought us together, however, was never meant to be an end in itself. ASEAN must be more than the sum of our parts. Our task simply does not end with expansion of ASEAN to include all 10 nations of Southeast Asia. The broadening of our membership must be accompanied by the deepening of our co-operation in all areas and at all levels and in building ASEAN into a true community, and not just an association, of nations.
For sure, being part of ASEAN does not necessarily mean that we all have to fit into the same mold. But it does mean that all of us have an individual and collective responsibility to contribute to advancing the cause of ASEAN. Unless each one of us is prepared to make the sacrifices and contributions that are required, ASEAN would certainly fail to live up to the expectations of its founding fathers as well as our own.
What the economic crisis has brought home to us is that we must never be complacent. We must never take our success for granted. It requires us to be always vigilant and to adapt and adjust to the demands of the changing global environment. It does not mean that we have to break with the past and start anew. But neither can we close ourselves from the winds of change. We must embrace both continuity and change if ASEAN is to remain relevant to the transformation occurring within our societies and the demands of increased interdependence within ASEAN itself as well as in the world at large. We cannot stop the process of globalisation, but we can better prepare ourselves to meet its challenges.
Perhaps, we do not need a new doctrine. But we do need new approaches and new thinking to keep up with the rapid pace of developments, both regionally and internationally. If not, we risk being left behind by other more dynamic and forward-looking regional groups around the world.
Therefore, within ASEAN, we need to enhance our interaction, intensify our habit of dialogue and consultation and strengthen our co-operation on all problems that affect us. If our neighbour is in trouble, we cannot simply build a wall around us. We must be proactive in the way we approach our relations and co-operation. Before we expert others to help us, we in the region must first help ourselves.
Although all of us have been made poorer by the crisis, it does not mean our spirit should be made weaker and that we should all turn inward. In these times of difficulties, it is all the more important that each of us must think beyond ourselves. Even if our resources are limited, we can still lend a helping hand, particularly to those most affected by the economic turmoil. At the very least, measures such as the extension of technical co-operation, the provision of essential food supply and assistance in strengthening our social safety nets for the most vulnerable in society will enable us to pull through the crisis together.
In times of crisis, our unity and co-operation are of the utmost importance. But the present circumstances also require us to be bold and demonstrate our resolve to forge ahead even in the face of adversity. This is particularly true in so far as our economic co-operation is concerned.
In the past our success was due to our economic growth and prosperity. Our renewal will also depend in large measure on our speedy economic recovery. The economic reforms we each are undertaking are crucial and so is the need for restructuring of the international financial architecture. But of over-riding importance is the need for us to generate the dynamics of growth in our region and increase our global competitiveness. We must therefore strengthen our co-operation in the fields of education, technology and the development of our infrastructure network. More importantly, however, we must achieve closer and deeper economic integration be they under the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the ASEAN Investment Co-operation Scheme (AICO) or the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA).
We all may not be able to achieve the same specific time-frame or move at the same pace. But as long as we each redouble our efforts towards closer economic integration and seek to go at least one step beyond our pledged commitment we will create a synergy of strength, capable of propelling ASEAN back to normality and on the path of renewed growth.
But in the end, what is most essential to ASEAN's recovery and renewal is the need for us to realise that economic growth is not an end in itself. Our goal must be growth that is sustainable in terms of equitable income distribution, social justice, good governance in both the public and private sector, greater accountability and transparency in the way we manage our economy and conduct our politics, preserving our environment for the present and future generations in ASEAN.
Your Majesty,
Your Royal Highness,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
