Mr. Chairman,
Your Majesty,
Your Excellencies the ASEAN Heads of State/Government,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish first of all to extend my heartiest congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Pham Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on his election as Chairman of the Sixth ASEAN Summit. I am fully confident that under your wise guidance, Mr. Chairman our deliberations will be productive and fruitful.

This is the first time that Myanmar is participating in a formal ASEAN Summit and I look forward to cordial and beneficial exchange of views with my colleagues.

Mr.Chairman,

The Summit is taking place at a time when our region is facing a number of unprecedented challenges. The first, and perhaps, the most important challenge is in the field of economy and finance. It is now over a year since the monetary and financial crisis took hold of the region and no country in the ASEAN had escaped its negative impacts. We all are affected, to a varying degree and it is a situation that will be with us in the immediate future.

However, we in Myanmar are quite confident that our countries will be able to overcome the present difficulties and that our region will again rise up to resume its rightful position as the most economically dynamic region of the world. Our confidence is two fold - the strong economic fundamentals of the individual nations and the collective commitment of the member countries to cooperation and integration within the ASEAN system. With a combined population of nearly five hundred million people, abundance of natural resources, industries and skilled labour force as well as strong managerial and technology base, our nations will surely be able to tide over this temporary setback in our development endeavours. Already some nations are beginning to show signs of recovery and there has been resumption of some capital inflows as well as the return of currency stability to the region.

On the other hand, ASEAN as an organization is making strenuous efforts to introduce new approaches and mechanisms to mitigate the consequences of the present crisis including the promotion of intra-ASEAN trade through the use of regional currencies and counter-trade measures. I wish to laud our Economic and Financial Ministers and Senior Officials who have worked so hard to achieve regional approach and enhanced cooperation in trying to prevail over these adverse conditions.

The second challenge which we face today is the strengthening of ASEAN unity. In an organization composed of 9 nations, and hopefully soon to be 10, it is only natural that while we enjoy many similarities, there are also differences in levels of development, as well as political and economic systems and outlooks. Nonetheless, it is an undeniable fact that in the last 31 years of existence, ASEAN has successfully achieved substantial integration in the spirit of unity in diversity and through commitment to the concept of one Southeast Asia. We remain confident that the solidarity of our Association can be further consolidated by reaffirming our basic fundamentals and the code of conduct as laid down in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. The guiding principles of respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of one another remain valid today as they were enunciated.

Thirdly, there is the challenge to the ASEAN way of life. There are also some people, particularly from outside the region, who are denigrating ASEAN values and ASEAN ways while expressing doubt about the future of the Association itself. But these people are wrong. The region may currently be facing financial and economic difficulties and some nations may be readjusting politically, economically and socially to new circumstances and conditions, but all ASEAN members remain united in the commitment to ASEAN ideals for regional integration. The ASEAN way of seeking consensus continues to be valid today as it has strengthened the relations of the members for more than three decades. By pursuing quiet diplomacy enhanced positive interaction, we shall surely be able to overcome the pessimists and build an ASEAN worthy of taking its rightful place in the international community.

Mr.Chairman,

The ASEAN Vision 2020, which we all have adopted at the Informal Summit at Kuala Lumpur last Year, provides a common goal for the region. It is therefore most fitting that at this Sixth ASEAN Summit, we shall be issuing the Hanoi Declaration as well as the Hanoi Plan of Action which delineates in clear terms the course of action to be followed in implementing our Vision 2020. In this regard, I wish to thank both the Foreign and Economic Ministers as well as the Senior Officials who have worked so hard to produce a blue print for ASEAN Vision 2020. I am fully confident that with this Plan of Action our Association will surely be on the way to realizing the goals set out.

I am also heartened by the fact that timely action is being taken by our senior officials and our Ministers to look into whether or not the ASEAN Secretariat's role and function correspond with the additional responsibilities which we will have tasked them with the adoption of Hanoi Declaration and Hanoi Plan of Action. Without an efficient ASEAN Secretariat, the goals we leave set to realize our vision will, indeed, be difficult to implement. At the same time, I wish to congratulate our senior officials and the ASEAN Secretariat for streamlining not only the ASEAN Secretariat administrative cost but also for holding meetings back-to-back wherever possible as a measure of austerity.

The ARF came into existence only four years ago but its importance and significance for regional security have been recognized by all. As ASEAN forms the core of the Forum, it is only natural that ASEAN should continue to exercise leadership and the Chairmanship should remain with the Association.

The expansion and enhancement of functional cooperation in various fields ranging from health and education to culture and information provide a solid foundation for strengthening ASEAN awareness and ASEAN identity among the peoples of Southeast Asia. It is our hope that functional cooperation will be further consolidated through our joint efforts. In this regard I take note of the important agreement reached by our ministers for Home Affairs at their First Ministerial Meeting in Manila when they signed the ASEAN Declaration on Transnational Crime on 20 December 1997. Believing that cooperation among the ASEAN countries need to be strengthened to combat transnational crimes, I am happy to inform that Myanmar is willing to host the Second Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in Yangon in the coming year.

Mr.Chairman,

Myanmar joined ASEAN last year at the 30th AMM Meeting and since that time, it has faithfully adhered to ASEAN principles and guidelines and fulfilled its obligations. Myanmar today enjoys unprecedented peace and stability and a firm and solid economic foundation is being built. We therefore do not see any difficulty in meeting the AFTA goals within the designated time-frame of 2008. Indeed, with regard to the CEPT Scheme, we look forward to fulfilling some of the obligations, in such fields as Unprocessed Agricultural Products (UAP) well in advance of the specified period.

With a growing agricultural production and increasing availability of energy resources, Myanmar in not too distant future can become a reliable source for region's food and energy security. Allow me to say that Myanmar will not be failing in its responsibilities to contribute towards regional peace, security and prosperity.

In conclusion, I wish to say that Myanmar looks forward to working together with other Member States for the successful implementation of the lofty and noble goals and tasks set forth in the theme of this year's Summit - "Unity and Cooperation for an ASEAN of Peace, Stability and Equitable Development".

Thank you.