Speaking at the launch, Mr. Ong said the book was the highlight of the series of activities to commemorate ASEAN’s 40th Anniversary.

Mr. Ong Keng Yong, the Secretary-General of ASEAN (third from left), accompanied by three youths profiled in the book: (left to right) Mr. Charles Wong, founder of the footwear company Charles & Keith; Ms. Lee Huei Min, violinist; Mr. Edward Teo, researcher in multi-black-hole solutions in string theory

“Over 60% of ASEAN population today comprise of those young people under 35 years old. They are undeniable one day the future leaders of ASEAN. We hope that you will find new inspiration from reading this publication”, said Mr. Ong.

Also present at the book launch were three outstanding young people featured in the book: Ms. Lee Huei Min, Mr. Edward Teo and Mr. Charles Wong. The book is scheduled to be launched in other ASEAN Member Countries and will be available for purchase in major book stores in December 2007.

A page from the book, featuring one of the inspirational youths of ASEAN

Posted on 29 November 2007

Three documents were signed today at the 13th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Singapore

At the Third East Asia Summit this afternoon, the Leaders of ASEAN, Australia, China, India, Japan, ROK and New Zealand signed the Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment.

Earlier in the day, ASEAN Leaders and the Leader of Japan met at the 11th ASEAN-Japan Summit. At the 11th ASEAN-ROK Summit, an Agreement on Trade in Services under the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation among the Governments of the member countries of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing the ASEAN-Korea Centre were signed. ASEAN Leaders also met the Leader of India at the 6th ASEAN-India Summit this morning.

Posted on 21 November 2007

Dr. Surin Pitsuwan Named Secretary-General of ASEAN 2008-2012

H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, a former Foreign Minister of Thailand, was formally appointed as the Secretary-General of ASEAN from 2008-2012.

ASEAN Leaders agreed to the appointment of Dr. Surin, who was nominated by Thailand, during the Thirteenth ASEAN Summit in Singapore this morning.

Dr. Surin will succeed H.E. Ong Keng Yong, whose 5-year term will end on 31 December 2007.
 

Posted 20 November 2007

Highlights from the 13th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings
Singapore, 20 November 2007

The ASEAN Charter was signed by ASEAN Leaders at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore this afternoon. This is the first time that ASEAN Member States, after 40 years of regional cooperation, have codified organic Southeast Asian diplomacy, listed key principles and purposes of ASEAN. Foreign Ministers, Members of the Eminent Persons Group, Members of the High Level Task Force, and delegates to the 13th ASEAN Summit witnessed the historic occasion. After the signing, ASEAN Leaders raised a toast to the signing of the ASEAN Charter.

Three other documents were signed at the same ceremony:

• Declaration on the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint

• ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability

• ASEAN Declaration on the 13th Session of the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 3rd Conference of Parties Serving as the Meeting of the Parties (CMP) to the Kyoto Protocol

Earlier in the day, ASEAN Leaders formally appointed Dr Surin Pitsuwan as the next ASEAN Secretary-General. He will assume his five-year term of office on 1st January 2008.

This afternoon, ASEAN Leaders met the Leaders of China, Japan and ROK and commemorated the 10th Anniversary of ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation with a cake-cutting ceremony, Medallions to commemorate the anniversary also were unveiled.

Posted on 20 November 2007

13th ASEAN Summit Underway
Singapore, 20 November 2007

The 13th ASEAN Summit is underway, with the Chair, Singapore, welcoming the ASEAN Leaders to the meeting. The Summit is being held at the Shangri-la Hotel.

In his opening remarks, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as Chairman, said ASEAN must accelerate and deepen regional integration to stay strong and relevant. He said the ASEAN Charter is a “crucial” step in this process. He called for an early ratification of the Charter, so that it enters into force by the next Summit in Bangkok.

Referring to the ASEAN Chairman’s Statement on Myanmar issued yesterday, Prime Minister Lee said ASEAN Leaders will strive to prevent the Myanmar situation from obstructing ASEAN’s efforts to deepen integration and build an ASEAN Community.

Later today, the Leaders are expected to sign four documents:

• Declaration on the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint

• ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability

• ASEAN Declaration on the 13th Session of the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 3rd Conference of Parties Serving as the Meeting of the Parties (CMP) to the Kyoto Protocol

• ASEAN Charter

Posted on 20 November 2007

What to expect at the forthcoming
13th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Singapore

High on the agenda of the 13th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Singapore, 18-22 November 2007, is the ASEAN Charter. It has been nearly two years since the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Charter. After actively consulting various ASEAN sectors and stakeholders, including civil society organisations, businessmen, academics and parliamentarians, the ASEAN Charter is ready to be signed by ASEAN Leaders at the forthcoming summit. The historic document comes as ASEAN celebrates its founding 40 years ago. The ASEAN Charter is expected to serve as a legal and institutional framework, as well as an inspiration for ASEAN to meet future challenges and opportunities. ASEAN is committed to narrowing the development gap and to advance ASEAN integration through building an ASEAN Community to further peace, progress and prosperity of its peoples.

Another important document to be signed at the Summit is the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint. This is a master plan that identifies the priority measures and actions to be undertaken to transform ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour and freer flow of capital by 2015. The blueprint is meant to ensure the full and effective functioning of the ASEAN Economic Community to generate more growth and create more jobs.

The key theme of discussions at the 13th ASEAN Summit and related meetings will be energy, the environment, climate change and sustainable development. In line with this, ASEAN Leaders will sign a declaration on environmental sustainability to protect and manage the environment, respond to climate change and conserve the region’s natural resources.

The Leaders also will declare their support for a successful outcome of the negotiation at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bali next month, which seeks to pave the way for a climate change roadmap beyond 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol expires.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation. Building on the foundation of this cooperation, the Leaders of ASEAN and China, Japan and ROK will adopt the Second Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation and the Work Plan to guide ASEAN Plus Three cooperation over the next ten years.

ASEAN also is working towards issuing a declaration on climate change, energy and the environment at the Third East Asia Summit, which brings together the Leaders of ASEAN and Australia, China, India, Japan, ROK and New Zealand.

Other documents that will be signed at the 13th ASEAN Summit and related meetings include:

1. by ASEAN Ministers:

   • The ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement on Architectural Services

   • The ASEAN Framework Arrangement for the Mutual Recognition of Surveying Qualifications

   • The Protocol to Implement the Sixth Package of Commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services

   
   

2. with ASEAN Dialogue Partners: a number of agreements on trade and areas of cooperation (negotiations ongoing)

Posted on 12 November 2007