15th ASEAN Summit, related summits conclude
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The 15th ASEAN ( Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit and the related summits were concluded Sunday afternoon, with a series of documents being adopted by the participating national leaders.
The ASEAN Summits and the related summits, including the 12th ASEAN-China Summit, the 12th ASEAN-Japan Summit, the 12th ASEAN- Republic of Korea Summit, the Seventh ASEAN-India Summit, the 12th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the Fourth East Asia Summit, were held between Oct. 23 and 25.
Key documents, such as the Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration on the Inauguration of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation on Education to Achieve an ASEAN Caring and Sharing Community, Draft ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change, and ASEAN Leaders' Statement on ASEAN Connectivity were adopted by ASEAN leaders and other participating national leaders.
Abhisit Vejjajiva, prime minister of current ASEAN chair Thailand, said at the closing ceremony that Thailand laid down three goals upon assuming their chairmanship, including the realization of the ASEAN Charter, the revitalization of a more integrated ASEAN Community, and the reinforcing of human security for all.
He also urged the participating national leaders to embark on a new era of ASEAN cooperation, saying the leaders have to ensure that ASEAN continues to play a "constructive" role in engaging with external partners to maintain ASEAN's centrality in the evolving regional architecture.
As for the ASEAN Community, which was scheduled to be established by 2015, he said that the Community is only six years away, "let us take ASEAN into the future for the benefit of our peoples, our region and the world at large."
The next ASEAN summit and related summits will be held in Vietnam.
