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HANOI, Vietnam: ASEAN kicked off its 16th Leaders Summit in Hanoi on Thursday, with calls to accelerate the grouping's integration politically and economically.
Speaking at the Plenary Session, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that for ASEAN to maintain its vitality, it must fulfil three programmes - namely the ASEAN Charter, its economic blueprints and the Connectivity Masterplan.
Meanwhile, the worrying situation in Thailand forced Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to cancel his visit to Vietnam hours before the Summit opened.
Despite world developments, ASEAN continues to maintain its unity and cooperation, said Vietnam's prime minister and current chair of ASEAN. So it was no surprise that Nguyen Tan Dung's opening speech did not mention the current political situation in Thailand.
Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo said there is no doubt ASEAN leaders understand the Thai prime minister's inability to attend the Summit.
He said: "ASEAN is not a collective grouping only for good times. The character of ASEAN is formed by how we react to crisis, whether it is to a natural disaster or man-made crisis. And it is precisely at times like this, that we have got to respond to the situation.
"There are no doubts in my mind that the Leaders of ASEAN would be able to understand why he was not able to come and join us for this meeting. Our first responsibility must be to our own people; the safety and the well-being of the Thai people are at stake."
Meanwhile, one issue likely to dominate discussions is how ASEAN can continue to play a central role in the evolving regional architecture, especially with proposals like the Asia Pacific Community put forth by Australia and Japan.
Mr Yeo said: "It is very important that we stay in the driver's seat, not because it is a matter of right, but because we are able to steer the car in the way which all the passengers can accept to be in their interest, in our collective interest, and in a manner which is fair and transparent.
"This requires activity on our part. We can't be passive and we must always be seen to be responding to an evolving larger situation."
Vietnam's prime minister said: "The problems that ASEAN is to address are neither new nor confined to the year 2010 alone. What is important now is our resolute and strong actions harmoniously combining national interests with the common ones of the entire region, thus improving the quality of our unity in diversity.
"Reality shows that ASEAN is a truly regional organisation with vitality and adaptability to the changes of the time."
Addressing ASEAN leaders, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stressed that for ASEAN to maintain its centrality, its members must be well connected to one another.
He said ASEAN has set up a high-level task force to develop its Connectivity Masterplan.
On the economic blueprint, Mr Lee said that ASEAN must clear any delays expeditiously and put its programmes back on schedule. Only then can it show it is serious in becoming an effective rules-based organisation.
The grouping also formalised the dispute settlement mechanism spelt out in the ASEAN Charter, by signing the Protocol to it. The Protocol also spells out the rules of when issues can be referred to the Leaders Summit for a decision.
Enhancing ASEAN's economic integration is not just about strengthening cooperation within the 10-member grouping. It is also about working closely with its dialogue partners on a whole host of issues, including political and security cooperation.
ASEAN's leaders are expected to discuss these issues in greater detail when they resume for their retreat session on Friday.
Besides the Chairman's Statement at the end of the Summit, leaders will also issue a joint statement on sustaining economic recovery and responding to the challenges of climate change. - CNA/ms
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