ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) would like to share the news released by the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) in Jakarta on 18 November 2014 with regards to the briefing on the result of the 25th ASEAN Summit on 12 November 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, to members of the diplomatic community in Jakarta as follows:
At the ASEAN Secretariat, on 18 November 2014, Dr. AKP Mochtan, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, on behalf of the ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Le Luong Minh, conducted a post-summit briefing.
He reported that good progress had been made with the overall implementation rate of approximately 88% across the three pillars of ASEAN Community. "The Leaders reviewed the process of ASEAN Community building and committed to redoubling efforts towards the realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015", said DSG Mochtan.
Further, DSG Mochtan informed that "the Leaders also stressed the importance of effectively communicating and conveying the impact and benefits of ASEAN's community building and integration to the ASEAN peoples to promote their support, contribution, participation and a sense of ownership." In this regard, the Leaders took note of the ASEAN Communication Master Plan which was launched at the side-lines of the Summit. A series of celebrative activities will be undertaken throughout next year to provide opportunities for ASEAN citizens from all sectors to understand ASEAN and its community building endeavors.
On the political side, ASEAN stressed the importance to maintain and enhance peace and stability as the foundation for economic development and prosperity in the region. Acknowledging the rapidly changing regional and international dynamics, the Leaders stressed the need for ASEAN's strategic positioning in the evolving regional architecture and in major power relations to ensure ASEAN's continued centrality, credibility and relevance.
On the economic front, DSG Mochtan said that "the economic performance of the ASEAN region remains robust with ASEAN's GDP growth rate of 5.1% in 2013. While regional economic growth is forecasted to soften to around 4.6% in 2014, the growth is expected to pick up to 5.3% in 2015. The Leaders stressed the importance to maintain ASEAN's resilient macroeconomic fundamentals and financial stability, address domestic weaknesses especially in infrastructure, and deepen economic integration and liberalization in order to sustain and improve the region's competitiveness for trade and investment."
With regard to the socio-cultural pillar, the Leaders noted the progress in the implementation of priority areas in the ASCC pillar during Myanmar's 2014 Chairmanship which included response to climate change, disaster management and disaster risk reduction, poverty reduction, protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers.
One of the highlights of the last ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw was the turn-over of Chairmanship to Malaysia. "Myanmar's ASEAN Chairmanship and its success constitute another historic milestone of ASEAN. With the conclusion of the 25th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, Myanmar has been acclaimed for having carried out its tasks and duties of the Chair with a deep sense of responsibility," said DSG Mochtan. "We look forward to another year of ASEAN's success under the stewardship of Malaysia", he added.
Malaysia's theme for its chairmanship of ASEAN in 2015 is "Our People, Our Community, Our Vision."
(Source: ASEAN Secretariat News at www.asean.org/news/asean-secretariat-news)
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