PHL hosts 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits

LEADERS FROM 20 countries from the ASEAN Member States, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia, United States (US), Canada, European Union (EU), and the United Nations Secretary General gather in Manila for the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, being held from Nov. 10 to 14. This is the second of the two ASEAN Summits that the Philippines is hosting this year.

Under the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World,” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte chairs the plenary of the 31st ASEAN Summit, where ASEAN Leaders will discuss the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the way forward and the appointment of the new secretary-general of ASEAN. They will also exchange views on pressing regional and international issues.

The President will also chair ASEAN’s 40th Anniversary Commemorative Summits with the United States of America, Canada and the European Union; 20th ASEAN Plus Three Commemorative Summit; the 20th ASEANChina Summit, 19th ASEANRepublic of Korea Summit; 20th ASEAN-Japan Summit; 12th East Asia Summit; 15th ASEAN-India Summit; and the 9th ASEAN-UN Summit. These meetings will review and take a look at the future direction of cooperation within these mechanisms.

The ASEAN Leaders will also have an interface with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) while the ASEAN Plus Three ( APT) Leaders will have an interface with the East Asia Business Council. The ASEAN Leaders, along with the Leaders of Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand, will have Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership ( RCEP) Leaders’ Summit. The ASEAN Secretary- General will also attend the Summit.

Yesterday ( Nov. 12), the President hosted a Special Gala Celebration on the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN.

The ASEAN Leaders will sign the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, a landmark document that further seeks to strengthen social protection, access to justice, humane and fair treatment, and access to health services for the migrant workers of Southeast Asia.

At the Closing Ceremony of the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, President Duterte will hand over the Chairmanship of ASEAN to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, the incoming Chair for 2018.

Prior to the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits on Nov. 13 to 14, preparatory meetings at the levels of Ministers and Senior Officials took place on Nov. 10 to 12 at Clark, Pampanga and in Manila.

The Association of S ou t he a s t Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on Aug. 8, 1967 i n Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration ( Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Brunei Darussalam then joined on Jan. 7, 1984, Vietnam on July 28, 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on July 23, 1997, and Cambodia on April 30, 1999, making up what is today the 10 Member States of ASEAN.

PILLARS

The ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by the ASEAN Leaders on the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN, agreed on a shared vision of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.

— To build on what has been constructed over the years in the field of political and security cooperation, the ASEAN Leaders have agreed to establish the ASEAN Political- Security Community (APSC). The APSC shall aim to ensure that countries in the region live at peace with one another and with the world in a just, democratic and harmonious environment.

ASEAN Economic Community

— The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community ( AEC) in 2015 is a major milestone in the regional economic integration agenda in ASEAN, offering opportunities in the form of a huge market of $ 2.6 trillion and over 622 million people. In 2014, AEC was collectively the third largest economy in Asia and the seventh largest in the world.

ASEAN- Socio- Cultural Community

— The ASEAN SocioCultural Community aims to contribute to realizing an ASEAN Community that is people- oriented and socially responsible with a view to achieving enduring solidarity and unity among the peoples and Member States of ASEAN. It seeks to forge a common identity and build a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and where the well-being, livelihood, and welfare of the peoples are enhanced.

AIMS AND PURPOSES

As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:

1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavors