ASEAN as center of a broader EAS

VGP – The 5th East Asia Summit (EAS) officially invites Russia and the US to take part in the mechanism on the basis of the EAS’s targets, principles, priorities and ASEAN’s centrality.

October 30, 2010 2:25 PM GMT+7

Leaders stand for a panoramic photo at the 5^th

East Asia Summit, Hà Nội, October 30, 2010 - Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

The 5^th East Asia Summit (EAS) is organized today in Hà Nội to review its 5-year development.

According to Vietnamese PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, Chair of the Summit, the EAS has considerably promoted dialogues on strategic issues, mutual understanding and cooperation among the member countries.

At the Summit, leaders reiterated the EAS’s targets and principles, approved the Hà Nội Declaration confirming to continue dialogues, and mapped out orientations and orientations for the development in the next stage.

The Summit re-emphasized five priority fields of cooperation, namely education, finance, energy, climate change combat, and bird flu control.

Vietnamese PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng presides over the 5^th East Asia Summit, Hà Nội, October 30, 2010 - Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

EAS countries agreed to continue feasible studies on the establishment of the East Asia Free Trade Area (EAFTA) and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA).

Leaders stated that the EAS should enhance dialogues and cooperation on strategic political-economic issues in order to secure peace, stability and prosperity in East Asia.

The 5^th EAS also discussed its expansion and the emerging regional structure.

The Summit hailed ASEAN’s view to build a regional structure through the existing cooperative forums and ASEAN’s centrality.

The Summit officially invited Russia and the US to take part in the EAS from 2011 on.

By Hoàng Hồng Hạnh