14^th East Asia Summit

On 4 November 2019, H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, chaired the 14^th East Asia Summit (EAS) during the 35^th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. The Meeting was attended by Leaders of ASEAN Member States and Leaders of Australia, People’s Republic of China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the Special Envoy of the President of the United States of America. 

       The Meeting underscored the importance of EAS as a premier Leaders-led forum with ASEAN at its core for discussing regional strategic issues related to peace, security, and stability. The EAS seeks to build strategic trust and confidence, and supports constructive dialogue, and a rules-based approach to address traditional and non-traditional security challenges, such as transnational crimes, counter terrorism, human trafficking, disaster management and cyber security. 

       The Meeting noted that the region is confronting a volatile international system and slowing world economic growth. On political-security issues, the Meeting supported ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The Leaders also discussed cooperation in fostering tolerance in society, countering terrorism, cybersecurity and maritime security.  

On economic issues, the Meeting observed the trend in trade protectionism and in this regard, discussed the promotion of multilateralism, free trade, and economic integration. The Meeting exchanged views on emerging disruptions from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and cooperation on infrastructure development and connectivity, digital economy, information and communications technology (ICT) and innovation, and sustainable fisheries. On socio-cultural issues, the Leaders discussed cooperation on climate change, protection of maritime environment and disaster management. 

In addition, the Leaders exchanged views on the regional situation, such as developments in the peace process in the Korean Peninsula, the situation in Rakhine State, and the South China Sea. 

The Meeting adopted the EAS Leaders’ Statement on Combating the Spread of Illicit Drugs, the EAS Leaders’ Statement on Cooperation to Combat Transnational Crime and the EAS Leaders’ Statement on Partnership for Sustainability.  

The EAS was inaugurated in 1999 and currently guided by the Manila Plan of Action to Advance the Phnom Penh Declaration on the East Asia Summit Development Initiative 2018 – 2022. 

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