Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, is scheduled to attend the 23rd ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings to be held on 9 – 10 October 2013 in Banda Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.

In addition to the 23rd ASEAN Summit, ASEAN Leaders will attend meetings with key Dialogue Partners, i.e. China, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, and the United States of America, as well as the ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the East Asia Summit (EAS). These meetings will be held under Brunei’s Chairmanship for the last time before the Republic of the Union of Myanmar assumes the role in 2014.

The upcoming Summits aim to review the progress and push forward various areas of cooperation in ASEAN, as well as between ASEAN and Dialogue Partners, and to provide an opportunity for ASEAN Leaders to exchange views on important regional and international issues. 
 

The 23rd ASEAN Summit will focus on the following issues: 1) Strengthening ASEAN Community building which encompasses the implementation of the Blueprints of the three pillars and the Master Plan on ASEAN connectivity; 2) Bandar Seri Begawan Statement on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2015 Vision to reflect ASEAN’s aspiration to continue an evolving process of ASEAN Community even after 2015 to ensure benefits of the peoples of ASEAN such as cooperation in poverty reduction and public health care in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015; 3) cooperation in tackling trans-boundary issues such as disaster mitigation, haze as well as water management which is a primary element in ensuring food security; and 4) exchange of views on regional and international issues including various areas of cooperation in the South China Sea, notably dispute settlement mechanism to promote peace and stability in the South East Asia region.
 

As for the Summits with Dialogue Partners, the Leaders will highlight the review and future direction of cooperation as well as exchange views on the regional and international agendas. For example, the East Asia Summit will discuss emerging trans-boundary challenges that are strategically important to ASEAN, including; 1) food and energy security; 2) climate change; and 3) disaster and pandemic management. Leaders will also discuss the commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership.
 

The upcoming Summits will have a number of outcome documents, including 1) Bandar Seri Begawan Statement on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2015 Vision; 2) Declaration on Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children in ASEAN; 3) ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection; 4) Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment; 5) ASEAN Declaration on Enhancing Cooperation in Disaster Management; 6) Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases; 7) Joint Statement on Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership; and 8) Declaration of the 8th EAS on Food Security
 

In this 23rd ASEAN Summit, Thailand attaches high importance to strengthening ASEAN, especially its Post-2015 Vision emphasizing  people-centred development agenda, cooperation with Dialogue Partners on agriculture, food and energy security, and water management, which directly impact the well-being of peoples in the region. Thailand is of the view that ASEAN must enhance its image as a region of prosperity, peace, and stability and an advocate of universal norms. ASEAN is expected to increase its role in regional and international fora as well as enhance its constructive engagement with major powers for peace, security, and stability in the region provide a foundation for continued sustainable development.

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4  October  2013