AMN /
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has emerged as Community through a declaration today. The historic declaration was signed by its all ten members during the ongoing ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one among the East Asia Summit leaders who witnessed the historic moment. The ASEAN members termed emergence of the Community an important milestone ever since it was founded in 1967. In another development, the ASEAN members endorsed the ASEAN 2025-Forging ahead Together that chalks out a plan of action for next ten years.
It provides a road map for the member countries to strengthening the community on political, economic and socio-cultural fronts. On the other hand, the ASEAN Economic Community will focus on creating an integrated and well connected economy which will be business-friendly, trade-facilitative and market driven to inspire investor confidence. Our correspondent says that the declarations means increased economic opportunities and access to quality jobs, wider choices and better quality products and services.
The signatories include: Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanlal Bolkiah, Combodia Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Indonesia President Joko Widodo, Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Malaysia Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Myanmar President Thein Sein, Philippines President Benigno S. Aquino III, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-O-Cha (retd) and Vietnam Prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung.