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  Business Times 31 Jul 07
Environment to take centre stage at Asean summit in Nov

(MANILA) Energy, the environment, climate change and sustainable development will be the theme of discussions when Singapore hosts the 13th Asean summit and related summits in November.

In a 16-page joint communique yesterday marking the end of the one-day 40th Asean ministerial meeting, the ministers said the theme will serve as the basis in issuing the Asean Leaders' Declaration on Environmental Sustainability to be signed during the summit.

They also welcomed the proposal of Singapore, Asean's next chair, to work on the Declaration on the Environment to be signed and issued at the 3rd East Asia summit in Singapore.

'We expressed concern over the impact of global warming and climate change,' the ministers said.

They called for concerted efforts involving the international community, the private sector and the civil society to address the environmental challenges.

The ministers also cited the need to step up intra-Asean cooperation to prevent and mitigate transboundary haze pollution in the region.

They likewise urged Asean member countries to expedite the ratification of the Asean agreement on transboundary haze.

South-east Asia is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world; thus the need to coordinate and cooperate during disaster emergencies, the joint communique stated.

It called for the early ratification of the Asean agreement on disaster management and emergency response that will provide immediate relief, assistance and rehabilitation to disaster victims as well as reduce disaster losses in the region.

The Singapore summit will also consider finalising and signing the guidelines that will lead to the establishment of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) by 2015 to deepen regional economic integration.

Called the AEC blueprint and strategic schedule, it will serve as an integrated and coherent master plan with clearly defined measures and actions, milestones and timelines.

'Asean's commitment to establish a single market and production base is characterised by a competitive economic region with equitable economic development and one that is fully integrated into the global economy,' the ministers said.

In their communique, the ministers expressed appreciation for the 'outstanding stewardship and contribution' of Singaporean Ong Keng Yong to Asean as secretary-general from 2003 to 2007.

Former Thailand foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan was nominated to succeed Mr Ong.
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