13th ASEAN Summit begins in Singapore

Singapore, Nov 18 (UNI) The 13th Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) Summit and related Meetings will begin here today.

This year's summit, to end on November 21, will coincide with 40th anniversary of the ASEAN, a significant milestone in the association's development, an official statement said today.

The theme of the 13th ASEAN Summit is ''One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic Asia''. The related and pressing issues of 'Energy, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development' will be discussed in the Summit and related Meetings.

On November 20, the leaders will sign the ASEAN Charter, which will transform the ASEAN into a more effective and rules-based organisation, as well as pave the way for the ASEAN's closer integration.

The leaders will also be endorsing the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint which will help chart concrete targets for establishing a single market and production base in the ASEAN region by 2015.

In addition, the leaders will sign the ASEAN Declaration on Environment Sustainability, which will address the need to protect the environment, respond to climate change and conserve natural resources.

During the summit, the ASEAN leaders will meet their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea in the ASEAN Plus.

The leaders will also meet Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea at the Third East Asia Summit (EAS) on November 21.

The EAS Leaders will issue a Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment.

Singapore, as chairman of the ASEAN, will also host the ASEAN-Eurpean Union (EU) Commemorative Summit on November 22, 2007, marking the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-EU relations.

Singapore President S R Nathan will host a dinner for all the visiting Heads of Government/State.

UNI