President Aquino, Other Southeast Asian Leaders to Gather in Malaysia for the 26th ASEAN Summit

Kuala Lumpur — President Benigno S. Aquino III and other leaders of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will gather here on Sunday (April 26) to discuss the association’s agenda and priorities for this year.

“This year is an exciting year for the peoples of ASEAN because this has been the year chosen for the launch of the ASEAN Community,” Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Jose Eduardo Malaya III said during a recent interview with Radio Television Malacañang here.

Ambassador Malaya said this year’s summit would also focus on ASEAN Post-2015 Vision, as well as on developing small and medium enterprises, promoting regional peace and security, and enhancing the association’s role as a global player.

He said the ASEAN economic integration’s goal is to create a single market and production base that would allow a freer movement of goods and services, as well as investments, capital and people.

The envoy said the ASEAN Community would also create new opportunities for the peoples in the region, including the Philippines.

“At the end of the day, the ASEAN Community is about creating jobs and also fostering the habit of cooperation among governments, and also strengthening friendships,” Malaya said.

“In the ASEAN, we do not only strengthen the people-to-people engagement of two member countries like the Philippines and Malaysia, but between and among ten member states,” he added.

The ASEAN Community comprises three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

Malaya also said Malaysia had proposed that the ASEAN leaders adopt a declaration on a people-centered ASEAN, and a declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates.

The ASEAN Summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi from April 26 to 28.

As this year’s chair, Malaysia has chosen the theme, “Our People, Our Community, Our Vision”.

President Aquino, who is set to arrive here Sunday, will join his fellow leaders at a gala dinner for heads of state/government attending the summit. On April 27, he will attend the 26th ASEAN Summit Plenary Session.

The President is also slated to meet with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, ASEAN Business Advisory Council, ASEAN Youth and Civil Society Organizations.

President Aquino will join his counterparts in the 26th ASEAN Summit Retreat Session in Langkawi and attend the 11th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines — East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit on April 28.

Established in August 1967, the ASEAN groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. PND (co)