MFA Press Statement: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Attendance at the 21st ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong attended the 21st ASEAN Summit today in Phnom Penh. During the Summit, the ASEAN Leaders had frank discussions on regional and international issues, as well as reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN's Community building and economic integration targets. The Leaders agreed to set the date of 31 December 2015 for the creation of the ASEAN Community. To this end, the Leaders agreed to redouble efforts to implement and expand ASEAN Connectivity projects. The Leaders also reaffirmed the importance of and discussed ways to maintain ASEAN unity and centrality in the evolving regional architecture, and ASEAN’s role in promoting regional peace and stability.

The Leaders launched the ASEAN Institute of Peace and Reconciliation and signed the Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. The Leaders also adopted the ASEAN Leaders' Joint Statement on the Establishment of ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre and the Plan of Action (2013-2017) to implement the Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations (Bali Concord III). The Declaration, which was signed by the ASEAN Leaders at the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November 2011, charts ASEAN's external wing by developing, where possible, more cohesive and coordinated positions on issues of common interest and concern.

PM Lee also had separate meetings with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

PM Lee and PM Dung looked forward to elevating bilateral relations to that of a Strategic Partnership in 2013, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Both PMs also had a good exchange of views on regional developments and ways to strengthen cooperation within ASEAN and maintain ASEAN unity.

During his meeting with PM Singh, PM Lee welcomed India's decision to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which would further deepen India's engagement of ASEAN and the region. On the ongoing second review of the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), both PMs agreed to direct their officials to work towards the expeditious conclusion of the review. Both PMs also discussed ways to strengthen ASEAN-India cooperation ahead of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, which would be held in New Delhi next month, as well as exchanged views on key regional and international issues of mutual concern.

PM Lee is scheduled to participate in the regular ASEAN Plus One Summits with China, India, Japan and the Republic of Korea, the 4th ASEAN-US Leaders Meeting, and the ASEAN Plus Three Commemorative Summit tomorrow, as well as the 7th East Asia Summit the following day.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
18 NOVEMBER 2012