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His
Excellency
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I
would like to begin by thanking Your Excellency, Prime
Minister, and the Government and People of Vietnam for the
great effort your have made in hosting the Summit, and for
the warm hospitality that you have extended to all of us.
I
would also like to congratulate Your Excellency on your
fine stewardship of Summit.
Under
your capable and skillful guidance, the meeting has
reached a most successful conclusion.
The
cordiality and candor of our deliberations have
demonstrated beyond doubt that despite the difficulties in
the region, the ASEAN spirit is well and alive.
We
share a common understanding on the gravity of the crisis
afflicting the region and the urgency to address it.
We
know that there are no soft options.
The
only way to pull ourselves out of the crisis is to press
on with economic reforms and regional economic
co-operation.
I
am very pleased that we have adopted a number of important
documents.
I
am particularly happy that we are ready to implement the
Hanoi Plan of Action.
We
are also ready to proceed with our set of bold measures.
This
is significant for a number of reasons.
First,
the plan provides a comprehensive roadmap for regional
growth and development in the next six years.
This
serves as a strong impetus to our collaboration in the
political, economic and functional areas, which have been
the three main pillars of regional co-operation in ASEAN.
Second,
the Hanoi Plan of Action has proposed several important
measures to tackle the regional economic crisis.
Third,
adopting the Hanoi Plan of Action demonstrates clearly
that ASEAN leaders are serious about the ASEAN’s vision
of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Southeast Asia.
Together
with the adoption of the Bold Measures, they show our
strong determination to regain business confidence,
enhance economic recovery and promote growth.
All
of these, will give new momentum to the region’s growth
and development.
Although preoccupied with the economic crisis, we are also
laying the foundation for long-term regional stability and
prosperity.
I would like to commend our Ministers and officials for
having brought about the successful conclusion of the
second protocol to the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in
Manila this year.
Countries outside the region would soon be able to accede
to the Treaty.
In addition, I urge our Ministers and officials to
continue the good work in the ASEAN Regional Forum.
It has been a useful and constructive forum for confidence
building and fostering greater understanding between ASEAN
and the major powers.
As we bring the Summit to a close, I would like on behalf
of my ASEAN colleagues to once again thank our warm and
generous Vietnamese host for all their efforts in making
our stay a very enjoyable and memorable experience.
I look forward to welcoming your all to Bandar Seri
Begawan for the next ASEAN Summit.
Thank you.
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