ASEAN+3 leaders meet in Cambodia to chart cooperation

The ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) Summit was held in Phnom Penh on Monday to discuss measures and actions to further enhance cooperation in the future.

The Summit was made between the leaders of the ten-country ASEAN led by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the leaders of the +3 countries including Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

Before starting the Summit, there was the Commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of the ASEAN+3 Cooperation by screening a documentary on the ASEAN+3 Cooperation achievements.

Speaking at the opening of the Summit, Hun Sen said that the Summit was to review the progress of the ASEAN+3 Cooperation and ASEAN+3 future cooperation directions and the exchange of views on regional and international issues. "During the past 15 years, ASEAN+3 countries have been carrying out cooperation more deeply, covering 66 institutions in 22 priority areas ranging from politics and security to economics, finance, trade and investment, connectivity and socio-cultural affairs," he said. "We are pleased to see the fruitful achievements in all fields from the ASEAN+3 Cooperation."

"The Plus 3 countries have become a strong partnership for ASEAN, contributing to the development of ASEAN and ensuring peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region," he said.

He added that the future support by the Plus 3 countries for ASEAN is very important to build an ASEAN's prosperous region.

Addressing the Summit, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that the Summit was a special one because it was also to mark the 15th Anniversary of ASEAN+3 Cooperation.

"I come here with sincere desire to increase mutual trust and enhance cooperation with all partners and I am looking forward to joining with leaders to discuss future cooperation and development, " he said.

He said over the past 15 years, thanks to a concerted effort by ASEAN and the Plus 3 countries, the cooperation has steadily grown and made remarkable achievements despite changes in regional and international landscapes.

"Together, we have tackled a few major crises successfully. One was during the 1997, the Asian financial storm," he said.

The Summit adopted the ASEAN+3 Leaders' Joint Statement on the Commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of ASEAN+3 Cooperation and the Leaders' Statement on ASEAN+3 Partnership on Connectivity, Hun Sen said.

Founded in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.