(VNA) - The upcoming 21st ASEAN Summit will promote ASEAN integration and strengthen the bloc's role in the region’s social structure and economy, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen said in his opening speech at the ASEAN Symposium in Phnom Penh on Tuesday. He said ASEAN has made remarkable achievements since its establishment in 1967, and that ASEAN is now seen not only as a region of peace, stability and strong growth, but also as a closely-integrated political and economic entity. Hun Sen highlighted ASEAN’s role in Asia and its importance as a strategic partner of countries and organizations around the world. According to Hun Sen, ASEAN has made every effort to implement the action plans for the three pillars of the ASEAN Community - political-security community, economic community, and socio- cultural community. The Cambodian leader said his country, as the ASEAN chair in 2012, would like to encourage the group’s members and development partners to strengthen cooperation towards the establishment of an ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Husen (Photo: Internet)
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The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community will be high on the agenda of the upcoming ASEAN Summit. Leaders will discuss important issues such as small and medium-sized enterprise development, energy security, environment, trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, and sustainable development. The summit will bring together US President Barack Obama, Republic of Korea President Lee Myung-bak, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda with the ASEAN heads of state.