ID :
16262
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 17:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/16262
The shortlink copeid
FOOD SECURITY, ENERGY HIGH ON ASEAN SUMMIT AGENDA
BANGKOK, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- With food security and energy posing the biggest challenges to Asean's aim of becoming an integrated community by 2015, these two topics will be the main agenda at the Asean Leaders' Summit here from Dec 15 to 18.
Vitavas Srivihok, Director of Saranrom Institute of Foreign Affairs, said the recent steep increases in food and oil prices were widening the developmentgap between the 10 member countries.
"Our four-day meeting here will focus on enhancing cooperation among member countries to tackle the food security and energy issues. This will be put forward for the leaders' deliberation in December," he said on the sidelines ofthe 42nd Asean Standing Committee meeting here Monday.
In recent months, the world rice price shot above US$1,000 a tonne while oilcame close to US$150 per barrel.
Vitavas said the highlights of the December Summit would be the adoption of the Asean Charter, which would give the 10-member grouping a legal identity and turn it into a more effective and efficient organisation after 41 years inexistence.
He said that while Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam had rectified the charter, Thailand was likely to follow suit by end ofthe month. Indonesia and the Philippines have yet to endorse it.
During the meeting, Vitavas said, officials would also deliberate on the restructuring of the Jakarta-based Asean cecretariat in view of the growing roles and challenges facing the grouping once the charter is enforced at the endof the year.
In his speech at the opening of the meeting, Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said Thailand's chairmanship of Asean would focus on three Rs -- to realise the purpose and vision of the Charter, including the realisation of the Asean humanrights body and restructuring of the secretariat.
"Secondly, we want to revitalise Asean as a people-centred community. The future of Asean will be stronger if it becomes a people-driven organisation andnot a leaders-only driven organisation," he added.
At the same time, Thailand wanted to reinforce Asean cooperation to better contribute to the quality of life of its people and narrow the development gaps, Tej said, adding that if left unattended, the success of regional integrationwould at best be judged at the level of the least-ready member country.
Thailand would provide at least 10 long-term scholarships this year for citizens of Asean member countries to be trained in areas of common interest, hesaid.
Vitavas Srivihok, Director of Saranrom Institute of Foreign Affairs, said the recent steep increases in food and oil prices were widening the developmentgap between the 10 member countries.
"Our four-day meeting here will focus on enhancing cooperation among member countries to tackle the food security and energy issues. This will be put forward for the leaders' deliberation in December," he said on the sidelines ofthe 42nd Asean Standing Committee meeting here Monday.
In recent months, the world rice price shot above US$1,000 a tonne while oilcame close to US$150 per barrel.
Vitavas said the highlights of the December Summit would be the adoption of the Asean Charter, which would give the 10-member grouping a legal identity and turn it into a more effective and efficient organisation after 41 years inexistence.
He said that while Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam had rectified the charter, Thailand was likely to follow suit by end ofthe month. Indonesia and the Philippines have yet to endorse it.
During the meeting, Vitavas said, officials would also deliberate on the restructuring of the Jakarta-based Asean cecretariat in view of the growing roles and challenges facing the grouping once the charter is enforced at the endof the year.
In his speech at the opening of the meeting, Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said Thailand's chairmanship of Asean would focus on three Rs -- to realise the purpose and vision of the Charter, including the realisation of the Asean humanrights body and restructuring of the secretariat.
"Secondly, we want to revitalise Asean as a people-centred community. The future of Asean will be stronger if it becomes a people-driven organisation andnot a leaders-only driven organisation," he added.
At the same time, Thailand wanted to reinforce Asean cooperation to better contribute to the quality of life of its people and narrow the development gaps, Tej said, adding that if left unattended, the success of regional integrationwould at best be judged at the level of the least-ready member country.
Thailand would provide at least 10 long-term scholarships this year for citizens of Asean member countries to be trained in areas of common interest, hesaid.
