The special ASEAN-US Leaders Summit was the first ever to be held in the United States and the very first summit following the establishment of the ASEAN Community.
The summit marked a watershed year for both the ASEAN and for the increasingly close ASEAN-US strategic partnership.
On the conclusion of the special summit, the heads of state/government of the member states of the ASEAN and the United States took the opportunity to declare 17 key principles that will guide their cooperation going forward:
1. Mutual respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality, and political independence of all nations by firmly upholding the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, the ASEAN Charter, and international law;
2. The importance of shared prosperity, sustainable, inclusive economic growth and development, and the nurturing of our young people to sustain continued peace, development, and stability for mutual benefit;
3. Mutual recognition of the importance of pursuing policies that lead to dynamic, open, and competitive economies that foster economic growth, job creation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and connectivity, and that support SMEs and narrow the development gap;
4. Our commitment to ensuring opportunities for all our people through strengthening democracy, enhancing good governance, and adhering to the rule of law, promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedom, encouraging the promotion of tolerance and moderation, and protecting the environment;
5. Respect and support for ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN-led mechanisms in the evolving regional architecture of the Asia-Pacific;
6. Firm adherence to a rules-based regional and international order that upholds and protects the rights and privileges of all states;
7. Shared commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the use of threat or force in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS);
8. Shared commitment to maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region, ensuring maritime security and safety, including the rights of freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas, and unimpeded lawful maritime commerce as described in the 1982 UNCLOS as well as non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of activities;
9. Shared commitment to promoting cooperation to address common challenges in the maritime domain;
10. Strong resolve to lead on global issues such as terrorism and violent extremism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, as well as illicit trafficking of wildlife and timber;
11. Shared commitment to addressing climate change and developing a climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable ASEAN, as well as implementing individual countries nationally determined contributions made under the Paris Climate Agreement;
12. Shared commitment to promoting security and stability in cyberspace consistent with the norms of responsible state behavior;
13. Support for the advancement of a strong, stable, politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible, people-oriented, people-centered, and rules-based ASEAN Community;
14. Shared commitment to strengthening people-to-people connectivity through programs that engage ASEAN and American citizens, particularly young people, and that promote opportunities for all our people, particularly the most vulnerable, to fulfill the vision of the ASEAN Community;
15. Shared commitment to promoting a global partnership for sustainable development through the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda to ensure a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive society where no one is left behind;
16. Shared commitment to enhancing collaboration at the international and regional fora, especially at the existing ASEAN-led mechanisms; and
17. Shared commitment to continuing political dialog at the head of state/government level through our leaders attendance at the annual ASEAN-US Summit and the East Asia Summit.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
