Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - ASEAN leaders have agreed to adopt and implement a joint platform to form a "common voice" in responding to global issues in multilateral fora by 2022.

The agreement was stated in the Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations or the Bali Concord III signed by the leaders of the ten ASEAN member countries in the 19th ASEAN Summit which began here on Thursday.

The signing of the Bali Concord III took place in the Nusa Dua 5 Room, at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC).

The heads of state/government of Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam have agreed that the year 2022 would be the time for the implementation of the ASEAN common platform in responding to global issues on security, politic, economic and socio-culture.

"Therefore, we assign the concerned ministers to follow up and implement this Declaration by making coordination with the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC)," the ASEAN Leaders stated in the 17-page Declaration.

The ASEAN leaders have also agreed to tackle transnational crimes and threats, to ensure safe and free international navigation, to promote maritime cooperation, and fight piracy and maritime crimes.

They have also agreed on developing a nuclear free region, pursuing non-proliferation and disarmament efforts and on the utilization of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

In the Bali Concord III, the ASEAN leaders have also expressed their determination to intensify cooperation in corruption eradication efforts concerning the recovery of asset and fugitives.

The ten leaders signing the Bali Declaration were Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, President of Myanmar Thein Sein, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Filipino President Benigno Aquino III, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dun, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia.

They also witnessed the signing of two documents, respectively on the Establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center) by the ASEAN foreign ministers, and the ASEAN Declaration on Unity in Diversity -- Towards Strengthening the ASEAN Community by the ASEAN ministers for cultural affairs.

There was also a signing of the Second Protocol to Amend the Agreement on Trade in Goods under the agreement framework on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between ASEAN and South Korea.

The 19th ASEAN Summit would be followed by the Sixth East Asian Summit, and summits between ASEAN and its dialog partners, namely China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, the United States and Russia. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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