ASEAN aims to build regional community by 2015

The Philippines, the current chair of ASEAN which will host the 12th ASEAN Summit and 2nd East Asian Summit from Dec. 10 to 13 in Cebu, the Philippines, said ASEAN countries aim to build a regional community by 2015.

In a written interview with Xinhua Tuesday, Philippine Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Erlinda Basilio said the summit will issue a Cebu Declaration on Acceleration and Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

She said such an ASEAN community will have three pillars: security community, economic community and social cultural community.

"The theme of our chairmanship which is 'Our Caring and Sharing Community' reflects President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's deep commitment to the realization of an ASEAN Community by 2015," she said.

Basilio said that ASEAN leaders will issue a Cebu Declaration Towards a Caring and Sharing Community "which puts people's welfare at the very center of ASEAN programs."

The summit will also issue a declaration of the blueprint of the ASEAN Charter, which will give the association a "legal personality" and provides "the fundamental law to its activities and projects", she said.

The ASEAN leaders will also sign a declaration on protection of the rights of migrant workers and an ASEAN Counter-Terrorism Convention.

Source: Xinhua