Malaysia's Statement Will Outline Some Eight Priorities - Foreign Minister

By Rohani Ibrahim PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), April 20 (Bernama) -- Chairman Malaysia's Statement during the 26th ASEAN Summit will outline some eight priorities for the 10-member bloc which will include to formally establish the ASEAN Community by year-end, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said. He said that other priorities included developing ASEAN Community's Post-2015 Vision, steering ASEAN closer to its people and strengthening the development of small and medium entrepreneurs (SME) in the region of some 633 million people. In an email interview with Bernama, Anifah said that the statement would also touch on expanding intra-ASEAN trade and invesments, strengthening ASEAN's institutions, promoting regional peace and security and enhancing ASEAN's role as a global player. "The Chairman's Statement is a usual practise during ASEAN Summits," he said in response to Bernama's question on whether or not a declaration or a communiqué would be issued at the end of the 26th ASEAN Summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi on April 26-27. Anifah said that in addition, Malaysia had also proposed that ASEAN leaders adopted a Declaration on a People-Centred ASEAN as well as a Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates. However, these would be decided by the ASEAN leaders during the Summit, he added. Themed 'Our People, Our Community, Our Vision', Malaysia's vision throughout the chairmanship, which it assumed on Jan 1, is the creation of a people-centred Asean involving all sectors of society in the grouping's activities. It was in line with this theme that the summit would also be held in Langkawi with the objective of bringing ASEAN closer to the people. Formed on Aug 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, ASEAN's membership has expanded to include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. --BERNAMA