The top Vietnamese diplomat told VNA in an exclusive interview that leaders discussed ways to step up the roadmap for a community of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially in the economic field, ahead of the target date of 2020.

"This is fresh progress of primary significance, which will bring depth to programmes and plans of cooperation among ASEAN and contribute to an increase in the group's status," Nien said while in Kuala Lumpur.

Nien also emphasised the significance of the process to convene an ASEAN convention on strengthening the ASEAN alliance and improving the regional organisation's legal status.

Nien said that the signing of the Declaration on building the ASEAN Charter at the 11th ASEAN Summit was an important beginning, which was followed by the ASEAN Eminent Persons Group's (EPG) research and proposals for the building of the charter. The EPG, including former Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam, began working during the summit and it is expected to submit its report to ASEAN leaders at the next summit in December 2006.

According to the Minister, the Vietnamese delegation, led by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, has actively participated in all discussion sessions of the summit, and has been praised by participating countries for its practical contributions.

During the summit, PM Khai stressed the necessity for ASEAN to strengthen solidarity and unity, boost cooperation, uphold its position in the international arena, and particularly, maintain its pivotal role in resolving regional issues.

ASEAN should mobilise all resources to accelerate the implementation of the main plans of action, especially in the areas of boosting economic cooperation and narrowing the development gap between member countries, Khai said, adding that Viet Nam has proposed hosting the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Development Cooperation Forum (IDCF) in 2006 to continue mobilising all available resources for these efforts of the group.

Additionally, Khai offered an important suggestion aiming to further strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and its state dialogue partners for mutual benefit and in accordance with the ASEAN community's objectives. He proposed that dialogue partners focus on speeding up regional association and integration, maintaining peace and stability in the region, as well as implementing the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) in order to accelerate the adoption of the Code of Conduct on the East Sea (COC).

He also proposed essential measures to intensify regional cooperation with the aim of helping member countries cope with challenges such as natural calamities and disease epidemics, especially the current bird flu outbreak.

Foreign Minister Nien said that the countries participating in the first East Asian Summit, which drew to a close on Dec. 14 and included the ten ASEAN member countries plus China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, was an opportunity for countries to frankly exchange views on the opportunities and challenges the region faces.

Countries at the Summit affirmed their determination to promote dialogue and cooperation for regional peace and security, including combating terrorism and transnational crimes, and security on sea; economic, commercial, financial cooperation, energy security and expanded information technology cooperation; narrowing the development gap; and effectively resolving outstanding problems such as natural calamities and epidemics, said Nien.

The first East Asian Summit has been successful, marking a fine beginning of a new, important cooperation process in the region, reflecting the countries' hopes of enhancing dialogue and cooperation to solve regional matters of common concern, and demonstrating the dynamic and decisive role of the ASEAN, Nien said.

"The results of the discussions at the meeting will create a new driving force for the trend of dialogue and cooperation in the region in the coming period," the FM said in conclusion./.