TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Deputy Secretary-General for Community and Corporate Affairs, Dr. AKP Mochtan, said that ASEAN leaders have agreed to intensify their efforts towards the establishment of the ASEAN Community. The statement was delivered on behalf of ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Le Luong Minh at a post-summit briefing at the ASEAN Secretariat on Tuesday, November 18, 2014, in Jakarta.

Dr. Mochtan said that the commitment was made following a review that revealed that the overall implementation rate across all three pillars of ASEAN Community has reached 88 percent, including in the progress in the implementation of priority areas, which included response to climate change, disaster management and disaster risk reduction, poverty reduction, protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers. "The Leaders reviewed the process of ASEAN Community building and have agreed to commit to redoubling efforts towards the realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015," said Dr. Mochtan in Jakarta.

The review found that ASEAN nations have found positive indicators which provides further impetus for the doubling of efforts by ASEAN leaders. The economic growth of the entire bloc, for example, is forecasted to pick up to 5.3 percent in 2015 - up from 5.1 percent in 2013 and exceeds Asia's 2014 average, which stands at 4.6 percent. "As such, it is important to maintain ASEAN's resilient macroeconomic fundamentals and financial stability, address domestic weaknesses especially in infrastructure, and deepen economic integration and liberalization in order to sustain and improve the region’s competitiveness for trade and investment," said Dr. Mochtan.

In order to support the successful establishment of the Community, Dr. Mochtan stressed the importance of maintaining and enhancing peace and stability as the foundation for economic development and prosperity in the region, and ASEAN leaders have pledged to strategically position ASEAN in the evolving regional architecture and in major power relations to ensure ASEAN's continued centrality, credibility and relevance.

At the briefing, Dr. Mochtan also stressed the importance of effectively communicating and conveying the impact and benefits of ASEAN’s community building and integration to the ASEAN peoples to promote their support, contribution, participation and a sense of ownership. "A series of celebratory activities will be planned throughout next year to provide opportunities for ASEAN citizens from all sectors to understand ASEAN and its community building endeavors," he said.

Myanmar's ASEAN Chairmanship and its success constitute another historic milestone of ASEAN, said Dr. Mochtan. With the conclusion of the 25th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, ASEAN leaders have praised Myanmar for having carried out its tasks and duties of the Chair with a deep sense of responsibility. "We look forward to another year of ASEAN's success under the stewardship of Malaysia," he added. (*)