Bangkok--13 Oct--TAT
Heads of state and governments from around the Asia-Pacific region will again be in these twin beach resorts between 23-25 October, 2009, for a series of summits that will lead to far-reaching changes in the economic, social, educational and environmental fabric of the region.
The main event is the 15th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but the ASEAN leaders will also be holding a number of side summits with the leaders of China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
ASEAN leaders are setting in place the legal, financial, and structural framework for the realisation of a single ASEAN Community by 2015, along the lines of the European Union. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s vision for the ASEAN Community is designed to be: ‘A Community of Action’ which can act decisively and promptly to address both internal and external threats as well as challenges to regional security and well-being of its peoples;
‘A Community of Connectivity’ where goods and peoples, as well as capital and investments can move without obstacles throughout the region via region-wide transportation linkages and harmonized rules and regulations;
‘A Community of Peoples’ where people can participate in and fully benefit from regional integration.
Highlights of expected outcomes of the summits include the inauguration of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, the adoption of a declaration on climate change, as well as the adoption of a declaration on education cooperation to achieve an ASEAN Community.
The leaders are also discussing the formation of a Network of East Asian Think-Tanks (NEAT) and ways to enhance social and cultural cohesiveness among the young people of ASEAN. Also on the agenda are the Feasibility Study on East Asia Free Trade Area (EAFTA), a Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing the ASEAN-China Centre, and a MoU between ASEAN and China on Cooperation in the Field of Intellectual Property.
During the summits, ASEAN leaders will also meet with representatives from the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), ASEAN Youth, and ASEAN Civil Society Organisations in a clear reflection of Thailand’s will to promote people’s participation in the ASEAN Community-building process.
The Opening Ceremony of the 15th ASEAN Summit will be held on 23 October, 2009. A full list of the outcome documents and media statements will be posted on the ASEAN website: http://www.15thaseansummit-th.org/.
This is the second time the ASEAN and other associated summits are being held in Hua Hin this year. The beach resort is ideally located for such high-level events in terms of infrastructure support, abundance of accommodation facilities, and increasingly important, the possibility of establishing good security arrangements.
Located about 200 kilometres south of Bangkok, Hua Hin is the country’s oldest beach resort, having been popularised by Thai royalty in the 1920s. A number of world-class golf courses, hotels and resorts, health and spa facilities have put Hua Hin even more into the international spotlight. Hua Hin and its sister resort Cha-am are among the seven magnificent destinations on the west coast of Thailand.
ASEAN arrivals to Thailand comprise the biggest market share of all visitors. Although there has been a decline in the first half of this year due to the financial crisis and the impact of the swine flu fears, TAT is expecting a strong rebound in the second half.
Contact information:
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org
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