ASEAN leaders pose for pictures during the opening ceremony of the 24th ASEAN Summit in Naypyidaw May 11, 2014.
ASEAN leaders on Sunday pledged to strengthen ASEAN unity and solidarity as well as ASEAN's central role in maintaining and promoting peace, stability, harmony and prosperity in the region.
Gathering at the 24th ASEAN Summit, which was wrapped up here Sunday, the leaders adopted the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on Realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015 to reaffirm their commitment to the aims and purposes of ASEAN.
The leaders agreed to further enhance ASEAN cooperation in promoting democracy, good governance and rule of law, in addition to promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, so as to further enhance a rule-based community of shared values and norms, the declaration said.
They also agreed to explore the possibility for a regional framework based on the principles contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and in line with the Bali Principles on Mutually Beneficial Relations.
The leaders vowed to further promote peace and reconciliation in the region through relevant mechanisms and entities associated with ASEAN, and strengthen cooperation for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law.
They also pledged to work closely with nuclear weapon states on the early signing and ratification of the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone without reservations by nuclear weapon states.
Meanwhile, the leaders will seek to strengthen ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture through ASEAN-led processes such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, and ASEAN Regional Forum, according to the declaration.
The summit, themed Moving Forward in Unity to a Peaceful and Prosperous Community, was chaired by Myanmar President U Thein Sein. It was the first time for Myanmar to assume the ASEAN chairmanship since it joined the bloc in 1997.
Source: NAY PYI TAW, May 11 (Xinhua)
24th ASEAN summit wraps up with significant progress