His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam greets by His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore upon arriving at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore on 20 November 2007

20 November 2007 - His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, today attended the 13th ASEAN Summit together with other Heads of State and Government of ASEAN member countries. The Summit was held in a Retreat session and was chaired by His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore.

During the retreat, leaders reviewed the progress of ASEAN over the past year, particularly the process of ASEAN integration, discussed the ASEAN Charter and the blueprint for the ASEAN Economic Community as well as matters of mutual interest.

His Majesty highlighted several urgent matters which require careful consideration by ASEAN member countries, especially climate change, environment, energy and sustainable development as these would have direct impact on long term development of ASEAN.

In view of that, His Majesty stressed the importance of ASEAN member countries working closely together through exchange of information, sharing expertise and develop common approaches in dealing with the challenges described above.

As a modest contribution to addressing climate change, His Majesty alluded to the “Heart of Borneo Initiative” involving Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia in which the countries agreed to work closely in forestry management, particularly in sharing best practices and upgrading of skills. Other ASEAN member countries were welcome to take part and support activities and projects hosted by each of the three countries.

His Majesty also welcomed the issuance of several Declarations relating to environmental sustainability and the Bali conference, which would be signed later this afternoon. These demonstrates ASEAN’s commitments in addressing and working together on environmental challenges such as transboundary pollution, loss of forest and conservation of coastal and marine biodiversity.

At the same time, His Majesty also shared his views on the process of ASEAN Community building. In this regard, His Majesty was pleased with the achievements made in the political and security, and economic pillars of ASEAN as shown by the completion of the ASEAN Charter and the Blueprint for the ASEAN Economic Community. However, His Majesty urged ASEAN to strengthen the Socio-Cultural Pillar by enhancing coordination and implementation. His Majesty stated that a people-oriented ASEAN must be in a position to better deliver and respond to the needs of the people, particularly in the areas such as health, education, environment and disaster management. His Majesty also further emphasised the need for ASEAN to come up with more programmes and projects to promote the “we feeling” in ASEAN in view of the cultural diversity in the region.

On the ASEAN Charter, His Majesty stated that it would bind them closer together to achieve ASEAN’s goals in the three pillars and reminded ASEAN to uphold its values, in particular, the culture of dialogue and consultations, respecting sensitivities, understanding each other and promoting tolerance.
 

His Majesty stated that the Charter will mark a new beginning for ASEAN which will ensure the implementation of ASEAN’s commitments. It will allow ASEAN to be more cohesive politically, better integrated economically and socially responsible to its people. His Majesty noted ASEAN’s achievements over the last 40 years and expressed hoped that the Charter pave the way for a brighter future. His Majesty reiterated ASEAN’s strong political-will in working together in an environment which calls for commitment and compliance, while at the same time putting emphasis on the importance of ASEAN’s friendship and understanding of each other’s concerns. His Majesty stated that this will reflect ASEAN’s strong commitment to create an effective and efficient organisation.

After the Retreat Session, His Majesty joined other ASEAN Heads of State and Government for a Working Lunch with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

Immediately after the Working Lunch, His Majesty and other ASEAN leaders proceeded to sign the Declaration on the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint; ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability; ASEAN Declaration on the 13^th Session of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the 3^rd Session of the Conference of the Parties Serving as the Meeting of the Parties (CMP) to the Kyoto Protocol; and the ASEAN Charter.His Majesty then joined his ASEAN and Northeast Asian colleagues in the ASEAN Plus Three Summit in which they reviewed ASEAN Plus Three cooperation, and exchanged views on international and regional issues

In expressing happiness with the progress made since the last Summit in Cebu, His Majesty commended the achievements made in political, economics and socio-cultural cooperation since the ASEAN Plus Three Summit was first convened ten years ago. Since then, both sides had worked together in addressing challenges, including the financial crisis, infectious diseases, such as SARS and combating terrorism. His Majesty observed that the ASEAN Plus Three process had develop beneficial ideas and initiatives as well as impressive mechanisms involving ministerial and officials useful to manage the growing number of projects and programmes.

His Majesty stated that the endorsement of the Second Joint Statement on the East Asia cooperation and the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Work Plan would deepen the relationship further, especially in the areas of economic cooperation, connectivity, information technology and the emphasis on the environment and sustainable development.

His Majesty believed that the ASEAN Plus Three Summit provided the leaders with great hope and confidence for the relations between ASEAN and Northeast Asia to grow further, where both sides could continue to work together in all areas to ensure peace and prosperity in the region.

At the end of the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, His Majesty and other leaders proceeded to a cake-cutting ceremony to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation. The event was followed with the unveiling of Medallions of ASEAN Plus Three 10-Years Cooperation.

Later in the afternoon, His Majesty together with the leaders of ASEAN and China attended the ASEAN-China Summit, in which they reviewed ASEAN-China cooperation and its future direction, and exchanged views on international and regional Issues.

His Majesty expressed pleasure on the development and intensity of the ASEAN-China cooperation over the past year. His Majesty commented that both sides have seen all-round progress in the dialogue relations and in implementing the new priority areas which include energy, transport, culture, public health and tourism.

His Majesty expressed appreciation to China for its role in promoting peace and stability in the region, such as its valuable support in ASEAN’s work on non-traditional security issues as well as China’s efforts in the Korean Peninsula.

His Majesty believed that all these positive developments were underpinned by the excellent political and economic ties between the two sides as well as the growing interactions amongst its people, in particular, the youth, students, academics, officials and entrepreneurs.

His Majesty stated that trade between ASEAN and China had grown significantly since the signing of the Goods and Services Agreements, and encourage both sides to conclude its Investment negotiations in order to complete the ASEAN-China Framework Agreement. His Majesty congratulated China for hosting the recent 4th China-ASEAN Expo where Brunei Darussalam was pleased to be the Country of Honour. His Majesty also asked China to take an active role as the Development Partner for BIMP-EAGA.

At the end of the ASEAN-China Summit, His Majesty and other leaders of ASEAN and China witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the People’s Republic of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nation on Strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary Cooperation. Signing on behalf of ASEAN was His Excellency Ong Keng Yong, the Secretary General of ASEAN; while His Excellency Li Changjiang, Minister of the General Administration for Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine signed on behalf of China

In the evening, His Majesty attended a gala dinner hosted by His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong, President of the Republic of Singapore; and Madame Ho Ching, in honour of the leaders attending the 13th ASEAN Summit and related Summits.

Accompanying His Majesty were Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Isteri Azrinaz Mazhar binti Hakim Mazhar. The gala dinner was held at the Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore.