The leaders considered the EAS as an important dialogue and cooperation forum in the region, helping promote the dialogue and cooperative tendencies for peace, stability and development in East Asia.

The leaders agreed to continue their cooperation in five prioritized fields: energy, finance, education, bird-flu prevention and natural disaster mitigation. At the Summit, the East Asian leaders thoroughly discussed the topics of energy, environment, climatic changes and sustainable development which are burning global issues requiring international and regional efforts. They also signed the Singapore Declaration on Climatic Change, Energy and Environment.

Mentioning the future orientations for the EAS, the leaders confirmed that the Summit will become an indispensable part of the regional structure, with its own organic relations with other existing cooperative regimes and forums, especially ASEAN+3, for peace, security and prosperity in East Asia.

Addressing the EAS, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng asserted that the EAS has gained initial significant progresses. He urged East Asian countries to proactively boost specific cooperative activities, focusing on the prioritized fields, especially natural disaster mitigation and epidemic prevention. PM Dũng informed that Việt Nam is now actively preparing to host the EAS Ministerial Meeting on Environment in late 2008.

At the ASEAN + 1 Summits with Japan, RoK and India, the leaders showed their pleasure at promising results in realizing the partnership between ASEAN and the three countries. The leaders approved the Joint Declaration to finish negotiations on establishing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP), signed the Agreement on Trade and Services under the Framework Agreement on ASEAN-RoK Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding on founding the ASEAN–RoK Center, and confirmed their determination to finish negotiations on the establishment of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area.

Japan pledged to fund US $300 million and help train 300 ASEAN experts in maritime safety, environment and sustainable exploitation of sea-routes. The East Asian country also promised to contribute 500,000 doses of bird-flu vaccine. The RoK undertook to grant US $5 million for the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI).

Addressing these summits, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng raised many important opinions and proposals to strengthen the cooperation between ASEAN and dialogue partners in the fields of mutual benefit. The Vietnamese PM also suggested these countries further support and assist ASEAN, especially in infrastructure construction, capacity increasing, poverty alleviation, and scientific and technological development.

By Xuân Hồng