(LOS ANGELES, California) — The leaders of the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded their Special US-ASEAN Summit by issuing a joint statement titled the Sunnylands Declaration.
President Benigno S. Aquino III attended the first standalone summit between US President Barack Obama and Southeast Asian leaders held at the Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage.
The summit was divided into two sessions focusing on promoting an innovative, entrepreneurial ASEAN Economic Community; and protecting peace, prosperity, and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
At the conclusion of the summit, the US and ASEAN leaders issued the Sunnylands Declaration.
The declaration reaffirmed 17 key principles, which include “mutual respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality and political independence of all nations; and firm adherence to a rules-based regional and international order that upholds and protects the rights and privileges of all states.”
The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment “to peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”
The leaders, including President Aquino, also committed “to maintain peace, security and stability in the region, ensuring maritime security and safety, including the rights of freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas, and unimpeded lawful maritime commerce; and to promote cooperation to address common challenges in the maritime domain.”
The declaration also pledged that the leaders would “lead on global issues such as terrorism and violent extremism,” and in combating trafficking in persons, drugs, wildlife and timber, as well as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
The US and 10 members of ASEAN also committed to “address climate change and develop a climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable ASEAN,” as well as to promote security and stability in cyberspace.
Moreover, leaders agreed to “support the advancement of a strong, stable, politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible, people-oriented, people-centered and rules-based ASEAN Community.”
The declaration also committed to “strengthen people-to-people connectivity through programs that engage ASEAN and American citizens, particularly young people, and that promote opportunities for all our peoples, particularly the most vulnerable, to fulfill the vision of the ASEAN Community.”
Established in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. PND (co)