15th Asean Summit opened

The 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits officially commenced on Friday morning in Cha-am and Hua Hin districts.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin hotel.

Leaders from Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia did not attend the ceremony.

In his speech, Prme Minister Abhisit said the purpose of the summit was to continue with the plan to build a "people-centred Asean Community" that is rules-based and more effective in meeting the challenges of this time.

He said Asean had come together to weather the global financial and economic crises, climate change, food and energy security, natural disasters and pandemic diseases such as the Influenza A (H1N1).

Asean had reinforced itself as an outward-looking group with the completion of Free Trade Agreements with  key trade partners in the region including China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

On the vision for an Asean Community in 2015, the prime minister said he would like it to be a community of action, connectivity and people.

As a Community of Action, Asean could act decisively and promptly address internal and external threats and challenges to regional security and people's well-being, he said.

By being a Community of Connectivity, goods and people, as well as investments and initiatives, could move across the region without obstacles.

He said the Community of People will promote equitable access to human development opportunities, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

 Asean would strive to become a more action-oriented and better-connected community.