Stronger ties with UN needed for ASEAN development

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN -- The United Nations (UN) and ASEAN need closer ties to form a "bold" plan to address post-2015 ASEAN Community challenges as well as climate change issues, UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon said here on Thursday.

Addressing the ASEAN leaders and the media, UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon had largely the same message to deliver -- greater engagement.

He outlined the four areas of regional connectivity, human rights, sustainable development and climate change as spheres that ASEAN and the UN have to work closely on till 2020.

"ASEAN is at the threshold of an exciting new era as it moves towards establishing the ASEAN Community in 2015. This is a year that is important for the UN as well for three reasons. First, it marks the deadline of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and ASEAN has to realize these benchmarks," he noted.

"Second, 2015 is when we must finalize an ambitious legal climate change agreement. The member states agreed in 2011 to a binding climate change agreement by 2015 and allow five more years for ratification."

"Thirdly we have to define a bold but practical sustainable development plan post 2015. I count on the contribution of ASEAN countries towards all these objectives,"the UN chief said.

He also called on the ASEAN leaders to present their ideas on achieving sustainable development in the post-2015 Economic Community that would focus on equitable growth as well as address challenges such as distribution of natural resources.

He also invited ASEAN leaders to a conference on climate change being organized by the UN in September 2014.

He also pledged to allocate one full day to discuss climate change at the United Nations General Assembly. "We have just reviewed the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive partnership between UN and ASEAN, which was signed three years ago. Our collaboration covers a wide span from disaster management to climate change from human rights to social welfare. I look forward to our continued partnership focused on producing tangible results for the people of Southeast Asia."

UN assistance was also promised for ASEAN to combat corruption, terrorism, human trafficking along with other forms of transnational crime. The UN chief also suggested that ASEAN join the UN in peacekeeping efforts.

He hailed the efforts by ASEAN to maintain peace and called for continued dialogue to resolve regional disputes.