The Kampuchea Thmey Daily

 27-October-05

“The First East Asia Summit Will be Held at the End of Year 2005: Focus on the member countries of ASEAN”

     October 25, 2005, The University of Cambodia in cooperation with the International Foundation for Arts and Culture have organized the Asia Economic Forum (AEF) on “The Future of Asia: The First East Asia Summit and Its Implications for Asia and the World,” with the participation from Royal Government of Cambodia, national and international organizations, and many others concerned institutions.

     AEF’s main goal is to promote sustainable development, which includes human development, economic progress, and environmental sustainability in Asia at the time of increasing globalization and growing regionalization in the world. Asia in many ways and dimensions is an important continent in the world today. Therefore, it is imperative for the Asia Economic Forum to devote its priority to promote Asia's development, based on the following: Acting as a think tank in Asia by providing a much-needed policy forum for dialogue, for consultation and exchange of views and insights, for networking, and for bringing together Asia’s different sectors, institutions, and society members to shared in partnership of cooperation, collaboration, and concerted actions.

     Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, President of the University of Cambodia, Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that the First East Asia Summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur in December of this year and it is expected that 16 countries will participated (ASEAN 10, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, India and New Zealand). The First East Asia Summit will be a meeting for the top leaders to discuss development issues and concerns of Asia. The summit will be observed by Russia Federation, European Union and other countries.

The participation in the First Asia Economics Forum gathered many important representatives from East Asia and in particular from member countries of ASEAN.  The conference discussed many things including the impacts of the high oil prices, natural disasters, epidemic diseases, widening development gaps within countries and among nations in the region, investment and competitiveness, environmental issues and human resource development.