Statement from the Prime Minister's Office on the 21st ASEAN Summit

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will attend the 21st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 18 to 20 November 2012. He will be accompanied by Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade and Industry.

In addition to the 21st ASEAN Summit, PM Lee will participate in the regular ASEAN Plus One Summits with China, India, Japan and the Republic of Korea, and the 4th ASEAN-US Leaders Meeting. PM Lee will also participate in the ASEAN Plus Three Commemorative Summit involving the Leaders from ASEAN Member States, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, as well as the 7th East Asia Summit which includes all ten ASEAN Leaders and their counterparts from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.

In Phnom Penh, the Leaders will discuss the progress in ASEAN’s community building efforts towards their common goal of realising the ASEAN Community by 2015. They will also exchange views on regional and international issues, and discuss ASEAN’s role in the regional political, economic and security architecture.

The ASEAN Leaders will sign the Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. The Leaders from ASEAN Member States, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea will launch negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

During the absence of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean will be the Acting Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
SINGAPORE
17 NOVEMBER 2012