CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT OF THE 23rd ASEAN SUMMIT

1. We, the Heads of State/Government of the Member States of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), gathered in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam for the 23rd
ASEAN Summit on 9 October 2013. We had extensive discussions under the theme “Our People,
Our Future Together” which promotes the collective commitment of our people, bound together
through the spirit of unity in diversity, to bring forward an ASEAN Community that is politically
cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible.

2. In light of the current global challenges, we reaffirmed the importance of drawing upon
the experiences and endeavours of ASEAN in further strengthening the existing bonds of
solidarity and cooperation to advance our common interests and overcome challenges within the
region and beyond, including through consultations and consensus-building, as well as our
mutual respect for fostering greater understanding and good neighbourliness.



3. These existing bonds of solidarity and cooperation underpin our resolve to intensify our
community-building efforts by upholding the ASEAN Charter, implementing the Roadmap for an
ASEAN Community, particularly the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan II (2009-
2015), and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC).

4. In advancing the frontiers of our cooperation that will be more responsive to the needs of
our people and our future together, we tasked the ASEAN Coordinating Council, in consultations
and coordination with the three ASEAN Community Councils, to develop ASEAN’s vision beyond
2015. In this regard, we adopted the Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on the ASEAN
Community’s Post-2015 Vision.

5. As a reflection of our political will, we agreed to strengthen the ASEAN Secretariat and
review the various ASEAN Organs, its processes and institutions in ensuring ASEAN’s centrality
in the evolving regional architecture. In this regard, we looked forward to the early
establishment of the High-Level Task Force on Strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat and
Reviewing the ASEAN Organs.

6. We recognised the role of local governments in ASEAN’s community building process
particularly to better prepare our people to realise the ASEAN Community 2015. In this
connection, we commended the Meeting of Governors/Mayors of the Capital Cities of ASEAN
under the theme “ASEAN Goes Local: Contributing to the ASEAN Community 2015” held in Jakarta,
Indonesia on 18-19 September 2013 which reflects their strong commitment to play an active
role in the process of ASEAN integration.