21st ASEAN Summit opens in Phnom Penh

 PHNOM PENH, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The 21st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit opened in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on Sunday with ASEAN Community building high on the agenda.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the rotating chair of ASEAN this year, presided over the summit under the theme "One Community, One Destiny".

In his opening address, Hun Sen said the summit took place at a time when ASEAN has made great achievement in cooperation over the past 45 years, particularly the recent accomplishment¹ in ASEAN Community building.

To take stock of implementation² during the past years and to find appropriate solutions to further accelerate the pace of ASEAN Community building, strengthen ASEAN's external relations and enhance ASEAN centrality and international status, ASEAN members should "adopt a more comprehensive and cooperative approach, particularly through ASEAN cooperation," he said.

According to Hun Sen, realizing ASEAN Community by 2015 should remain top priority of ASEAN.

"We should continue to exert our efforts in finalizing³ a complete legal framework in line with the ASEAN Charter in order to improve the operational efficiency of ASEAN institutions and processes," he noted⁴.

The prime minister said that maintaining regional peace and security is indispensable for ASEAN's prosperity and inclusive growth in the entire ASEAN region.

The 10-member regional bloc⁵ should "continue to work together to maintain ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture and further strengthen cooperation with its partners at all levels, especially through the ASEAN plus One and ASEAN plus Three frameworks based on concrete strategies and action plans on economic cooperation including trade."

Hun Sen highlighted enhancing and expanding cooperation among ASEAN ministers in addressing regional and global challenges, such as financial and economic crisis, climate change, the depletion⁶ of natural resources, and pandemics.

ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation⁷, which was put forward at last year's ASEAN summit in Bali, Indonesia, was officially launched at the opening ceremony.

Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The ASEAN summit precedes an ASEAN-plus-three summit and the East Asia Summit which brings together the leaders of ASEAN and its dialogue partners -- the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, India, Australia and New Zealand.

1 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

2 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

3 finalizing   

vt.完成（finalize的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• You may edit registered information any time during the finalizing period. 您可以在规定期限内随时编辑修改注册资料。 来自互联网
• Natsun Trimming & Ironing, Finalizing the Perfection. 40南山整烫，完美在此定格。 来自互联网

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

6 depletion   

n.耗尽，枯竭

参考例句：

• Increased consumption of water has led to rapid depletion of groundwater reserves.用水量的增加导致了地下水贮备迅速枯竭。
• Farmers should rotate crops every season to prevent depletion of the soil.农夫每季应该要轮耕，以免耗尽土壤。

7 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。