PHNOM PENH: This Wednesday night the heads of state of ASEAN countries have attended the 16th East Asia Summit, approving three main documents: the Declaration of the Leaders of the East Asia Summit on Mental Security Cooperation, the Declaration of Leaders of East Asia on Sustainable Green Renewal Energy and the Declaration by the Leaders of the East Asia Summit on Economic Growth through Tourism Renewal.

Before the approval of the main documents, the nation representatives have listened an update from the Director-General of the World Health Organization and the Director-General of the World Trade Organization about the world health and trade conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic for the past 18 months.

Key issues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic were discussed, such as cooperation to prevent cases of Covid-19 and vaccination campaigns. All counterparts have agreed to boost and revitalize the economy after the Covid-19 crisis, especially to ensure that economic sectors such as tourism are able to return to normalcy.

Another highlight was ASEAN's central role in the East Asia Dialogue Framework and the will of ASEAN nations to continue playing an important role in the East Asia Dialogue Partnership. Not only that, the Heads of State and Government of the East Asia Dialogue Partners stressed the importance of ASEAN's efforts on the Indo-Pacific to ensure peace, stability and security in the region.

They have also expressed commitment to invest in renewable sources of energy, specially with the upcoming COP 26 meeting in UK scheduled for November. In addition, there was an exchange of views on regional and international issues such as the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula and the new Myanmar's government, with the heads of states of the East Asia Dialogue Partners supporting ASEAN's role in resolving the Myanmar crisis.