CONSCIOUS also that the strengthening of ASEAN integration through the accelerated establishment of an ASEAN Community will reinforce ASEAN's centrality and role as the driving force in charting the evolving regional architecture;
BELIEVING that at the core of ASEAN's response to the increasing number of regional challenges must be its efforts to build a strong ASEAN Community premised on a closely integrated, dynamic and vibrant regional economy, deeper political and security cooperation and stronger socio-cultural linkages;