KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi here Monday called on the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) countries to take concrete and determined steps to guide ASEAN toward the realization of the ASEAN Community.

    Speaking at the 11th ASEAN Summit, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said, "The decision to build an ASEAN Community is a strategic one. With the respective Plans of Action of the Pillars of the ASEAN Community and the Vientiane Action Program ready, we should now move ahead with full steam."

    The 9th ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia, in October 2003, adopted a milestone document, the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II, which envisions the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2020.

    He said that the choice of the theme of this year's summit of "One Vision, One Identity, One Community" is "a reflection of our belief in pursuing a people-centered approach in building the ASEAN Community."

    Badawi described the decision to draft the ASEAN Charter as "a historic and significant step." He said, "The signing of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Charter will mark a new milestone in ASEAN's development into a mature regional organization."

    Referring to challenges the ASEAN is facing, Badawi said that terrorism "is still a major threat, despite the recent demise of one of the masterminds of the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist group who had been known to be involved with a series of bombings in the region."

    He said that given the current pre-occupation of Avian Influenza, which has affected some countries in the region, ASEAN should "do its part in contributing to the overall efforts against communicable diseases."

    He also urged the ASEAN countries to focus on the energy security to develop alternative energy sources as well as fuel efficient technologies in view of the uncertainty in oil prices. Enditem