The 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting opened here Tuesday, drawing foreign ministers and representatives from 10 Southeast Asian countries to focus on the establishment of the ASEAN Community by the end of this year. 

 

The ten-nation bloc is in its final spurt to realize the goal of establishing a single community by the end of 2015, which involves a plan to create a common economic, political-security and socio-cultural region. 

 

"This will be a huge step towards making the ASEAN motto 'One Vision, One Identity, One Community' a reality," said Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the opening ceremony. 

 

The ASEAN Community's Post-2015 Vision, the bloc's roadmap for the next ten years, is also expected to be adopted this year. 

 

By establishing the ASEAN Community, the region is hoping to enhance its role as a global player and take a more active role in the international community, according to Najib. 

 

He expressed belief that an increasingly integrated ASEAN is on course to be the world's fourth largest economy in 2050, and it is time for ASEAN to fulfill its potential. 

 

"The unity between our nations has never been stronger," said Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman at the opening ceremony, who also showed great optimism. 

 

A series of related meetings will be held following the foreign ministers' meeting, in which ASEAN's dialogue partners, including China and the United States, will take part and exchange views on regional issues with the bloc. 

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is here for the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting from Aug. 4 to 7 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.

(Xinhua)