Hua Hin (Thailand), Oct 24 : Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Saturday issued a joint statement on climate change and adopted a declaration on strengthening education cooperation at the 15th ASEAN Summit.

In the statement, ASEAN leaders said they shared common concern on the impact of climate change to the economy, environment and well-being of people in the region, Xinhua reported.

The leaders said they underscored the need for ASEAN to work closely together and with other partners for a successful Copenhagen Conference of States Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

ASEAN leaders, in the statement, reaffirmed their position that "Parties to the UNFCCC should protect the climate system on the basis of equity and in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and respective national circumstances and capabilities".

On strengthening education, ASEAN leaders said they underscored the importance of human resource development in promoting understanding among ASEAN peoples and ensuring the competitiveness of ASEAN Community in the global market.

"We adopted the Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation on Education to achieve an ASEAN caring and sharing society which would promote regional standard of competencies, promote greater mobility of students within educational institutions in the region, as well as promote ASEAN awareness in all three pillars of the ASEAN community", the statement of the 15th ASEAN Summit said.

For this purpose, ASEAN leaders have entrusted relevant sectoral ministers to develop a five-year work plan on education.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. (IANS)