REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed hope the planned ASEAN Community 2015 will emphasize not only economic, but also political and security cooperation, as it becomes part of the region's security management efforts.

"The ASEAN Community is not only an ASEAN Economic Community, but also an ASEAN political and security community and ASEAN social and cultural community," the President said, before leaving for Myanmar to attend the 24th ASEAN Summit on Saturday morning.

The economic, political, security, social and cultural pillars which make up the ASEAN Community should be developed together, he said.

"Cooperation among the 10 ASEAN member states should cover not only economic, but also political and security issues. If all the pillars can be achieved, then they can provide contributions," he said.

He added that ASEAN should also be able to overcome a wide range of security issues in the region.

One of the regional issues of concern is the South China Sea. If the ASEAN Community can forge political and security cooperation, the regional grouping can ease tension in the region, he said.

Likewise, if the ASEAN Community has significant political and security cooperation, they will also be able to ease tension in East Asia, he noted.

At the 24th ASEAN Summit, the Indonesian leader will attend a plenary session and joint retreat of ASEAN heads of state and government. The session will discuss a wide range of regional and global strategic issues, which have become a concern for ASEAN member states.

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