Leaders from the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and six dialogue partners will sign the ASEAN Charter to make ASEAN more integrated with competitive economy during the 13th ASEAN Summit meetings, said a statement released by the media center yesterday.

As chair of ASEAN, Singapore will convene the 13th ASEAN Summit and related meetings from Nov. 18-21 at the Shangri-La Hotel. This year's summit will coincide with its 40th anniversary. Singapore will also host the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit on Nov. 22.

The theme of the 13th ASEAN Summit is "One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic Asia." The 13th ASEAN Summit and related meetings will also discuss the related and pressing issues of "Energy, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development."

According to the statement, the leaders will sign the ASEAN Charter at the 13th ASEAN Summit on Tuesday, which will transform ASEAN into a more effective and rules-based organization, as well as pave the way for ASEAN's closer integration.

The leaders will also endorse the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint which will help chart concrete targets for establishing a single market and production base in the ASEAN region by 2015. In addition, the leaders will sign the ASEAN Declaration on Environment Sustainability, which will address the need to protect the environment, respond to climate change and conserve natural resources.

The ASEAN Leaders will meet with their respective counterparts from China, Japan, and Republic of Korea in the ASEAN Plus Three meeting on Nov. 20, where they will issue the 2nd Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of relations, the statement said.

ASEAN leaders will also meet those from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and Republic of Korea at the 3rd East Asia Summit (EAS) on Nov. 21. The EAS Leaders will issue a Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment.

ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit marking the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-EU relations will be held on Nov. 22.

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