Bali will once again be the silent witness of ASEAN leaders who will sign the Bali Declaration on the ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations, or Bali Concord III.

“God willing, this ASEAN Summit will see the birth of the Bali Concord III, which will map out the interaction between ASEAN and the global communities,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said during his opening remarks at the ASEAN Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday.

Yudhoyono added that Bali Concord III was the spirit of participation and contribution of ASEAN for a more peaceful, more prosperous and more democratic world.

“It is part of the ASEAN active roles in addressing various fundamental problems,” he said.

Previously, Bali witnessed the signings of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), known as Bali Concord I, in 1976 and Bali Concord II in 2003.

The TAC was established to promote a peaceful means of settling disputes between conflicting parties.

It also stipulates that no parties are allowed to interfere with the internal affairs of another and must avoid threats or use of force.