The Parties to this Agreement,

REAFFIRMING their parties commitment to the aims and purposes of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as set forth in the Bangkok Declaration of 8 August 1967, in particular, to promote regional co-operation in Southeast Asia in the spirit of equality and partnership and thereby contribute towards peace, progress and prosperity in the region;

REAFFIRMING ALSO the objectives and principles of the Declaration of ASEAN Concord I of 24 February 1976, inter alia, declaring that within their capabilities Member Countries shall extend assistance for relief of Member Countries in distress, and the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II of 7 October 2003 where ASEAN shall, through the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, intensify co-operation in addressing problems associated with, inter alia, disaster management in the region to enable individual members to fully realise their development potentials to enhance the mutual ASEAN spirit;

REAFFIRMING ALSO the provisions of the Vientiane Action Programme 2004-2010 to pursue the comprehensive integration of ASEAN towards the realisation of an open, dynamic and resilient ASEAN Community by 2020 as envisioned in the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II through the action plans of the ASEAN Security Community (ASC), the ASEAN Socio- Cultural Community (ASCC) and the Recommendations of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration;

RECALLING the Declaration on Action to Strengthen Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Prevention in the Aftermath of the Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster of 26 December 2004, adopted at the Special ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting on the Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami held in Jakarta on 6 January 2005;

RECALLING ALSO the ASEAN Declaration on Mutual Assistance on Natural Disasters of 26 June 1976, which calls on Member Countries to, inter alia, co-operate in the improvement of disaster management capacities, and in case of calamities, to extend assistance as may be needed upon the request from an affected Member Country;

RECALLING ALSO the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution of 10 June 2002, which provides the cooperative framework to prevent, monitor, mitigate and respond to trans-boundary haze pollution in the overall context of sustainable development;