ASEAN leaders tackled internal issues on Tuesday in a bid to meet the 2015 deadline for becoming a more integrated community much like the European Union (EU), Indonesian foreign minister said.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told media after the ASEAN plenary sessions that the regional bloc is on track to achieve its target but that there were concerns over growing global economic turmoil. "I think in general there was a sense that we are on track but at the same time a sense of recognition that we cannot be complacent,"he said.

The main agenda is to ensure that Southeast Asia is on track to meet an ambitious goal of transforming the bloc in three years into a European Union-like community. This includes moving towards a single market and production base, where people and goods can travel seamlessly.

Natalegawa added that it is a "good time'to assess the progress ASEAN has made on integration but admitted that there were difficulties in implementing policies drafted out by the regional body in some individual countries. "The ratification process of various ASEAN treaties and agreements is one way of looking at how far we have traveled but they need to be implemented and that's a bit more difficult because you can't legislate community.. in a way you have to create a sense of community and ASEAN on that scorecard has traveled a great distance."

Other topics such as the South China Sea issue, DPRK's planned satellite launch and ASEAN's stance on Myanmar elections will be discussed on Wednesday, the final day of the summit.