Association of Southeast Asian Nations
ASEM Foreign Ministers´ Meeting and Senior Officials´ Meeting (SOM)
Economic Ministers´ Meeting
Senior Officials´ Meeting on Trade & Investment (SOMTI)
Investment Promotion Action Plan (IPAP)
Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF)
Asia-Europe Business Conference
Trans-Asian Railway Network Study
Asia-Europe Environmental Technology Centre (AEETC)
Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)
Asia-Europe University Exchange Programme
Studies on Economic Synergy
Asia-Europe Young Leaders Symposium
Finance Ministers´ Meeting
Asia-Europe Cooperation Framework/Asia-Europe Vision Group
Closer Cooperation Among Customs Authorities in ASEM Member Countries
Cooperation on the Development of the Mekong River Basin
Other Proposed ASEM Activities
On 1 - 2 March 1996, Thailand hosted the first summit ever between Asia and Europe in Bangkok,. The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), as it is called, was indeed a historic occassion since it brought to Thailand leaders from two continents, representing 25 countries and the European Commission. Participants to the ASEM include the Heads of State and Government of ten Asian nations ( Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam ) and fifteen European nations ( Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom ), as well as the President of the European Commission.
The initiative for this Summit grew from the recognized need to strengthen the linkage between Asia and Europe. While the Trans - Pacific linkage appears to be strong through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as well as the Trans-Atlantic linkage through the G-7, ties between Asia and Europe have not been developed to its full potential. This historic Meeting should help strengthen this linkage as well as foster closer ties between the three main centres of economic growth namely, Asia, Europe and North America. Closer cooperation between these three regions will contribute significantly towards maintaining global peace, stability and prosperity.
The Meeting agreed to develop a common vision of the
future, foster political dialogue, reinforce economic cooperation and promote cooperation
in other areas. ASEM agreed that a political dialogue should be fostered by highlighting
and expanding common ground, enhancing understanding and friendship, and promoting and
deepening cooperation. They recognised that the growing economic links form the basis for
a strong partnership between Asia and Europe and agreed to forge a new comprehensive
Asia-Europe Partnership for Greater Growth. Finally, ASEM acknowledged the need to
intensify cooperation in the fields of science and technology, human resources,
development, the environment, the fight against illicit drug trade, money-laundering,
terrorism and the other international crimes, including the exploitation of illegal
immigration, and the strengthening of cultural links, particularly the fostering of closer
people-to-people contacts. In order to realise these goals, ASEM had agreed on specific
follow-up measures which were enumerated in paragraph 19 of the ASEM Chairman´s
Statement:
· The Foreign Ministers and the Senior Officials´ Meeting in
charge of the First ASEM would coordinate and prepare for the Second ASEM on the basis of
the result of the First ASEM. In this connection, a Foreign Ministers´ Meeting would be
held in 1997;
· An Economic Ministers´ Meeting would be held in Japan in 1997 to discuss relevant
economic issues;
· An informal Senior Officials´ Meeting would be held in Brussels in July 1996 on ways
to promote economic cooperation between the two regions, and in particular liberalisation
and facilitation of trade and investments, with an initial emphasis on WTO issues;
· A Meeting of a Government and Private Sector Working Group would be convened in
Thailand to draw up, within six months, an Asia-Europe Investment Promotion Action Plan to
promote greater cross-flows of investment between Asia and Europe. Such a group could also
study the current status of and potentials for investment between Asia and Europe and
recommend measures to be taken in this regard;
· An Asia-Europe Business Forum would hold its inaugural meeting in France in 1996 and
the next meeting in Thailand. At this Forum, Senior Officials would consider the
appropriate modalities for fostering greater cooperation between the business and private
sectors of the two regions. In this connection, a business conference would be held in
1997;
· Malaysia would act as coordinator for the study of integrating a trans-Asian railway
network (commencing initially with the railway project of the Mekong Basin Development)
and also the study of the subsequent possible integration of this railway network with the
trans-European railway network;
· The establishment in Thailand of an Asia-Europe Environmental Technology Centre to
undertake research and development activities as well as provide policy guidance to both
regions´ governments and peoples;
· An Asia-Europe Foundation would be set up in Singapore with contributions from Asian
and European countries, to promote exchanges between think-tanks, peoples and cultural
groups. In this connection, Singapore has offered to contribute US$1 million to seed this
foundation;
· An Asia-Europe University Programme would be started to foster exchanges of students
and scholars with a view to developing better understanding of the cultures, histories and
business practices of both regions;
· Intellectual exchanges between Asia and Europe through the holding of seminars and
symposia on international and regional issues and the establishment of networks amongst
the appropriate think-tanks from both regions;
· Objective studies on the economic synergy between Asia and Europe to provide future
prospects and a solid basis for developing effective policy measures;
· Youth exchange programmes of mini "Davos-type" to strengthen cultural links
and mutual understanding between the two regions.
The Meeting also agreed to consider the following:
· A Meeting of Finance Ministers;
· An Asia-Europe Cooperation Framework which will spell out the principles and mechanisms
for long-term Asia-Europe cooperation in political, economic, social and other areas;
· The establishment of a study group on enhancing technological exchanges and
cooperation, particularly in the areas of agriculture, environmental protection, and
technological upgrading and improvement of enterprises;
· The development of closer cooperation among customs authorities in Asia and Europe in
the areas of customs procedure and prevention of illicit drug trade;
· Cooperation in the development of the Mekong River Basin.
The current status of the progress of each follow-up measure is given below.
In Bangkok, it was agreed that the Foreign Ministers and Senior Officials would
coordinate and prepare for the Second ASEM in the United Kingdom in
1998. In Europe as in Asia, Senior Officials have met regularly to monitor progress on
ASEM follow-up measures and to prepare for major events in the ASEM calendar. Several ASEM
Coordinators´ Meetings have also taken place. Four such meetings have been held in 1996:
in Rome on 15 June, in Singapore on 11 July (for SOMTI preparation only), in Jakarta on 22
July, and in Tokyo on 24 October (this last meeting being followed by an informal meeting
of officials from all ASEM partners). An ASEM SOM was also held in Dublin on 20 December
1996 and a second one in Singapore on 14 February 1997. The Foreign Ministers´ Meeting in
Singapore on 15 February 1997 will review the implementation of the follow-up activities
to the First ASEM and consider the future of ASEM, including preparations for the next
ASEM. Luxembourg has proposed to host an ASEM SOM on 30-31 October 1997. The United
Kingdom has also offered to host an ASEM SOM in February 1998 just prior to the next ASEM.
ASEM Senior Officials in their meetings have proposed the modalities
for fostering political dialogue within the ASEM process. The European side presented a
reflection paper on the political dialogue to their Asian partners at the Tokyo
Coordinators´ Meeting on 24 October 1996. It was suggested that since the purpose of the
political dialogue as indicated by ASEM is "to highlight and expand common ground,
enhance mutual understanding, trust and friendship, and promote and deepen
cooperation", the dialogue should begin with issues of common interest and broaden on
a gradual basis by consensus. It was also agreed that the dialogue should be conducted
within the existing framework.
The ASEM Economic Ministers´ Meeting will further enhance
dialogue on economic cooperation between the two regions towards the goals of enhancing
trade and investment and sustaining regional economic growth, for the benefit of both
regions and the international economy as a whole. It has been proposed that the first ASEM
Economic Ministers´ Meeting be held on 27-29 September 1997 in Japan. Japan hosted the
first preparatory meeting consisting of Asian and European coordinators on 30 January
1997, to facilitate preparation for this meeting. Reflecting the results of the discussion
at the meeting, Japan will prepare a proposed agenda and modality for the Economic
Ministers´ Meeting, which will be circulated to ASEM member countries in due course.
Looking forward, Germany has indicated its willingness to host a second Economic
Ministers´ Meeting in 1999.
The first SOMTI was held in Brussels on 25 July 1996. It discussed various WTO issues with a view to assisting in preparation for the WTO Ministerial Conference in Singapore in December 1996, as well as discussing other measures to facilitate trade and investment. In the context of ways to promote economic cooperation between the two regions, reports were made on the progress of several ASEM proposals such as the Investment Promotion Action Plan, the First ASEM Customs DG/Commissioners´ Meeting in Shenzhen on 21 June 1996, the First Asia-Europe Business Forum in Paris in October 1996, and the Study Group to enhance technological exchanges and cooperation. The SOMTI also discussed the feasibility of formulating a Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAP) to promote trade opportunities and reduce non-tariff barriers between the two regions. The TFAP `shepherds´ (the Philippines, Korea, the EU Presidency and the European Commission) are preparing a concept paper for consideration of ASEM partners. The SOMTI agreed to meet again in Asia in the spring of 1997, and Japan proposed to host the meeting in May or June to further the discussion at the first meeting.
The initiative to draft an Asia-Europe Investment Promotion Action Plan (IPAP) put forward by Thailand, aims to promote greater cross-flows of investment between Asia and Europe. The inaugural meeting of the ASEM Government and Private Sector Working Group held in Bangkok on 8-9 July 1996, laid the foundation for the preparation of a report on the draft IPAP which was circulated at the Asia-Europe Business Forum in Paris on 14-15 October 1996 as a discussion document. The draft IPAP was subsequently modified to reflect the deliberations of the Asia-Europe Business Forum as well as subsequent comments from the governments of both regions. On 14 January 1997, a revised Draft IPAP was distributed by Thailand to all ASEM members for comments. The proposed Draft IPAP focuses on a number of activities under two broad pillars, namely: (1) investment promotion (Pillar 1), and (2) investment policies and regulations (Pillar 2). The Draft IPAP will be considered further in the ASEM process and a second working group meeting might be held in 1997.
The main aim of the Asia-Europe Business Forum is to consider the appropriate modalities for fostering greater cooperation between the business and private sectors of the two regions. The first meeting was hosted by France from 14-15 October 1996. Five separate working groups on infrastructure, consumer goods, capital goods, financial services, and small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) highlighted priorities on infrastructure, international rules, WTO principles, tariff and non-tariff barriers, the adoption of international standards (ISO), the tie-up of European and Asian SMEs, financial market liberalisation, information accessibility, cross-border investment facilitation and the need for stable, transparent and non-discriminatory market-driven investment framework, human resource development and the improvement of social contacts at the business level. A steering committee, made up of primarily private sector representatives from France, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and the United Kingdom, was created to link the first Forum in Paris to the second Forum in Bangkok and to ensure continuity in the AEBF process. The First Meeting of the AEBF Steering Committee is planned to be held in Bangkok on 25 February 1997. The Second Asia-Europe Business Forum is scheduled for 13-14 November 1997 in Bangkok. Discussions at the Second Forum may focus on sectors such as SMEs, Trade, Investment, Infrastructure and Tourism, the details of which will be further discussed by the Steering Committee. The UK has indicated its intention to host a business event at the time of the Second ASEM in London. Germany has indicated its intention to host a symposium on infrastructure financing on 3 September 1997. For future meetings of the Business Forum, Korea has confirmed its intention to host a meeting in 1999.
In connection with the Business Forum, an ASEM business conference will be held in Jakarta from 8-10 July 1997 hosted by Indonesia in cooperation with Japan. Information provided at the ASEM SOM in Dublin indicated that this Conference would be aimed at promoting private sector dialogue for increasing trade and investment between the two regions, and would focus on four pillars, including the development of SMEs (including supporting industries), the provision of information on government trade and investment promotion and development policies, the consideration of future trends and perspectives in Asia-Europe trade and investment cooperation, and a match-making event permitting contact among business people. A report will be submitted to the Economic Ministers´ Meeting and to the Second Business Forum.
The Trans-Asian Railway Network Study aims to study ways of integrating a trans-Asian railway network (commencing initially with the railway project of the Mekong Basin Development) and also to study the subsequent possible integration of this railway network with the trans-European railway network. The current focus of this project is on the proposed rail link from Singapore to Kunming in Southern China, under the ASEAN Mekong Basin Development initiative. Malaysia chaired the First Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link. That meeting agreed that the feasibility study will cover all three routes, that is, through Cambodia-Vietnam, through Thailand-Myanmar and through Laos PDR. The ASEAN study will cover economic feasibility, technical feasibility, facilitation matters, implementation strategy and all other aspects related to the project. Malaysia has contributed RM 2 million for the feasibility study which is expected to begin early this year and will take approximately 10 months. In addition, the European Commission has initiated a study of surface transport routes (both marine and terrestrial) between Europe and Asia, and the report of this study is expected to be available in the autumn of 1997.
Thailand has proposed to set up the Asia-Europe Environmental Technology Centre based on the expansion of an existing Environmental Research and Training Centre (ERTC) in Pathum Thani province. The AEETC aims to facilitate cooperation between Asia and Europe in promoting the exchange of and trade in environmental technology. The Centre would also serve as an inter-regional think-tank for supporting environmental management and providing policy guidance to both regions´ governments and peoples. It is envisaged that the AEETC will develop close inter-linkages and networking with existing environmental centres in the region. Thailand has indicated that it will provide the capital investment for the AEETC and welcomes contributions from ASEM partners such as expertise, equipment, project funding and partial start-up costs. While the new facilities are being constructed, Thailand has offered the existing facilities of the ERTC for interested ASEM partners to engage in environmental programmes and activities which may be linked with ASEM activities. Thailand will circulate a Consultants´ Report, which contains specific details on the AEETC, at the earliest opportunity. Once this Report has been reviewed, Thailand has indicated that it will host a meeting of official experts from relevant agencies on the AEETC of each ASEM partner, not later than June 1997, to discuss the details of the Centre. The Netherlands has also indicated its willingness to organise a workshop on relevant environment issues at the appropriate time.
The ASEF, to be set up in Singapore, aims to enhance and strengthen mutual understanding and greater interaction between the peoples of Asia and Europe. It is foreseen that the Foundation would promote greater intellectual, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two regions, providing grants and acting as a clearing-house, catalyst and facilitator in support of relevant activities in these fields, collaborating with relevant institutions in Asia and Europe and organising activities of its own. It would further be able to implement projects suggested by ASEM partners. The ASEF will be incorporated under Singapore domestic law as a not-for-profit corporation with tax-exempt status, with a Board of Governors designated by ASEM partners, and a staff comprising Director, Deputy Director and support staff as appropriate. It is suggested that the legal status of the Foundation be reviewed at the Second ASEM in 1998. Several ASEM partners have already confirmed their intention to make a financial contribution to the Foundation. The ASEF will be launched in Singapore on 15 February 1997 on the occasion of the First ASEM Foreign Ministers´ Meeting.
The Asia-Europe University Exchange Programme aims to foster exchanges of students and scholars with a view to developing better understanding of cultures, histories and business practices of both regions. It is proposed that networks and exchanges between universities in Asia and Europe be developed rather than establishing a single university reciprocally in each region. The Malaysian Ministry of Education has proposed an Asia-Europe Expert Group Meeting in Fostering Linkages and Cooperation in Higher Education and Management scheduled for March 1997.
Japan has taken the lead on this initiative and has initiated two studies on the economic synergy between Asia and Europe. Both studies, the first focusing on macroeconomics issues, trade and investment, and the second focusing on sectoral and specific issues, are to be completed in the spring of 1997. These two studies will be discussed at symposia in Tokyo prior to their presentation at the Economic Ministers´ Meeting in Japan in September 1997.
Austria and Japan have jointly initiated a programme to bring together future leaders from Asia and Europe, to strengthen cultural links and the mutual understanding between the two regions. The programme will involve the participation of young leaders from ASEM member countries in such fields as politics, business, art and academia in yearly symposia which will discuss various issues of concern to Asia and Europe. Two such symposia, known as the Asia-Europe Young Leaders Symposium, have been planned before ASEM II. The first symposium, with the theme "In search for a New Asia-Europe Cooperation for the 21st Century" will be held in Japan from 10-14 March 1997 and the second in Austria in 1998. Japan has circulated details on the first symposium and has invited nominations of participants from ASEM countries.
A preparatory discussion on this proposal was held among a small number of Senior Officials on 1 October 1996 in Washington, on the margins of an IMF/World Bank meeting. Thailand has offered to host the first ASEM Finance Ministers´ Meeting and it will take place on 19 September 1997 in Bangkok prior to the annual IMF/World Bank Meeting in Hong Kong. A Finance Senior Officials´ Meeting will be held on 30 April 1997 in Washington to prepare for this meeting. It is envisaged that the Finance Ministers could discuss the macro-economic situation, developments in foreign exchange markets and the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), cooperation in financial regulation and new developments in the financial sector and cooperation on customs administration, during their meeting in 1997.
At the Bangkok ASEM, the Leaders agreed to consider the
establishment of an Asia-Europe Cooperation Framework which will spell out the principles
and mechanisms for long-term Asia-Europe cooperation in political, economic, social and
other areas. At the ASEM Coordinators´ Meeting in Tokyo in October 1996, Singapore, as
initiator of this proposal, had circulated a draft outline paper for the development of
such a Framework. Singapore has proposed that this Framework, besides providing a broad
vision and an overarching theme for ASEM, would articulate an ASEM vision, as well as
establish a road map for future cooperation under the ASEM umbrella and a means by which
to measure progress made. It is envisaged that Singapore´s initiative for such a
framework would be tabled during the ASEM Foreign Ministers´ Meeting in February 1997 in
Singapore for consideration.
Korea has proposed an Asia-Europe Vision Group which aims to provide non-governmental
views for the future course of the ASEM process, by pooling the wisdom and ideas of those
outside the government. In this regard, the work of the Vision Group would be
complementary to the Asia-Europe Cooperation Framework. A concept paper on the Vision
Group was tabled at the ASEM SOM in Dublin in December 1996. There was a general agreement
at the Dublin SOM that the proposal of the Vision Group be considered at the Foreign
Ministers´ Meeting in February 1997 with a view to having the Group launched at the
Second ASEM in London in 1998.
China is taking the lead on this proposal, which was conceived with a view to enhancing technological exchanges and cooperation between the two regions, building on their synergy and complementarity. China will host an Asia-Europe Expert meeting on Technological Cooperation in Beijing on 24-25 April 1997, and has invited three experts from each member of ASEM to participate in the meeting. They will examine issues related to technological cooperation between Asia and Europe and make recommendations for the consideration by members of ASEM either collectively or individually. The discussions will be carried out in three separate subgroups, devoted to agriculture, environmental protection and enterprise renovation and upgrading respectively. China has circulated a concept paper on the meeting.
The Chinese Customs Administration hosted the first ASEM Customs DG/Commissioners´ Meeting from 21-22 June 1996 in Shenzhen, China, after the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council Meeting in Hong Kong. This meeting agreed to strengthen cooperation among ASEM partners with regard to control of the illicit trade in drugs, firearms and other items such as counterfeit goods and to promote the harmonisation and simplification of customs procedures. Two working groups, namely, the Procedure Working Group and the Enforcement Working Group were formed. The first meeting of the Enforcement Working Group was held in Brussels from 7-8 February 1997 and the Procedure Working Group will be held in Brussels from 21-22 March 1997. The Shenzhen meeting also considered the experience of APEC and the EU on issues of harmonisation and simplification, and agreed to continue dialogue on such issues, with an emphasis on technical assistance, establishment of channels for information exchange, development of training programmes and exchanges of human resources. The second Customs DG/Commissioners´ Meeting is likely to be held in Vienna in June 1997, around the time of the next annual session of the WCO.
ASEM agreed to consider cooperation in the development of the Mekong River Basin. In this regard, it noted that the Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (MBDC) was originally formulated as an ASEAN Project at the Fifth ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in 1995 and that Thailand and Malaysia were working jointly on this initiative. The first Ministerial Meeting of ASEAN Mekong Basin Development was held in Kuala Lumpur on 17 June 1996. The ASEAN Secretariat is currently compiling an inventory of projects undertaken bilaterally and sub-regionally by various governments and institutions in the Mekong region, which will be useful in identifying the appropriate role for ASEM participation.
In line with the principles embodied in the ASEM Chairman´s
Statement on management education (paragraph 15), marine environment protection (paragraph
16) and business cooperation, with particular reference to SMEs (paragraph 14), the
Philippines is preparing its project proposals on the establishment of an Asia-Europe
Management Programme at the Asian Institute of Management; the convening of an experts
working group meeting on a marine environmental cooperation program in 1997; and the
networking on technology exchange and training with Europe-based SME institutions and
enterprises.
Drawing on paragraph 17 of the ASEM Chairman´s Statement, Germany has proposed, at the
ASEM SOM in Dublin, to host a workshop on Multimedia and the Future of Electronic Media in
June 1997, bringing together qualified journalists from all ASEM countries, in order to
lay the basis for a better media coverage of both regions and in both regions, to
establish personal contacts between journalists and to enhance the awareness of
common problems in both regions.
Drawing on paragraph 17 of the ASEM Chairman´s Statement,
the United Kingdom has indicated its intention to host a conference in the early part of
1998 on "Challenges facing Asian and European societies and economies on the eve of
the 21st Century", bringing together government and non-government participants to
consider such themes as the impact of information technology, demographic changes and
welfare provision.