ASEAN Bulletin
August 2008
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40th ASEAN Economic Ministers and
Related Meetings Open in Singapore
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What's coming up
at the 40th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and Related
Meetings
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ASEAN Single
Window Advances with Launch of Phase Two of Indonesia’s
National Single Window
-
Vientiane Statement Calls for
Greater Involvement and Empowerment of People Living with
HIV, ASEAN Secretariat, 19 August 2008
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ASEAN Member States Urged to
Ratify the ACB Establishment Agreement, ASEAN Secretariat,
14 August 2008
- ASEAN Senior Officials on
Environment Gather in Singapore for Annual Meetings, ASEAN
Secretariat, 14 August 2008
- High-Level Support Needed to
Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade Bangkok, 4 August 2008
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ASEAN Senior
Officials on Energy meet in Bangkok, 4 August 2008
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ASEAN Secretariat
Takes Part as Observer in Pan Beibu Gulf Proposed Joint
Expert Group Meeting in Beihai, China, 30 July 2008
- SG Surin Called on
Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, Bangkok, 31
July 2008
- Cooperation and Commitment in
Security Sector Key to a Safe and Peaceful Region, Bangkok,
31 July 2008
40th ASEAN Economic Ministers and Related
Meetings Open in Singapore
The 40th ASEAN Economic Ministers and Related
Meetings are underway in Singapore. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee
Hsien Loong officially opened the meetings this morning.
He spoke about the importance of continued ASEAN
economic integration to gain its share of investments and jobs. One
pressing reason for integration is to meet the competition from
other Asian countries, particularly from China and India. He said as
one, ASEAN with more than half a billion people; a gross regional
produce of US$1.1 trillion; and total trade of about US$1.6
trillion, has a better chance of attracting investments.
Mr Lee said ASEAN has done reasonably well these
last few years. Total Foreign Direct Investment inflows to ASEAN
exceeded US$60 billion in 2007.
However, to remain vibrant economies and build
better lives for its peoples, ASEAN must redouble its efforts,
strengthen its economic foundations, reduce tariff and non-tariff
barriers and simplify business regulations, among others.
Posted 26 August 2008
What's coming up at the 40th ASEAN Economic
Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings
The 40th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and
Related Meetings will be held from 25-29 August 2008 in Singapore.
The ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) will discuss
the progress made towards realising the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
by 2015, especially the implementation of the AEC Blueprint, AEC
Scorecard and AEC Communications Plan. They will also consider the
draft ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, the draft ASEAN Comprehensive
Investment Agreement, the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA)
Framework on Accountancy Services, the MRA on Medical Practitioners
and the MRA on Dental Practitioners.
The Ministers will hold consultations with their
counterparts from the various ASEAN Dialogue Partners on trade and
economic cooperation, including the Trade in Goods Agreement under
the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area and the ongoing negotiations for an
ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. They will also
hold the AEM Plus Three consultations and an AEM Plus Six working
lunch with their East Asia Summit counterparts.
The Ministers will participate in the ASEAN
Mekong Basin Development Cooperation meeting.
Posted 25 August 2008
ASEAN Single Window Advances with Launch of
Phase Two of Indonesia’s National Single Window
ASEAN is making progress towards the
implementation of the ASEAN Single Window (ASW).
On 11 August 2008, Dr. Sri Mulyani Indrawati,
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Finance
of Indonesia, launched the second phase of the Indonesia National
Single Window at the Gumaya Tower Hotel in Semarang, Indonesia.
On behalf of the ASEAN Secretary-General, Deputy
Secretary-General, Mr Nicholas T. Dammen, congratulated Indonesia
for honouring regional commitments to activate the ASW and
emphasised the importance of the ASW for the ASEAN Economic
Community.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Mulyani reiterated
Indonesia’s commitment to put in place the National Single Window
for the ASW. She encouraged ASEAN Member States to actively
participate in the establishment of the ASW as stipulated in the
2005 Agreement to Establish and Implement the ASW and its 2006
Protocol. She also expressed her appreciation to the ASEAN
Secretariat for its efforts towards the activation of the ASW.
The ASW, when fully operationalised by 2012 by
all Member States, will speed up the clearance of shipments and the
release of goods by customs authorities in the ASEAN region, and
contribute to enhancing the delivery of public services to the
public and businesses for the ASEAN Economic Community.
Following the launch, the Working Group on
Technical Matters for ASW met on 12-14 August; the Experts Group for
ASW on 15 August; and the Working Group on Legal and Regulatory
Matters convened its meeting on 18-19 August 2008. An ASEAN
Symposium on Technology for ASW was also held on 16 August in
Semarang
Posted 22 August 2008
Vientiane Statement Calls for Greater
Involvement and Empowerment of People Living with HIV
ASEAN
Secretariat, 19 August 2008
ASEAN has made progress in addressing HIV
epidemics in the region through a commitment to promote greater
involvement and empowerment of people living with HIV (PLHIV).
The Vientiane Statement of Commitment on the
Greater Involvement and Empowerment of People Living with HIV was
endorsed by the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development
in July 2008.
The Vientiane Statement highlights the importance
of the needs and concerns of PLHIV and of strengthening their
participation in the planning and implementation of ASEAN’s efforts
in combating HIV and AIDS in the region. It contains key measures to
advance the involvement and empowerment of PLHIV.
The Vientiane Statement was developed during the
ASEAN Regional Consultation on Project Development for Finalising
the Regional Proposal and Plan of Action for Greater Involvement and
Empowerment of People Living with HIV on 7-9 May 2008 in Vientiane,
Lao PDR. The meeting was attended by representatives of the ASEAN
Task Force on AIDS (ATFOA) and people living with HIV from ASEAN
Member States; UNDP; Asia and Pacific Network of People Living with
HIV/AIDS (APN+); CARAM Asia; RaksThai Foundation; Third World
Network; and, the ASEAN Secretariat.
Posted 19 August 2008
ASEAN Member States Urged to Ratify the ACB
Establishment Agreement
ASEAN Secretariat, 14 August 2008
At the 7th ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)
Governing Board Meeting on 2-3 August 2008 in Singapore, Deputy
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Soeung Rathchavy urged ASEAN Member
States to expedite the ratification of the ACB Establishment
Agreement. Noting that the ACB is now accelerating the
implementation of several activities for the benefit of the ASEAN
Member States, she also urged them to fulfil their contribution
towards the operations of the ACB so that the ACB can comply with
its mandate and fully implement its work programme.
The meeting also discussed the progress in
implementing the ACB third year work plan and the development of the
ACB Long-term Strategic Framework Plan 2010-2020, and the ACB
Resource Mobilisation Plan.
Taking place at the same time was the 6th Project
Steering Committee Meeting of the ACB on 3 August 2008 in Singapore.
Mr Roger de Backer, the European Commission representative, stressed
the importance of ratifying the ACB Establishment Agreement and
ASEAN Member States’ contribution towards the sustainability of the
ACB. The European Commission is contributing 6 million euros for the
initial phase of the ACB’s operations.
The ACB, based in Los Banos in the Philippines,
was established in September 2005 to promote and implement
activities to enhance biodiversity conservation and sustainable use
in the ASEAN region. For more information about ACB, please visit
http://www.aseanbiodiversity.org.
Posted 14 August 2008
ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment Gather in
Singapore for Annual Meetings
ASEAN Secretariat, 14 August 2008
The 19th Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials on
the Environment (ASOEN) met in Singapore on 4-6 August 2008. Among
the topics discussed were the development of the ASEAN Climate
Change Initiative; the proposal by ASEAN Secretary-General on “Cool
ASEAN, Green Capitals Initiative”; the progress on the
implementation of the ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan
2008-2012; and, the draft ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint.
The meeting also discussed the preparations for
the Inaugural ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities (ESC) Award
which would be conferred at the 11th Informal ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting on the Environment in October 2008 in Viet Nam. The main
objective of the ESC Award is to recognise exemplary efforts and to
serve as an incentive for ASEAN Member States to promote
environmentally sustainable practices in ASEAN cities.
Following the 19th ASOEN, two meetings (the 5th
ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials Meeting on the Environment and the
2nd Officials Meeting for East Asia Summit Environment Ministers’
Meeting) were held on 7 August 2008 to discuss preparations for the
7th ASEAN Plus Three Environment Ministers’ Meeting and the
inaugural EAS Environment Ministers’ Meeting, both of which will be
held in October 2008 in Viet Nam.
Posted 14 August 2008
High-Level Support Needed to Combat Illegal
Wildlife Trade
Bangkok, 4 August 2008
SG Surin with members of the
Program Coordination Unit of the ASEAN-WEN
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan has
called for high-level support to combat against the threats to
ASEAN’s biodiversity from illegal wildlife trade. He said a
high-level international conference could be organised next year to
develop a comprehensive strategy on the enforcement of wildlife laws
in Southeast Asia. Dr Surin was speaking at a meeting with the
Bangkok-based Program Coordination Unit (PCU) of the ASEAN Wildlife
Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) in Bangkok on 4 August 2008. Dr
Surin stressed the importance of promoting public awareness on
conservation issues and engaging the international community, donors
and NGOs to work together under the purview of ASEAN-WEN to protect
Southeast Asia’s remaining natural resources.
Dr Surin met Police Major General Surasit
Sangkaphong, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police and Senior
Liaison Officer of the Royal Thai Government to ASEAN-WEN PCU; Dr
Chumpon Suckaseam, ASEAN-WEN Senior Officer; Mr. Steve Galster and
Dr. David Lawson from ASEAN-WEN Support Program; and, other PCU
officers. The ASEAN-WEN team briefed Dr Surin on the gravity and
urgency of the situation and explained their current measures to
increase law enforcement capacity to combat against illegal wildlife
trade.
The ASEAN-WEN is an inter-governmental initiative
that brings together the ASEAN governments to combat wildlife crime.
The ASEAN-WEN is the world's largest wildlife law enforcement
network, comprising all ten ASEAN Member States. It also cooperates
with the United States and China.
For more information about ASEAN-WEN, please
visit: www.asean-wen.org.
Posted 12 August 2008
ASEAN Senior Officials on Energy meet in
Bangkok, 4 August 2008
Delegates at the Senior Officials Meeting on Energy
ASEAN Senior Officials on Energy met in Bangkok
from 4-6 August 2008 to discuss among others, the progress of the
Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline, the implementation of a Memorandum of
Understanding on ASEAN Power Grid, and the new ASEAN Plan of Action
on Energy Cooperation 2010-2015.
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, Nicholas T.
Dammen, participated in the meeting, which preceded the 26th ASEAN
Ministers on Energy Meeting and Associated Meetings.
The Senior Officials on Energy Meeting was held
in conjunction with the ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2008. The Forum
aims to bring forward policy and action on energy between the
governments and private sectors in order to enhance energy security
and cooperation in the region. The Forum is taking place from 5-8
August 2008 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Bangkok.
Posted 6 August 2008
ASEAN Secretariat Takes Part as Observer in Pan
Beibu Gulf Proposed Joint Expert Group Meeting in Beihai, China, 30
July 2008
The ASEAN Secretariat participated as an observer
in the Pan Beibu Gulf (PBG) Proposed Joint Expert Group Meeting in
Beihai, Guangxi, China on 30 July 2008. Deputy Secretary-General of
ASEAN, Mr Nicholas Tandi Dammen, attended the meeting.
The Proposed Joint Expert Group Meeting arose as
a result of China’s proposal to establish a Joint Expert Group with
ASEAN Member States. The proposed Joint Expert Group will comprise
representatives from China and seven ASEAN Member States (Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand,
and Viet Nam). Upon the suggestion of ASEAN Secretariat, the Meeting
agreed to table the proposal for discussion at the ASEAN Senior
Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) - China Consultation, which will
be held in Brunei Darussalam this week.
The third Pan Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation
Forum was held concurrently in Beihai from 30 to 31 July 2008.
Posted 5 August 2008
SG Surin Calls on Commissioner-General of the
Royal Thai Police, Bangkok, 31 July 2008
The ASEAN Secretary-General, Dr Surin Pitsuwan,
paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai
Police, Police General Patcharawat Wongsuwan, at the Thai Police
Headquarters recently.
“I briefed the Royal Thai Police leadership on
the assumption of the ASEAN Chair by Thailand and the many meetings
that will be held in Bangkok from now until the end of 2009,” said
Dr Surin. The leadership assured me that they are ready for this and
they are taking all necessary measures to ensure a safe and secure
environment for all the events, he added.
“Bangkok has a special significance as it was
here that the Bangkok Declaration of 1967 on setting up ASEAN was
signed,” said Dr Surin.
Dr Surin also briefed the Commissioner-General on
ASEAN in general and on regional cooperation on transnational crime.
Posted 4 August 2008
Cooperation and Commitment in Security Sector
Key to a Safe and Peaceful Region, Bangkok, 31 July 2008
Good cooperation and mutual commitment among all
parties, especially those involved in the security sector, will
ensure a safer and peaceful region, said the Secretary-General of
ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan. He said, “All security-related
implementing agencies need to work together and cooperate in order
to ensure that the region is safe, peaceful and prosperous.”
Facilitating the first ever Roundtable on
security cooperation organised by the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok,
Dr Surin said such occasions provide the opportunity for more
cooperation and coordination. The Roundtable was attended by
representatives from the ASEAN Embassies and ASEAN Dialogue Partner
Embassies including Canada, the EU, India, Japan, the Republic of
Korea, Russia and the US. Bangkok-based international organisations
such as the UN Office for Drugs and Crime and the International
Organization for Migration also took part in the Roundtable.
The participants were briefed on ASEAN
cooperation on combating transnational crime and on measures taken
by the Royal Thai Police in enhancing cooperation on security
issues, both on a bilateral and multilateral approach.
The participants also discussed ways to enhance
cooperation with the Thai Police, including the prevention of human
trafficking and illegal migration, the identification of fraudulent
travel documents and the combating of drug trafficking.
With Thailand as the new ASEAN Chair and the many
international meetings to be held in Bangkok, Dr Surin said the
Royal Thai Police would need to have good cooperation with all
parties involved, including the Embassies based in Thailand. “We
need to meet all parties and the Embassies more often and heighten
the level of cooperation so that we do not leave any issues
unexplored or any loopholes untended. This would help ensure a
successful Thai chairmanship,” Dr Surin said.
Posted 1 August 2008
