Database
on Basic Documents of Japan-ASEAN Relations
Department of
Advanced Social and International Studies,
THE FIRST MEETING
OF THE ASEAN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY MINISTERS AND THE MINISTERS OF THE
5 October 2001,
Joint Press
Statement
1.
The ASEAN Agriculture and Forestry Ministers and the Ministers of the
People’s Republic of
2.
The Agriculture and Forestry Ministers of ASEAN and the Plus 3 countries
acknowledged the importance of this First Meeting in opening up new venues for
dialogue on agriculture, fisheries, and forestry issues with the aim of
promoting and enhancing cooperation in the region and of exchanging
views on the many serious challenges facing agriculture, fisheries, and
forestry in the international agenda.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY IN
3.
The Agriculture and Forestry Ministers of ASEAN, through a common
statement, and the Plus Three countries exchanged information on the
agricultural, fisheries, and forestry situations and contributions to the
general economy and their respective countries. ASEAN also informed the Plus
Three countries on the regional framework on cooperation in food, agriculture,
fisheries, and forestry as well as on past and on-going cooperation with Plus
Three countries; and suggested projects for future cooperation.
4.
People’s Republic of
5.
The Ministers recognized that agriculture, fisheries, and forestry in
East Asian countries share not only common climatic, cultural and social
aspects, but what’s more, is also based
upon rice cultivation. They also agreed that projects implemented under this cooperation
would be to further develop agriculture in East Asian to become more
competitive, to ensure food security in the region and to alleviate poverty.
Furthermore, they also recognized that agriculture should not be treated in the
same way as other sectors to ensure fair and equitable development of
East-Asian agriculture.
6.
The Ministers as well recognized and underlined the increasing role that
fisheries could play in supporting food security primarily as source of animal
protein, expanding job opportunities, improving the incomes of small-scale
fishermen and fish-farmers families and to the better attainment of economic
growth as a whole. The Ministers further recognized meanwhile marine capture
fisheries have been in general under high pressure; aquaculture activities
should be further promoted in a sustainable manner.
7.
The Ministers recognized that forest ecosystem in
8.
The Ministers took note on the initiation for consultation and possible
collaboration of ASEAN and the US-ASEAN Business Council as well as Asian
Farmer Groups for Cooperation and look forwards a closer cooperation to these
organizations.
AREAS AND MODALITIES OF COOPERATION IN
FOOD, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY
9.
In moving the cooperation forward, the Ministers identified the
following areas of
collaboration between ASEAN and Plus Three Countries:
i) Poverty
Alleviation and Food Security in the Asian Region;
ii)
Research & Development on Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry;
iii)
Human Resource Development in Food, Agriculture, Fisheries &
Forestry;
iv)
Coordination and Cooperation in International and Regional Issues
in Food, Agriculture, Fisheries
& Forestry;
v)
Agriculture Information Networking; and
vi)
Trade Facilitation.
10.
The Ministers looked forward to undertaking cooperative activities in
these areas, which would enhance relationship and cooperation among the food,
agriculture, fisheries, and forestry institutions of ASEAN and the People’s Republic of
i) Projects
should be regional in nature and of benefit to the Member Countries;
ii) Projects could
be implemented with the participation of as many Member Countries as
possible. However, these
projects should involve, at the minimum, participation by any two (2) ASEAN
Member Countries and any one (1) country from the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of
Korea;
iii)
Projects should be implemented on a cost-sharing basis. Nevertheless
some flexibility could be provided to the new members of
ASEAN namely,
iv)
Project proposals should be approved by SOM-AMAF Plus
Three.
11.
The Ministers tasked the Senior Agriculture and Forestry Officials to
identify projects in the respective areas and to report their progress to AMAF Plus Three. Particular attention shall be made towards
skills training and capacity building activities wherein the long-standing
experience and expertise of the People’s Republic of
12.
To maintain this cooperative and beneficial forum, the Ministers agreed
to institutionalize the AMAF Plus Three and SOM-AMAF
Plus Three.
13.
The Ministers welcome the invitation of Thai Government to attend the
ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security in the New
Millennium: “Fish for the People, “ to be held in
14.
The Ministers agreed to study/ start the specific cooperation in the
framework of ASEAN Plus Three aimed at reducing
poverty and strengthening food security in
15.
The Ministers also agreed to task
16.
The Ministers noted that strengthening the exchanges on agricultural
science and technology and the training on human resources between ASEAN and
the plus 3 countries are becoming important components in the future
cooperation. The Ministers expressed appreciation for the sponsorship and
assistance provided by
PREPARATION FOR Third ASEAN and People’s Republic of
17.
The Ministers noted that the Third ASEAN and People’s Republic of
18. The Ministers agreed to have their
second meeting in Lao PDR in October 2002.
LIST OF MINISTERS
The Meeting was
attended by:
i.
H.E.
Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib, Minister of Industry
and Primary Resources,
ii. H.E.
Mr. May Sam Oeun, Secretary of State of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
iii.
H.E.
Prof. Dr. Bungaran Saragih,
Minister of
iv.
H.E.
Dr. Rokhmin Dahuri,
Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries,
v.
Honourable Mr. Abdul Fattah, DS., Director-General of Forestry Research and Development
Agency, Ministry of Forestry,
vi.
H.E.
Mr. Sitaheng Rasphone,
Acting Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR
vii.
H.E.
viii.
H.E.
Datuk Anifah Aman, Deputy Minister of Primary Industries,
ix.
H.E. U Ohn Myint, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation,
x.
H.E.
Mr. Leonardo Q. Montemayor, Secretary of
Agriculture, the
xi.
Honourable Dr. Ngiam
Tong Tau, Chief Executive Officer, Agri-food and Veterinary
xii.
H.E.
Mr. Prapat Panyachatraksa,
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives,
xiii.
Honourable Dr. Le Van Minh,
Director-General, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development,
xiv.
H.E.
Mr. Liu Jian, Vice-Minister of Agriculture,
People’s Republic of
xv.
H.E.
Mr. Takeshi Noma, Senior Vice-Minister of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
xvi. H.E.
Mr. Kim Dong Keun,
Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Forestry,