Database
on Basic Documents of Japan-ASEAN Relations
Department of
Advanced Social and International Studies,
Chairman's Press
Statement of the 5th AMM+3
1. The Fifth
Meeting between the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and the Foreign Ministers of the
Peoples’ Republic of China,
2. The Ministers
exchanged views on regional and international issues affecting the region,
especially with regard to the developments in the
3. The Meeting
expressed their sympathy and condolences to the people and the Government of
the
4. The Meeting
indicated that it looked forward to the accession of
5. The Meeting
noted the rapid development of the ASEAN+3 cooperation achieved in the span of
one year, notably the expanding areas of cooperation encompassing political,
economic and functional fields. The Meeting reaffirmed the central role of
ASEAN in advancing the ASEAN+3 process towards reaching the establishment of
the
6. The Ministers
discussed the possibility of the formation of a community that might result
from the intensifying cooperation of ASEAN+3. The Ministers agreed that the
establishment of an
7. The Meeting
recognized the potential value of an East Asia Summit at an appropriate time.
Prior to the decision on convening such an East Asia Summit, the Meeting
underlined the need to have a thorough consideration of the modalities and
various aspects relating to this idea, in particular its relationship to the
existing ASEAN+3 process. The Meeting appreciated the
value of the issue papers on an East Asian community, the functional
cooperation and an East Asia Summit, prepared by the Government of Japan, which
would facilitate further discussions on the future direction of the ASEAN+3
process and a prospective East Asia Summit.
8. The Ministers
noted the progress in the implementation of the short-term measures recommended
by the East Asia Study Group (EASG), especially with regard to the Network of
East Asia Think-tanks (NEAT) and the East Asia Forum (EAF) and the Study Group
on Promotion of Exchange of People and Human Resources Development.
9. The Ministers
welcomed the forthcoming second meeting of NEAT in
10. The Ministers
also took note of the concept paper of
11. The Ministers
deliberated on the possible formation of an East Asian Free Trade Area (EAFTA),
which might be characterised by free movement of
goods, services and freer flow of capital and skilled labour.
12. The Ministers
welcomed the significant progress made under the Asian Bond Market Initiative
(ABMI) that would eventually facilitate the pooling of funds for productive
investment in the region. Under the framework of the Chiang Mai Initiative, the
Ministers were also pleased to note the continued expansion of the network of
bilateral swap arrangements (BSAs), which had
amounted to sixteen BSAs totalling
USD 36.5 billion.
13. The ASEAN
Ministers appreciated the commitment of the Plus Three countries to support the
implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan.
14. The Ministers
discussed the preparations for the next ASEAN+3