Database
on Basic Documents of Japan-ASEAN Relations
Department of
Advanced Social and International Studies,
ASEAN VISION 2020
We, the Heads of State/Government of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations, gather today in Kuala Lumpur to reaffirm our commitment to the aims
and purposes of the Association as set forth in the Bangkok Declaration of 8
August 1967, in particular to promote regional cooperation in Southeast Asia in
the spirit of equality and partnership and thereby contribute towards peace,
progress and prosperity in the region.
We in ASEAN have created a community of Southeast Asian nations at peace
with one another and at peace with the world, rapidly achieving prosperity for
our peoples and steadily improving their lives. Our rich diversity has provided
the strength and inspiration to us to help one another foster a strong sense of
community.
We are now a market of around 500 million people with a combined gross
domestic product of US$600 billion. We have achieved considerable results in
the economic field, such as high economic growth, stability and significant
poverty alleviation over the past few years. Members have enjoyed substantial trade and investment flows from significant liberalisation measures.
We resolve to build upon these achievements.
Now, as we approach the 21st century, thirty years after the birth of
ASEAN, we gather to chart a vision for ASEAN on the basis of today's realities
and prospects in the decades leading to the Year 2020.
That vision is of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward
looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership
in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.
A Concert of Southeast Asian Nations
We envision the ASEAN region to be, in 2020, in full reality, a Zone of
Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, as envisaged in the Kuala Lumpur Declaration of
1971.
ASEAN shall have, by the year 2020, established a peaceful and stable
We envision a
We envision the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in
We envision a
We envision our rich human and natural resources contributing to our
development and shared prosperity.
We envision the ASEAN Regional Forum as an established means for
confidence-building and preventive diplomacy and for promoting
conflict-resolution.
We envision a
We see ASEAN as an effective force for peace, justice and moderation in
the Asia-Pacific and in the world.
A Partnership in Dynamic Development
We resolve to chart a new direction towards the year 2020 called, ASEAN 2020 : Partnership in Dynamic Development which will forge
closer economic integration within ASEAN.
We reiterate our resolve to enhance ASEAN economic cooperation through
economic development strategies, which are in line with the aspiration of our
respective peoples, which put emphasis on sustainable and equitable growth, and
enhance national as well as regional resilience.
We pledge to sustain ASEAN's high economic performance by building upon
the foundation of our existing cooperation efforts, consolidating our
achievements, expanding our collective efforts and enhancing mutual assistance.
We commit ourselves to moving towards closer cohesion and economic
integration, narrowing the gap in the level of development among Member
Countries, ensuring that the multilateral trading system remains fair and open,
and achieving global competitiveness.
We will create a stable, prosperous and highly competitive ASEAN Economic
Region in which there is a free flow of goods, services and investments, a
freer flow of capital, equitable economic development and reduced poverty and
socio-economic disparities.
We resolve, inter-alia, to undertake the
following:
maintain regional
macroeconomic and financial stability by promoting closer consultations in
macroeconomic and financial policies.
advance economic integration and cooperation by undertaking the following
general strategies: fully implement the ASEAN Free Trade Area and accelerate
liberalization of trade in services, realise the
ASEAN Investment Area by 2010 and free flow of investments by 2020; intensify
and expand sub-regional cooperation in existing and new sub-regional growth
areas; further consolidate and expand extra-ASEAN regional linkages for mutual
benefit cooperate to strengthen the multilateral trading system, and reinforce
the role of the business sector as the engine of growth.
promote a modern and
competitive small and medium enterprises (SME) sector in ASEAN which will
contribute to the industrial development and efficiency of the region.
accelerate the free flow
of professional and other services in the region.
promote financial
sector liberalisation and closer cooperation in money
and capital market, tax, insurance and customs matters as well as closer
consultations in macroeconomic and financial policies.
accelerate the development
of science and technology including information technology by establishing a
regional information technology network and centers of excellence for
dissemination of and easy access to data and information.
establish interconnecting
arrangements in the field of energy and utilities for electricity, natural gas
and water within ASEAN through the ASEAN Power Grid and a Trans-ASEAN Gas
Pipeline and Water Pipeline, and promote cooperation in energy efficiency and
conservation, as well as the development of new and renewable energy resources.
enhance food security
and international competitiveness of food, agricultural and forest products, to
make ASEAN a leading producer of these products, and promote the forestry sector
as a model in forest management, conservation and sustainable development.
meet the ever increasing demand for improved infrastructure and
communications by developing an integrated and harmonized trans-ASEAN
transportation network and harnessing technology advances in telecommunication
and information technology, especially in linking the planned information
highways/multimedia corridors in ASEAN, promoting open sky policy, developing
multi-modal transport, facilitating goods in transit and integrating
telecommunications networks through greater interconnectivity, coordination of
frequencies and mutual recognition of equipment-type approval procedures.
enhance human resource
development in all sectors of the economy through quality education, upgrading
of skills and capabilities and training.
work towards a world
class standards and conformance system that will provide a harmonised
system to facilitate the free flow of ASEAN trade while meeting health, safety
and environmental needs.
use the ASEAN
Foundation as one of the instruments to address issues of unequal economic
development, poverty and socioeconomic disparities.
promote an ASEAN
customs partnership for world class standards and excellence in efficiency,
professionalism and service, and uniformity through harmonised
procedures, to promote trade and investment and to protect the health and
well-being of the ASEAN community,
enhance intra-ASEAN trade and investment in the mineral sector and to
contribute towards a technologically competent ASEAN through closer networking
and sharing of information on mineral and geosciences as well as to enhance
cooperation and partnership with dialogue partners to facilitate the
development and transfer of technology in the mineral sector, particularly in
the downstream research and the geosciences and to develop appropriate
mechanism for these.
A Community of Caring Societies
We envision the entire
We see vibrant and open ASEAN societies consistent with their respective
national identitites, where all people enjoy
equitable access to opportunities for total human development regardless of gender,
race, religion, language, or social and cultural background.
We envision a socially cohesive and caring ASEAN where hunger,
malnutrition, deprivation and poverty are no longer basic problems, where
strong families as the basic units of society tend to their members
particularly the children, youth, women and elderly; and where the civil
society is empowered and gives special attention to the disadvantaged, disabled
and marginalized and where social justice and the rule of law reign.
We see well before 2020 a
We envision a technologically competitive ASEAN competent in strategic
and enabling technologies, with an adequate pool of technologically qualified
and trained manpower, and strong networks of scientific and technological
institutions and centers of excellence.
We envision a clean and green ASEAN with fully established mechanisms for
sustainable development to ensure the protection of the region's environment,
the sustainability of its natural resources, and the high quality of life of
its peoples.
We envision the evolution in
We envision our nations being governed with the consent and greater
participation of the people with its focus on the welfare and dignity of the
human person and the good of the community.
We resolve to develop and strengthen ASEAN's institutions and mechanisms
to enable ASEAN to realize the vision and respond to the challenges of the
coming century. We also see the need for a strengthened ASEAN Secretariat with
an enhanced role to support the realization of our vision.
An Outward-Looking ASEAN
We see an outward-looking ASEAN playing a pivotal role in the
international fora, and advancing ASEAN's common
interests. We envision ASEAN having an intensified relationship with its
Dialogue Partners and other regional organisations
based on equal partnership and mutual respect.
Conclusion
We pledge to our peoples our determination and commitment to bringing
this ASEAN Vision for the Year 2020 into reality.
15 December 1997