Database on Basic Documents of Japan-ASEAN
Relations
Department of Advanced Social and
International Studies,
Chairmanfs Statement of the 4th ASEAN Informal Summit
The Way Forward: Initiative For ASEAN Integration
1. The ASEAN Leaders had a very good meeting. They agreed to launch an Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). The IAI is to narrow the divide within ASEAN and enhance ASEANfs competitiveness as a region. Essentially, it provides a framework for regional cooperation through which the more developed ASEAN members could help those member countries that most need it. This initiative is guided by Dr Mahathirfs principle of gprosper thy neighbourh and, by so doing, to gprosper ASEAN.h
2. The IAI will focus on education, skills development and worker training. These will be key factors of competitiveness in the New Economy. To catalyse the IAI, ASEAN members will contribute what they can.
3. To kick off the IAI,
Singapore offered, under a five-year technical assistance programme, several
training institutes in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam, provide IT gTrain-the-Trainersh courses and
training attachments to its educational institutions.
Training Institutes
These institutes in
IT gTrain-the-Trainersh
These courses will contribute towards improving the IT skills of the ASEAN countries to better prepare them to meet the challenges of the New Economy.
Training attachments
ASEAN nationals who are teachers or lecturers at their national vocational institutes, polytechnics and universities will be offered training attachments to Singapore institutions to work with their Singapore counterparts in developing teaching curriculum and methods [Note: a total of 60 vocational, polytechnic and university lecturers annually] .
The number of existing Singapore Scholarships given to ASEAN nationals will be significantly increased [Note: the existing number is 30 annually; the total under the IAI will be 60]. These full-time undergraduate scholarships are tenable at the National University of Singapore (NUS) or at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Youth Exchange Programmes
As part of the educational development programme for ASEAN integration efforts, student and youth exchange programmes at both secondary school and youth levels will be introduced.
Identify gaps in Intra-ASEAN cooperation
4. The ASEAN Leaders agreed that for ASEAN to be competitive and achieve regional integration, ASEAN countries must adopt a holistic approach and view the region as a single economy. They agreed that ASEAN should identify gaps in its present level of cooperation, particularly sectors that are critical to ASEANfs competitiveness in the New Economy. These include telecommunications and air, sea, road, rail and river transportation.
5. They also emphasized the importance of English language usage within member countries in order to meet the demands of the New Economy.
Support for the IAI by
6.
7.
e-ASEAN Framework Agreement
8. The e-ASEAN Framework Agreement is aimed at moving ASEAN into the New Economy. It is a major milestone in ASEANfs economic development. The Agreement constitutes a broad framework to develop a free trade area for goods, services and investments for the info-communications and telecommunications industries within ASEAN.
On-going ASEAN projects
9. The Leaders also stressed the importance of pushing ahead with existing initiatives such as the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA). They also endorsed the proposal of an ASEAN Trade Fair by Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai. They also endorsed the broad thrust of the feasibility study of the Singapore-Kunming Railway Link project and directed that the project should be moved forward. They also agreed to convene a Special Session on HIV/AIDS at the next ASEAN Summit in Brunei Darussalam in 2001.
Political unity
10. The Leaders reaffirmed the
fundamental importance of political unity within ASEAN and acknowledged the
importance of having all 10 ASEAN countries participating together in APEC and
ASEM. They agreed that
Other highlights
11. The Leaders of ASEAN,
12. The Leaders also congratulated
President Kim on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his historic
contribution to inter-Korean reconciliation. The Leaders hoped that the
momentum would continue, leading eventually to peaceful unification that would
contribute to the stability of