Database
on Basic Documents of Japan-ASEAN Relations
Department of
Advanced Social and International Studies,
Joint Statement of
the Meeting of Heads of State/Government of the
ASEAN-ROK
COOPERATION TOWARDS THE 21ST CENTURY
The Heads of
State/Government of the member states of ASEAN and the Prime Minister Republic
of Korea noted with satisfaction that ASEAN-ROK relations had broadened and
strengthened rapidly, since the establishment of the Dialogue Partnership
between ASEAN and the ROK in 1991. Recognising that
the two sides share many common fundamental interests, they agreed that there
was great potential for further cooperation. They were convinced that the
flourishing ASEAN- ROK relations would promote peace, stability and prosperity
of the Asia- Pacific region. They committed themselves to exert every effort to
bring the ASEAN-ROK partnership to a new level to meet the challenges of the
21st Century.
2. They agreed to
continue their close consultations to promote common interest at various international and regional fora,
including the United Nations, WTO, APEC, ARF and ASEM.
3. They shared the
view that the overall favourable political and
security environment in the Asia-Pacific region provided a solid foundation for
economic development. They also agreed that the stability and prosperity of
Northeast and
4. The ROK
reaffirmed that it would respect and support the efforts of ASEAN to establish
a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality in
5. Bearing in mind
the importance of peace and security in the
6. The ROK
expressed its full confidence that the ASEAN region had strong economic
fundamentals and would remain one of the most dynamic regions in the world. The
ROK reiterated its view that the ASEAN economies continued to enjoy production
and export competitiveness and abundant investment opportunities and that they practised consistent market-oriented and outward-looking
policies.
7. ASEAN and the
ROK noted that their Finance Ministers at the recent meeting in
8. They noted with
satisfaction the expanding economic relations between ASEAN and the ROK in the
fields of trade, investment and economic cooperation. They shared the view that
economic cooperation between the two sides would promote dynamism and
prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. They agreed to consolidate, broaden and
strengthen the economic relations between ASEAN and the ROK.
9. ASEAN and the
ROK noted that the steady and full implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area
and ASEAN Industrial Cooperation (AICO) Scheme would strengthen economic
linkages among ASEAN economies and promote their competitiveness and
attractiveness as an investment and production base.
10. They agreed
that special emphasis should be focussed on the
following:
Promotion and
facilitation of trade and investment;
Promotion of
investment related human resources and technological development
Increased efforts
on both sides to achieve balanced trade expansion and improved market access
between ASEAN and the ROK through close consultation and cooperation;
Continuation and
increase of ROK's official development assistance to
ASEAN in various forms, and sharing of its development experience and
technology;
Active participation
of the ROK private sector and support for the economic development of less
developed and disadvantaged sub-region areas, particularly the ASEAN-Mekong
Basin, and for regional cooperation projects;
Enhanced
cooperation in the development of energy and natural resources; and
Development
of ASEAN's infrastructure as well as supporting industries and small and medium
enterprises.
11. They expressed
their satisfaction that the 45 cooperation projects Implemented under the
Korea-ASEAN Special Cooperation Fund had further enhanced their relations. At
the same time, they recognised the need to improve
the efficiency of the existing mechanism for the selection and implementation
of these projects. ASEAN welcomed the ROK's intention
to further promote such cooperation projects and implement additional projects
in ASEAN. The ROK undertook to extend the existing cooperation projects to
accommodate participation by ASEAN's new members.
12. The ROK
informed ASEAN that it would undertake new cooperation projects for ASEAN
countries, especially in the fields of education the environment and science
and technology, with a focus on human resources development in these fields.
13. ASEAN and the
ROK agreed to further promote academic and cultural exchanges and cooperation
to enhance mutual understanding between their peoples. The ROK expressed its
intention to expand its related programmes and
activities for ASEAN countries such as contributions to the Korean studies programmes of major universities in the region. The ROK
also announced its plan to launch the Future-Oriented Projects in 1998, which
are aimed at promoting people-to-people contacts through projects like the
ROK-ASEAN Youth Exchange Programme, the ROK- ASEAN
Media People Exchange Programme and the ROK-ASEAN
Cultural Exchange Programme.
14. ASEAN and the
ROK expressed their willingness to support the activities of the ROK-ASEAN
Forum for the 21th Century, which was inaugurated in
May 1997 to create a long term plan for development of the ASEAN-ROK relations
and they agreed to consider the recommendations of the Forum.
15. In
consideration of the increasing importance of the ASEAN-ROK relations, they
agreed to widen the scope of discussion for the ASEAN- ROK Dialogue to include
environment and culture, in addition to the current areas of trade, investment,
tourism, science and technology and human resources development.
16. In order to
support various activities and cooperation projects implemented under the
ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Framework, the ROK expressed its intention to continue its
contributions to the ROK-ASEAN Special Cooperation Fund and to establish a new
separate fund for implementation of the Future-Oriented Projects.
17. The ROK
welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN Vision 2020, reflecting ASEAN's dynamism and
determination to meet the challenges of the coming century.