ASEAN, Japan outline action plan

ASEAN, Japan outline action plan

Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, Tokyo

The 10 leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) and their host Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
concluded on Friday their two-day summit to commemorate the 30th
anniversary of ASEAN and Japanese relations with ASEAN.

At the end of the summit, the 11 heads of government,
including President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Malaysian
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Philippine President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Myanmar's PM Gen. Khin Nyunt signed
the Tokyo Declaration for a Dynamic and Enduring ASEAN-Japan
Partnership in the New Millennium and the ASEAN-Japan
Plan of Action.

In the declaration, they expressed their determination to
continue to deepen and broaden cooperation within ASEAN and Japan
to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

They also agreed to adopt the fundamental principles and
values of ASEAN and Japan in the creation of an East Asian
region, and that they will forge a common vision and principles,
including respect for the rule of law and justice, promotion and
protection of human rights and freedom of all peoples.

On their common strategies for action, the leaders agreed to
reinforce comprehensive economic partnership and monetary and
financial cooperation and to promote more opportunities for trade
in goods and services by opening and enlarging markets and
progressively eliminating non-tariff barriers. They also vowed to
facilitate the mobility of businesspeople and skilled labor and
to foster financial and monetary cooperation.

On the consolidation of the foundation for economic
development and prosperity they pointed out that, "Given the new
challenges facing ASEAN member countries, Japan will especially
enhance its cooperation in human resource development and related
areas".

They also pledged to strengthen cooperation in political and
security issues between Japan and ASEAN.

"To enhance political and security cooperation and partnership
at all levels in order to consolidate peace in the region, and
work together toward peaceful settlement of disputes in the
region bilaterally."

They also recognized "ASEAN+3 (Japan, China and South Korea)
as an important channel to promote cooperation and regional
economic integration networks in East Asia ... (and) to seek to
build an East Asian Community."

Meanwhile, in the Action Plan the leaders outlined the
measures which should be taken to realize the leaders'
commitment. They firstly pointed out the need to expedite the
realization of the bilateral Economic Partnership Agreements
(EPAs) between ASEAN and Japan.

On financial and monetary cooperation they agreed to intensify
efforts to complete the bilateral swap arrangements, also to
support the Asian Bond Markets Development Initiative, and the
issuance of Asian currency denominated bonds.

"Japan will facilitate the development of regional bond
markets by utilizing the various functions of relevant Japanese
entities," the statement noted.

Other issues include the simplification of customs and
procedures, the development of intellectual property rights and
the stepping-up of cooperation in the automobile industry.

On the mobility of skilled labor, Japan offered seminars to
look into ways to facilitate the movement of labor.

The promotion of close consultation among defense and security
officials and exchange programs and joint research are also among
the goals.