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.