The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali

The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan
signed the Framework for Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEP)
on Wednesday to minimize barriers and deepen economic linkages
between ASEAN and Japan.

The Framework for CEP was jointly signed by ten heads of
states of ASEAN member countries and Japan Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi during the ASEAN-Japan Summit here in Nusa Dua.

In the framework of cooperation, ASEAN and Japan agreed to
start consultation on the ASEAN-Japan CEP on the liberalization
of trade in goods, services and investment, from the beginning of
2004.

In the press conference, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi reiterated that cooperation was moving forward
steadfastly. "There should be a trilateral study, including on
the possibility of a trilateral investment agreement, and the
possibility of further consultation with the other leaders,"
Koizumi said.

ASEAN-Japan made a joint declaration during the ASEAN-Japan
Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to implement measures for the
realization of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEP),
including elements of a possible Free Trade Area (FTA), which
should be completed as soon as possible within a maximum period
of 10 years.

ASEAN and Japan have conducted a number of studies on the
immediate implementation of activities such as technical
assistance and capacity building for ASEAN, particularly for the
newer ASEAN member states.

Other activities include trade and investment promotion and
facilitation measures; trade and investment policy dialogue;
business sector dialogue, and the compilation and exchange of
relevant data, such as on customs tariffs and bilateral
statistics.

ASEAN and Japan have also decided to hold consultations from
the beginning of 2004 on facilitation in the field of trade
related procedures, business environment and intellectual
property rights.

Other areas of cooperation include energy, information and
communications technology, human resources development, small and
medium enterprises, tourism and hospitality, transportation and
logistics.

On liberalization, ASEAN and Japan will start consultations on
the ASEAN-Japan CEP on the liberalization of trade in goods,
services and investment from the beginning of 2004 by discussing
the basic principles of the ASEAN-Japan cumulative rules of
origin and customs classification, and the collecting and
analyzing of trade and customs data.

For ASEAN member states that are not yet members of the World
Trade Organization (WTO), Japan will continue to apply general
Most-Favored Nation (MFN) status.