Full text of the ASEAN 'Hanoi Declaration of 1998'

Full text of the ASEAN 'Hanoi Declaration of 1998'

The full text of the "Hanoi Declaration of 1998" adopted by
leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at
the end of their summit Wednesday.

HANOI (AP): We, the Heads of State and Government of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), gathered in Hanoi
for the sixth ASEAN Summit,

Emphasizing the theme of this gathering "Unity and Cooperation
for an ASEAN of Peace, Stability and Equitable Development" and
recalling the Vision 2020 of ASEAN as "a concert of Southeast
Asian nations, outward-looking, living in peace, stability and
prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development
and in a community of caring societies";

Aware of the opportunities for renewed growth, peace and
prosperity as well as the challenges posed especially by the
economic crisis, as ASEAN approaches the new millennium;

Confident of our national and regional resilience, the
fundamental strengths of our economies, and the ability and will
of our people to overcome the difficulties that currently
confront our nations and region;

Hereby declare:

1. We reaffirm our view of ASEAN as indispensable to regional
peace and prosperity, an association with a history of
demonstrated dynamism and close cooperation, a force for peace
and stability in our part of the world.

2. We have decided to admit the Kingdom of Cambodia as the
10th member of ASEAN and instructed the foreign ministers to
organize special ceremonies of admission in Hanoi.

3. We note ASEAN's success in promoting regional peace and
stability, based on the cardinal principles of mutual respect,
non-interference, consensus, dialogue and consultation. This has
contributed substantially to many years of rapid economic growth
and social development for our nations. We will not be complacent
in the maintenance of regional peace but will seek to constantly
reinforce the ties among us.

4. We recognize that the economic and financial upheaval that
currently afflicts our economies and societies has severely set
back many of the gains that our nations and our Association have
achieved. We shall overcome those economic and social
difficulties by working together in ever closer cooperation and
ever stronger solidarity.

5. We shall move ASEAN onto a higher plane of regional
cooperation in order to strengthen ASEAN's effectiveness in
dealing with the challenges of growing interdependence within
ASEAN and of its integration into the global economy. In doing
so, we commit ourselves to intensifying our dialogue on current
and emerging issues, further consolidating our unity in
diversity, our cohesiveness and harmony.

6. We are committed to accelerating economic and financial
reforms to strengthen our respective economies. We believe that
reform efforts at the national level must be reinforced by
corresponding reforms at the global level to address weakness in
the international financial architecture and welcome the
contribution of the G-22 in this area. We strongly urge that
further work be done within the G-22 or an expanded version of
it. ASEAN will continue to play an active role in the
international community to expedite the development and
implementation of these reforms.

7. The international community also has a responsibility to
continue to support our reform efforts through bilateral and
multilateral assistance, including new and innovative approaches
to catalyze the return of private capital flows to the region. In
this context, we welcome the Miyazawa Plan and the Asian Growth
and Recovery Initiative to revitalize private sector growth in
Asia. We look forward to their quick implementation.

8. We recognize that the financial crisis has a social
dimension, with the poor and vulnerable segments of our societies
being the most adversely affected. In this regard, we will ensure
that efforts to safeguard the interests of the poor form an
integral part of our reform efforts. We also urge the
international community to step up their technical and financial
assistance in this area as well as ensure that the reforms in the
international financial architecture include a social dimension
to protect the poor.

9. We reaffirm our commitment to the greater integration of
our economies as a primary expression of our cooperation and
solidarity.

10. To this end, we shall spare no efforts to quickly restore
financial and macroeconomic stability, bring about early economic
recovery and maintain sustained growth. In this regard, ASEAN has
put in place an ASEAN Surveillance Process, based on peer review,
to highlight emerging risks, recommend appropriate policy
responses, and encourage early action to avoid such risks.

11. ASEAN will keep its markets open as it recognizes that the
key to strengthening and stabilizing the region's currencies and
economies is to attract long-term investments. ASEAN reaffirms
its commitment to trade and investment liberalization and
facilitation, at the multilateral and regional levels, and will
continue to undertake concrete measures toward these objectives.

12. We resolve to implement, as scheduled, the ASEAN Free
Trade Area (AFTA) and all approved programs and projects. In
addition, we seek to further accelerate AFTA and expedite the
implementation of the ASEAN Industrial Cooperation Scheme (AICO).
We shall open up our investment regimes through the launching of
the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA), which will enhance the
attractiveness of the region as an investment destination through
the application of consistent investment laws and policies.

13. We encourage wider use of ASEAN currencies in intra-ASEAN
trade settlements.

14. We shall develop and strengthen the ASEAN regional
infrastructure by developing networks of electricity grids, gas
and water pipelines, and expanding transport and
telecommunications links. Efficient and quality infrastructure
will enhance ASEAN's competitiveness.

15. We shall endeavor to narrow the gap in the levels of
development among the member countries and reduce poverty and
socioeconomic disparities through greater subregional
cooperation.

16. We shall ensure food security in the region and enhance
the competitiveness of our food, agriculture and forestry sectors
by increasing productivity, promoting intra and extra ASEAN
trade, and greater private sector investment.

17. We shall encourage the active participation and effective
contribution of the business sector to assist in the shaping of
ASEAN's policies and initiatives to overcome the crisis. A close
partnership between the ASEAN governments and the private sector
would be crucial in paving the way to sustained recovery and
prosperity of the region.

18. Accordingly, ASEAN calls upon the concerned countries and
international financial institutions to continue to assist the
affected countries in their economic recovery through development
assistance, increased private investment flows, greater market
access of goods originating from ASEAN region, increased
technology transfer and cooperation in human resource
development.

19. The maintenance and creation of employment shall be a
primary consideration in our strategies for economic recovery and
growth. An essential part of this shall be a concerted and
cooperative effort to foster SMEs (small- and medium-sized
enterprises) and to train our people for the demands and
opportunities of the industries of today and tomorrow.

20. We shall continue to cooperate and strengthen ASEAN's
capacity in science and technology, particularly in the field of
information technology. Towards this end, we shall develop the
ASEAN Information Infrastructure.

21. We recognize that the ultimate objective of economic
development is to raise standards of living and to promote human
development in all its dimensions, so as to enable the people of
ASEAN to have the fullest opportunity to realize their potential.

22. The eradication of poverty shall be the ultimate goal of
our strategies for recovery and growth, and the development of
our rural areas a principal means for attaining it. We shall work
closely together to eradicate poverty in and develop rural and
remote areas as well as the less developed inter-state areas.

23. We shall strengthen and promote linkages among ASEAN
institutional mechanisms in fighting against drug abuse and
trafficking in order to eradicate drug production, processing,
trafficking and use by the year 2020.

24. We shall, together, make sure that our people are assured
of adequate medical care and access to essential medicines. We
shall step up our cooperation in the control and prevention of
communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

25. So as to ensure the sustainability of our nations'
development, the protection of the environment shall be an
essential part of our economic activities. We shall consolidate
and expand our gains in the control and prevention of
transboundary pollution, especially the haze arising from land
and forest fires.

26. We shall intensify individual and collective efforts to
address transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, money
laundering, terrorism, piracy, arms smuggling and trafficking in
persons.

27. We shall fortify confidence in our nations by continuing
to maintain friendly relations among us and fostering the
security of our region.

28. Toward this end, we shall expedite the ratification of the
Second Protocol to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in
Southeast Asia so as to enable non-regional states to accede to
the treaty at the earliest possible time. We shall intensify the
consultations with the nuclear-weapon states with a view to their
accession to the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia
Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone.

29. We shall endeavor to resolve outstanding problems and
prevent the emergence of disputes in the ASEAN way and in
accordance with international law and practice.

30. We shall promote efforts to settle disputes in the South
China Sea by peaceful means in accordance with international law,
including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea, and in the spirit of the 1992 ASEAN Declaration on the South
China Sea. We call on all parties concerned to exercise restraint
and to refrain from taking actions that are inimical to the
peace, security and stability of South Asia and the Asia-Pacific
region.

31. We welcome efforts to develop long-term constructive
relationships among the major powers. ASEAN shall enhance its
dialogue partnership and cooperation with other countries as well
as with other regional and international organizations, on the
basis of equality, non-interference, mutual respect and mutual
benefit.

32. We shall strengthen the ASEAN Regional Forum as a forum
for political and security dialogue and cooperation in the Asia-
Pacific region. ASEAN leadership of ARF shall continue to be
exercised and enhanced, while ASEAN solidarity and coordination
in ARF shall be intensified.

33. As a step to enhance ASEAN's investment and trade
environment, a package of bold measures and privileges will be
granted to traders and investors. In this regard, we ask our
ministers to commence implementation of the package of bold
measures starting from Jan. 1, 1999.

34. We hereby adopt the Hanoi Plan of Action and charge our
ministers and senior officials to begin its implementation. We
agree to conduct a review of the progress in 2001, three years
after the adoption of the Hanoi Plan of Action.
Done at Hanoi on the 16th day of December, 1998.