On behalf of my ASEAN Collegues , it gives me gerat pleasure to extend to you, Mr. Minister and members of delegation, a warm welcome to this annual session of the Post Ministerial Conference.

2. Let me at the outset, Mr. Minister, Congratulation you on your appointment at the new Foreign Minister of Canada. Your presence here today would provide us with the opportunuty to Develop our Acquaitances and work together toward a further consolidation of the ASEAN-Canada relations. Minister ouelle. We look forward to share your thoughts and wisdom on how we could advance further our relation and cooperation. Frame work agreement on ASEAN Industrial cooperation (AICO) to promote joint industrial activities and encourage investment in technology-based and value-added sectors among the ASEAN private sector.

Mr. Minister,
Distinguished Delegates,

4. We are meeting here today at a time when significant developments are taking place in the ASEAN region. These developments will, no doubt, have profound impact on the politico-economic landscape of the region. I am referring to, Mr. Minister, the imminent expansion of ASEAN, the Mekong Basin Development Cooperation, Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the progress in the implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).

5. Last year in Bandar Seri Begawan, Vietnam was accepted into the ASEAN family of nations as its seventh member. Laos and Cambodia are expected to join our organisation in 1997 during the 30th AMM in Kuala Lumpur. Five days ago, at this very place in Jakarta, Myanmar was accorded an observer status. In December of last year, at the Summit meeting of ASEAN Heads of Government with those of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar in Bangkok, much outstanding, goodwill and solidarity have been generated among the leaders. This had paved the way to their historic signing of the treaty of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. ASEAN is confident that its vision for an "ASEAN TEN" would be realised before the turn of the century.

6. The historic first Asia-Europe Meeting is yet another landmark achievement in ASEAN's external relations. The meeting between Asia's ten and Europe's Fifteen forged a new comprehensive Asia-Europe partnership that would contribute to peace, global stability and prosperity.

7. Within the region itself, Mr. Minister, the move toward fostering cooperation in the development of the Mekong basin received overwhelming support from the Mekong riparian states including China. The recent Ministerial Meeting on the Mekong Basin Development Cooperation in Kuala Lumpur has agreed on a basic framework of cooperation on Mekong Basin Deevelopment Cooperation which identified several areas for cooperation and these include infrastructural development (transportation, energy, telecommunication), industries, agriculture and forestry, mineral, tourism and human resource development.

8. At the intra ASEAN level, we are pleased to inform of the substantive progress in outr endeavour toward making ASEAN a free trade area by the year 2003. ASEAN has completed the revised ten-year tariff reduction programme and the integration of unprocessed agricultural products into the CEPT Scheme. In addition to AFTA, another new initiative i.e. ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) has been undertaken to make the region more attractive to foreign investors. Earlier, our economic ministers signed a Framework Agreement on ASEAN Industrial Cooperation (AICO) to promote joint industrial activities and encourage investments in technological-basd and value-added sectors among the ASEAN private sector.

Mr. Minister,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

9. I am gald to note that the ASEAN-Canada dialogue has progressed further since our last meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan in July 1995.

10. The inaugural meeting of the joint planning and monitoring committee(JPMC) in Penang in October 1995 and the 10th joint cooperation committe (JCC) meeting in Miri May 1996 were two significant developments that have further intesified our cooperation. the JPMC serves as amechanism for ASEAN Canada to undertake joint programming and review of developmnet cooperation. At the recent 10th JCC meeting we have adopted the trade and investment action plan to further promte our cooperation endeavours.

11. We recognise the need for an even greter coopertion between ASEAN - Canada, particulary in the area of trade andinvestment. The adoption of the joint action plan on trade and investment at the 10th JCC meeting was therefore timely. The trade and investment action plan is envisaged to set a new direction in our cooperation and provide an opportunity for our private sector's participation. Programme for activities proposed such as specific trade and investment missions; an outreach and awareness programme, and special programme for small and medium enterprises and young entrepreneurs as well as the establishment of the JCC sub-committee on trade and investment would contribute to the enhancement of our trade and economic relatios. with the support and participation of the private sector, particularly, the ASEAN-Canada business council (ACBC), I am confident that the action plan could be successfully implemented.

Mr. Minister,
Distiguished Delegates,

12. While we could express our statisfaction at the state of ASEAN-Canda relations in general, I must however, Mr. Minister, express ASEAN's concern on our trade relations. ASEAN notes that two way trade between ASEAN and Canada, Althought growing, is still low compared to our other dialogue partners, notably the U.S and Japan. Though in 1995, the total trade recorded a sum of CN$ 7.6 billion, the figure represnted only 1 % of canada's global trade. Similary in the area of investment, Canadiandirect investment, which was also small comparativelly, stood around CN$ 4.1 billion and mostly in finace and insurance, energy, resources and manufactoring sectors.

13. The creation of AFTA and ASEAN Growth areas such as Brunei Darussalam - Indonesia - Malaysia - Philippines - Est ASEAN G rowth area (BIMP-EAGA); Sinagpore - Johore - Riau (SIJORI); Indonesia - Malaysia - Thailand - Growth Triagle (IMT - GT) and the ASEAN initiative on Mekong Basin development are designed to spur private sector involvement and collaboration. Canadian enterprisess, particulary the small and medium scale, should expand their presence in the region, to tap its potensials as a market, as well as manufacturing base for the wider Asia Pacific market.

14. ASEAN would welcome collaborative ventures by ASEAN and Canadian businees community to participate in these business and investment opportunities, which in turn will strengthe the Economic links between ASEAN and Canada.

15. While trade amd investmentshould be our focus in the years ahead. We must not, however, lose sight of the importance of development cooperation. With the impending expansion of ASEAN, development cooperation continues to be relevant particularly to the new members. ASEAN hopes, under the development cooperation programme, it will continue to benefit from Canada's experience in Human Resource Development (HRD); Science and Technology (S&T), Research and Development (R&D) ; and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMES).

Mr. Minister,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

16. To conclude my remarks, I would like to express ASEAN's appreciation and gratitude to Canada for its positive contribution to the development of our region through its active participation in the political, economic and development cooperation programmes.

17. My colleagues and I are optimistic that our deliberations here this morning will again be fruitful and will further strengthen the bond of friendship between ASEAN and Canada.

Thank You.