Mr. Chairman,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

By chance I find myself as the last to speak this year , which gives me the advantage that all the essentials have already been said. Allow me, therefore to concentrate only on a few points that I believe should be underlined. But first of all, Mr. Chairman; may I take this opportunity to thank you deeply for the hospitality you have shown our delegation. Of course, this is not the first time that I have experienced such generosity and graciousness which one comes to associate with Singapore.

Mr. Chairman, as my colleagues from the Presidency has mentioned, it is difficult to exaggerate the importance we attach to our annual meeting with ASEAN and our fellow Dialogue Partners.

We have been participating in the PMCS over a long period, most recently in the PMC SOM on political and security issues.

A new framework is now taking shape to contribute to stability in the Asia-Pacific region. A stability, Mr. Chairman, which is not only in the, interests of Asia-Pacific countries but of us all. For in this historical period, developments in one part of the world inevitably affect developments elsewhere. Take trade as an example. For the past two years, the European Community has traded more with East Asia than with North America. Moreover, European trade with East Asia, especially with ASEAN, continues to expand faster than with any other region in the world.

This clearly shows how important it is for us all to secure the principles of open markets, safe navigation and good neighbourly relations between states, in order to maintain and reinforce the commercial trends I have just referred to. And as a result of this increased trade and growth there is the potential to cooperate more fully in alleviating suffering in less developed countries - which is, after all, our common goal and responsibility.

Coming back to trade, the EC has recently welcomed the agreement reached in Tokyo by the Quad countries. As we all know in the margin of the G-7 Summit, those countries have considerably improved their offers to open their markets in goods and services. This should now, in our view, set the stage for the completion of the Uruguay Round, provided that all participants to the Round are prepared to make their contribution.

Many factors contribute to ensuring peace and stability - sustainable economic growth is clearly one. Good governance and respect for human rights are others.

These do not only apply to one particular grouping, but to all countries both in Europe and outside it; whatever their stage of development: whether post-industrial, industrial, agrarian or developing.

The replacement of autocracy by democracy in Central and Eastern Europe and other political developments relating to the end of the Cold War, have confronted the Community with several new challenges, all at. the same time: the establishment of new relationships with Central and Eastern European countries and with the countries of the former Soviet Union helping to manage the crisis in the former Yugoslavia and building a Common Foreign and Security Policy.

All of these challenges have been added to the already heavy EC agenda that Mr. Claes referred to. I would like to mention also the completion of the Single European Market, the Uruguay Round negotiations, the establishment of the European Economic Area and moves towards monetary union.

In tackling these challenges, the EC has made all possible efforts to offer a balanced response- not neglecting one concern in favour of another. I am emphasising this point, Mr. Chairman, to underline that our commitment to continue our policy of assisting developing countries is firm. Allow me, Mr. Chairman, to mention two cases in this context.

In Cambodia, the EC has strongly supported the peace process both politically and financially. Let me reaffirm our willingness to contribute with our partners here today to assist in the future rehabilitation and reconstruction of that country as soon as a government of reconciliation has been established.

Secondly, in Vietnam, the EC together with other partners, both from within the Southeast Asian region and outside it, has successfully managed an international programme to reintegrate Vietnamese boat people of whom some 40,000 have now returned to their country. We are now about to propose a framework trade and cooperation agreement with Vietnam, and to assist its transition to a market economy.

Finally, moving from regional to global concerns, the Community and its member states seek where possible to find common ground with third countries on matters requiring global management. Only to mention two examples - our concerns for the protection of the environment and likewise the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

Mr. Chairman, in an increasingly interdependent world, common concerns - such as those just mentioned-require common solutions. It is our express hope that over the next few days we can address these concerns with the spirit of openness that has characterised previous ASEAN PMCS.