The Fifth Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry was held on 20-22 October, 1983 in Singapore. The Meeting was officially declared open by His Excellency Dr. Yeoh Ghim Seng, the Acting President of the Republic of Singapore.

2. The Meeting was attended by H.E. Mr. Achmad Affandi, Minister of Agriculture, Indonesia; H.E. Mr. Soedjarwo, Minister of Forestry, Indonesia; H.E. Dato' Abdul Manan bin Othman, Minister of Agriculture, Malaysia; H.E. Mr. Teodoro Q Pena, Minister of Natural Resources, the Philippines; H E Mr. Narong Wongwan, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand; H.E. Mr. Borom Tanthien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand; and H.E. Mr. Teh Cheang Wan, Minister for National Development, Singapore and their respective delegations. The Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat, H.E. Mr. Chan Kai Yau, and one of his staff were also in attendance.

3. H.E. Mr. Teh Cheang Wan and H.E. Mr. Teodoro Q Pena, were elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively.

4. The Ministers reviewed the progress of the various projects undertaken by the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Forestry including the ASEAN Food Security Reserve arrangement. The Ministers considered that the rice reserve of 50,000 tones, was adequate and agreed to maintain this stockpile level. The Meeting also discussed other areas of agricultural cooperation including the role of agriculture in combating malnutrition in the ASEAN region, cooperation in agricultural co-operatives, monitoring and evaluation of fertilizer self-sufficiency, pooling of research and technology, and the sharing of agricultural training and extension resources.

5. The Meeting also discussed the management of fisheries resources in ASEAN, and in agreeing to give emphasis to the need for greater cooperation in fisheries, the Ministers signed the ASEAN Ministerial Understanding on Fisheries Cooperation. The Ministerial Understanding provides for the management and conservation of fisheries resources in the ASEAN region. It also provide, for sharing ad transfer of technology in the field, of aquaculture post-harvest technology and the trade and marketing of fish and fishery products among the ASEAN countries.

6. The Meeting unanimously supported Indonesia's intention to have the headquarters of the proposed international Tropical Timber Organizations located in Jakarta, Indonesia.

7. The Sixth Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers n Agriculture and Forestry ill be held in the Philippines in the second half of 1984.

8. The delegations from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand expressed their since appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Singapore for the arm hospitality accorded them and for the excellent arrangement . made for the Meeting.

9. The Meeting as held in the traditional spirit of ASEAN solidarity and cordiality.