Dialogue, Sectoral & Consultative Partners

55. The Fifth ASEAN Summit directed ASEAN to continue to further the engagement process with its Dialogue, Sectoral and Consultative Partners on the basis of mutual benefit and in the spirit of goodwill and partnership. The ASEAN Leaders also agreed that ASEAN should remain outward looking and should deepen its external relations with partners in a globally inter-dependent world.

56. As part of the ongoing process of furthering the dialogue process, ASEAN has been studying ways of initiating new mechanisms and areas of cooperation with its Dialogue Partners. It has successfully used the various fora in Dialogue relations to advance Member Countries' interests in international trade, investment, technology transfer, market access and development cooperation. Economic cooperation has increased in importance in many of ASEAN's Dialogue relations and many development cooperation projects have been designed with economic and commercial objectives. The trend towards equal partnership and thematic programming also continued.

57. ASEAN-China consultative activities in science and technology, economic and trade cooperation and political consultations gained momentum in the year under review. These activities culminated in the elevation of China’s status to that of full Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in July 1996. Similarly, the great strides made in ASEAN-Russia relations came to fruition with the elevation of the Federation of Russia to the status of full Dialogue Partner. This development came soon after the visit of the Secretary-General of ASEAN to Russia from 3 to 7 June 1996. In connection with this, the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology considered the proposed cooperation between ASEAN and the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology. India was elevated to Dialogue Partner status from its previous Sectoral Dialogue Partner designation by the ASEAN Heads of State and Government during the Fifth ASEAN Summit, bringing the number of ASEAN's Dialogue Partners to eleven.

58. ASEAN and Pakistan held consultations on advancing the ASEAN-Pakistan Sectoral Dialogue relationship. Pakistan’s study, entitled Pakistan and ASEAN : A Dialogue for Partnership which was submitted to ASEAN in April is being considered by the SOM, SEOM and the ASC. Cambodia and Laos PDR have applied for membership in ASEAN. Both countries wish to join ASEAN in 1997.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

59. The Osaka Action Agenda adopted by the Informal Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting consists of two parts. Part One deals with trade and investment liberalization while Part Two concentrates on economic and technical cooperation. Action Plans are being formulated according to the general principles and framework of the Action Agenda so as to realise APEC's long term goal of free trade and investment in the region. The plans will be submitted to the APEC Ministerial Meeting in November 1996.

East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC)

60. ASEAN Member Countries, together with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, have continued discussions of mutual interest on an informal basis as had been agreed to at their informal meeting in Bangkok in July 1994. The areas covered included matters pertaining to the ASEAN Europe Meeting which was held in Bangkok from 1 - 2 March 1996, and the ASEAN- Mekong Basin Development Cooperation.

61. As a follow-up to the 1995 Bangkok Summit pertaining to the Mekong Basin Development, all 11 ASEAN and non-ASEAN Mekong riparian states were present at a series of meetings called in May and June 1996 to discuss the concept of the cooperation. The Senior Officials' Meeting produced a Basic Framework on the ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation which was adopted by the Ministers in Kuala Lumpur on 18 June 1996. The Framework, inter alia, outlines the objectives, principles, and sectors of priority for the cooperation.

62. In addition, it established a Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of the cooperation. The Framework also provides for a meeting of Ministers on the cooperation at least once year to be held back-to-back with the Joint Ministerial Meetings of the ASEAN Foreign and Economic Ministers prior to the ASEAN Summit. Special Meetings of Ministers may be convened as required. The Kuala Lumpur Meeting also agreed to establish, under the Chairmanship of Thailand, an ASEAN and non-ASEAN Riparian States Experts Group to study appropriate modalities to mobilise funds for the cooperation . Furthermore, a Special Working Group, under the chairmanship of Malaysia, will study all issues on the proposed railway links between Singapore and Kunming.

Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)

63. The first Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was held in Bangkok from 1-2 March 1996 and was attended by the Heads of State and Government of the ten Asiann nations and fifteen European nations in the European Union as well as the President of the European Commission. The Foreign Ministers, Members of the EC and other Ministers accompanied the Heads of State and Government The historic Meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister of Thailand, H.E. Banharn Silpa Archa.

64. The Meeting discussed a wide range of issues. It presented an opportunity for the Leaders to share their concerns and aspirations, and to develop a common vision for the future. In this regard, the Leaders saw the need to strive for a common goal of maintaining and enhancing peace and stability as well as creating conditions conducive for economic and social development. Towards this end, a new comprehensive Asia-Europe Partnership for Greater Growth was forged to strengthen links between the two regions and thereby contribute to peace, global stability and prosperity.