ASEAN Bulletin
October
2008
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Inaugural Forum on
Civil Service Accountability and Good Governance in ASEAN,
Indonesia, 27 October 2008
-
ASEAN Human Resource
Summit Debuts in Singapore, Singapore 22 October 2008
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China-ASEAN Cultural
Industry Forum, Nanning, China, 28-29 October 2008
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ESCAP and ASEAN Hold
Regional Meeting on Post-Nargis Recovery in Myanmar, Bangkok,
27-28 October 2008
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China-ASEAN Young
Entrepreneurs Forum, Nanning, China, 20-25 October 2008
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ASEAN Law Ministers
Convene in Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, 27 October 2008
-
3rd China-ASEAN Week
Convenes in Nanning, China, Nanning, 27 October 2008
-
5th China-ASEAN Expo
Opens in Nanning Nanning, China, 22 October 2008
-
ASEAN Workshop on
Domestic Violence Legislation, Ha Noi, 20-21 October 2008
-
24th ASEAN-Japan Forum and 6th East Asia
Forum 15-16 October 2008, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
-
To Know More about
ASEAN through ASEAN Schools Tour
-
ASEAN Information
Ministers Sign MOU on Information and Media Cooperation,
Nanning, 16 October 2008
-
Ten Cities in ASEAN Receive the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable
City Award, Ha Noi, 8 October 2008
-
Largest Group of US Officials Visit the ASEAN Secretariat
-
ASEAN Support for Southeast Asian Writers Awards 2008
Inaugural Forum on Civil Service Accountability and Good
Governance in ASEAN
Indonesia, 27 October 2008
An inaugural Forum on “Civil Service Accountability and Good
Governance in ASEAN: Experiences and Practices in the ASEAN Region
and Beyond” was held on 27 October 2008 in Bukittinggi, Indonesia.
The Forum was an initiative by the ASEAN Conference on Civil Service
Matter (ACCSM) and co-organised by Singapore and Indonesia with
support from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund. It was attended by
the ASEAN Heads of Civil Service and their delegations.
Participants at the Forum shared the common view that it was
timely for ASEAN to start sharing and exchanging views on future
regional action towards accountability and governance. While it was
recognised that there is no perfect solution towards achieving good
governance, there was a common interest to share and learn from each
other and their diverse situations.
The participants also noted that at the regional level, ASEAN has
identified several priorities on enhancing governance and
accountability. Important documents such as the ASEAN Charter set
out the principles for enhancing good governance and the rule of
law.
The Forum was organised around two substantive sessions: the
concept of good governance and its application in the ASEAN context.
A wrap-up session at the end summarised the key points and lessons
learned, and identified areas where the ACCSM could pursue follow-up
action.
The Forum was held prior to the 14th ACCSM Technical Meeting.
Posted on 10 Nov 2008
ASEAN Human Resource Summit Debuts in Singapore
Singapore, 22 October 2008
The first ever ASEAN Human Resource (HR) Summit themed
“Progressive Labour Practices to Enhance the Competitiveness of
ASEAN” was held in Singapore on 22 October 2008. The Minister for
Manpower of Singapore, Mr Gan Kim Yong was the guest-of-honour at
the event. Dr Soeung Rathchavy, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN
was invited to give her remarks at the opening ceremony.
The ASEAN HR Summit distinguished itself from other HR events
with its specific focus on ASEAN. It provided a platform for
academic institutions and HR consulting firms to share research
findings on HR practices in the ASEAN region. It also promoted good
HR practices through the engagement of the private sectors and
social partners to spread knowledge of good HR practices throughout
the region.
The Summit was attended by the ASEAN Labour Ministers; government
officials, workers’ representatives and employers’ representatives
from the ASEAN Member States, as well as HR practitioners,
academics, and company representatives from Singapore.
The ASEAN HR Summit was initiated by the Working Group on
Progressive Labour Practices to Enhance Competitiveness of ASEAN
under the Senior Labour Officials Meeting. It was organised and
funded by the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore, with co-funding
from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund.
Please click
here for the remarks by Dr Soeung Rathchavy.
Posted on 10 Nov2008
China-ASEAN Cultural Industry Forum
Nanning, China, 28-29 October 2008
The 3rd China-ASEAN Cultural Industry Forum was
held in Nanning, China, on 28-29 October 2008. The theme of this
year's forum is "Exchanges and Cooperation: Towards a Win-Win
Solution".
The Forum was attended by government officials,
academics, and entrepreneurs in the culture industry from China and
ASEAN Member States. After the Meeting, the delegates visited model
enterprises of China's cultural industry and were treated to the
"Impression of the Liu Sanjie" performance as well as cultural
performances at the Nanning Theater.
Posted on 31 Oct 2008
ESCAP and ASEAN Hold Regional Meeting on Post-Nargis Recovery in
Myanmar
Bangkok, 27-28 October 2008
The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan,
attended the Regional High-Level Expert Group Meeting on Post-Nargis
Recovery & Livelihood Opportunities in Myanmar in Bangkok on 27-28
October 2008. The event was organised by the United Nations Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and ASEAN,
with the support of the Government of the Union of Myanmar.
The two-day meeting brought together key
partners, from officials of the Myanmar Government, ASEAN, ESCAP and
other UN and international partners to experts with experience in
dealing with recent disasters. The meeting provided a platform to
learn from the experiences of regional and international policy
experts as well as discuss the future steps for post-Nargis
recovery.
Dr Surin, UN ESCAP's Executive Secretary,
Under-Secretary-General Noeleen Heyzer, and Myanmar Deputy Minister
for Foreign Affairs, U Kyaw Thu all delivered remarks at the
meeting.
Posted on 31 Oct 2008
China-ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Forum
Nanning,
China, 20-25 October 2008
The China-ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Forum was
held on 20-25 October 2008 in Nanning, China, in conjunction with
the 5th China-ASEAN Expo. The Forum was convened in response to the
proposal of establishing a China-ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs
Association (CAYEA) at the Commemorative Summit marking the 15th
anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations in October 2006.
The Forum brought together young entrepreneurs
and representatives of relevant governmental and non-governmental
organisations from ASEAN Member States and China. The participants
envisioned strong networks of young entrepreneurs and related
organisations in ASEAN and China, working together in friendship and
harmony for the progress and prosperity in the East Asian region. It
was agreed that the CAYEA would be established as soon as possible
following the launch of the China’s Secretariat for CAYEA on 21
October 2008. The representative office for ASEAN is expected to be
established by the first quarter of 2009. The
Nanning Declaration of the China-ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Forum
was adopted to reflect the commitment in this endeavour.
Posted on 28 Oct 2008
ASEAN Law Ministers Convene in Brunei
Bandar Seri
Begawan, 27 October 2008
The Ministers of Law from ten ASEAN Member States
convened in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam on 20-21 October
2008 for the 7th ASEAN Law Ministerial Meeting (ALAWMM). The
Ministers acknowledged that the development of the ASEAN Charter
would have a significant impact on ALAWMM as there will be an
increasing need for legal understanding and cooperation among ASEAN
Member States.
Satisfactory progress was achieved in
implementing various programmes to promote greater legal
understanding and cooperation among the ASEAN Member States. The
Ministers commended the updating of the ASEAN Government Law
Directory and the developments made by the ASEAN Senior Law
Officials Meeting (ASLOM) with regard to the Treaty on Mutual Legal
Assistance in Criminal Matters, the ASEAN Legal Information
Authorities (ALIA), Exchange of Study Visits, the Model ASEAN
Extradition Treaty and the ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism.
The Ministers also endorsed the recommendations made by the ASLOM
Working Group on Examining Modalities for the Harmonisation of Trade
Laws of ASEAN Member States.
The 7th ALAWMM was preceded by the 12th ASLOM.
The 13th ASLOM will be hosted by Indonesia in 2010, and the 8th
ALAWMM and 14th ASLOM by Cambodia in 2011.
Posted on 27 Oct 2008
3rd China-ASEAN ICT Week Convenes in Nanning, China
Nanning, 27 October 2008
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of the
People's Republic of China hosted the 3rd China-ASEAN ICT Week on 21
to 25 October 2008 in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of
China. The 3rd ICT Week themed “Building Information Network for
Deepening ASEAN-China Cooperation” was attended by ICT Ministers and
high level officials from both sides.
At the ICT Ministerial Forum on 22 October which was the main
event of the 3rd ICT Week, the ICT Ministers affirmed the need to
further strengthen cooperation on, among others, ICT infrastructure,
network security, rural communication and human resources
development. Both sides also agreed to support the completion of two
key documents on network security and telecommunication universal
services. Other events that convened during the ICT Week were the
Radio Spectrum Monitoring Workshop, ICT Business Forum and a
technical visit to Nanning's Emergency Response teams.
The China-ASEAN ICT Week contributed towards promoting closer
dialogue between ASEAN and China on strategic ICT policies and
regulatory issues as well as strengthening trade and business
cooperation. The 1st China-ASEAN ICT Week was held in three main
cities of China (Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen) in 2005. The 2nd
event was held in Penang, Malaysia in 2006.
Posted on 27 Oct 2008
5th China-ASEAN Expo Opens in Nanning Nanning,
China, 22 October 2008
One of the foremost trade events of the year, the
5th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), opened today in Nanning International
Exhibition and Convention Centre, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,
China. The theme for this year’s CAEXPO was on ICT cooperation, one
of the ten priority cooperation fields that was jointly identified
by China and ASEAN.
Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr
Surin Pitsuwan with Mr.Shi Sheng Long, Secretary of the Commission
for Discipline Inspection of the Guangxi Autonomous Region
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan,
was in Nanning on 22 October 2008 for the Opening Ceremony of the
5th CAEXPO. Addressing the audience, he said he was “very encouraged
to see that amid the economic uncertainty, the 5th China-ASEAN Expo
has not only attracted enterprises from China and the 10 ASEAN
countries, but also companies from outside the China-ASEAN region,
including France , Russia , Ireland , Japan and the Republic of Korea
. This will promote not only the economic but people-to-people
exchanges between the China-ASEAN region, and with economies in the
rest of the world.”
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|
ASEAN booth at CAEXPO |
The event attracted a record of 2,100 enterprises, with 3,300 exhibition booths set up. Of these, about 35% (or 1,154
booths) were taken up by enterprises from the ASEAN countries, the
largest number so far from ASEAN countries.
This year, six ASEAN countries chartered their
own exclusive exhibition halls to set up their respective Pavilion
of Commodity Trade. The CAEXPO comprises four pavilions – the
Pavilion of Commodity Trade, the Pavilion of Agricultural Applicable
Technology, the Pavilion of Investment Cooperation and the Pavilion
of Cities of Charm. The ASEAN Secretariat occupied two booths at the
Pavilion of Cities of Charm. One booth showcased photographs of
peoples in ASEAN, while the other introduced the activities of
ASEAN.
The CAEXPO was initiated by Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao at the 7th China-ASEAN Summit in 2003 to promote the building
of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area which comprises 1.3 billion
people from China and 570 million people from ASEAN. The event is
co-sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China, the ten ASEAN
countries as well as the ASEAN Secretariat. It is organised by the
People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The 5th CAEXPO will be held in Nanning from 22 to
25 October 2008. The China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, is
also held at the same time.
Posted on 23 Oct 2008
ASEAN Workshop on Domestic Violence
Legislation
Ha Noi, 20-21 October 2008
To mark the National Women’s Day in Viet Nam, the
Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Viet Nam (MOLISA),
the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Viet Nam in
cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat and the United Nations Fund
for Women (UNIFEM) organised the ASEAN Workshop on Domestic Violence
Legislation on 20-21 October 2008 in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. More than 60
representatives from ASEAN Member States and Japan participated in
the workshop. Delegates from Timor Leste participated as observers.
The Workshop is one of the activities implemented under the
Framework for Cooperation between ASEAN and UNIFEM. It provided a
platform to share experiences and draw lessons in drafting,
implementing and monitoring domestic violence legislation, as well
as for strengthening regional cooperation in addressing domestic
violence.
In opening the Workshop, H.E. Mdm. Huynh Thi Nhan,
Vice Minister of MOLISA-Viet Nam, highlighted that violence in the
family is no longer a private matter of each family or one country;
it has become a global concern. It has damaged the human dignity,
health and psychology of victims. Therefore, the prevention and
control of domestic violence has received the attention of the
international community as well as in the region. One of the ASEAN
principles under the ASEAN Charter is the respect for fundamental
freedoms, the promotion and protection of human rights, and the
promotion of social justice. This is an overarching principle that
includes elimination of domestic violence.
All ASEAN Member States have ratified the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The United
Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against
Women as well as the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action were
adopted by ASEAN Member States.
In the Southeast Asia region, the year 2004
witnessed an important milestone in efforts made to address domestic
violence, the signing of the ASEAN Declaration on the Elimination of
Violence Against Women at the 37th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
(http://www.asean.org/16189.htm).
Posted on 22 Oct 2008
24th ASEAN-Japan Forum and 6th East Asia Forum
15-16 October 2008
Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr SOEUNG
Rathchavy, at the 24th ASEAN-Japan Forum.
Senior Officials from ASEAN Member States and
Japan met at the 24th ASEAN-Japan Forum in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR on
15 October 2008. They discussed the ASEAN integration process,
ASEAN-Japan cooperation to address current challenges faced by the
region, such as transnational crime and international terrorism,
infectious diseases, environment and climate change, food and energy
security and disaster management.
The Forum also exchanged views on the ASEAN-Japan
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, development
cooperation and people-to-people contact including youth exchange,
regional and international issues and preparations for the 12th
ASEAN-Japan Summit to be held in December 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Forum was co-chaired by H.E. Sayakane
Sisouvong, Ambassador at Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao
PDR and H. E. Mr. Masaharu Kono, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
of Japan
ASEAN-Japan dialogue relations date back to 1973
and were formalised in 1977. The next ASEAN-Japan Forum will be held
in Japan in 2009.
Held back-to-back with the 24th ASEAN-Japan Forum
was the 6th East Asia Forum (16 October 2008). The participants
discussed food and energy security, and narrowing the development
gaps. The participants expressed their concern on the food and
energy price hikes which were impacting socio-economic developments
of the region, especially the less developed and developing
countries.
The Forum agreed on the need for closer
collaboration among the ASEAN Plus Three countries (ASEAN, China,
Japan and Republic of Korea) as well as with other countries and
regional and international organisations to address challenges of
food and energy security in the region.
On narrowing the development gaps, the
participants voiced the need to ensure the deepening and broadening
of integration of the region. This is a need for technical and
development cooperation to address the development divide and
accelerate the economic integration of the less-developed members of
ASEAN, namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam as well as
regions in other ASEAN Member States. ASEAN expressed its
appreciation to the Plus Three countries for their continued
commitment and support of ASEAN integration and community building.
The Forum was opened by H.E. Soulivong Dalavong,
Minister of Planning and Investment of Lao PDR and chaired by H.E.
Bounkeut Sangsomsak, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR.
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr SOEUNG Rathchavy delivered a
statement at the opening ceremony.
The East Asia Forum has functioned as a unique
forum for extensive exchange of views on current issues of common
interest and concern, and future direction of East Asia cooperation
among representatives from the government, academic and business
circle of ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
The Republic of Korea will host the 7th East Asia
Forum in 2009.
Posted on 22 Oct 2008
To Know More about ASEAN through ASEAN Schools
Tour
The ASEAN Schools Tour 2008 kicked off in
Singapore today (20 October 2008). Around 450 students of
Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC), Cedar Girls’ Secondary School,
and Victoria School participated in this activity, which was hosted
by ACJC.
The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Surin
Pitsuwan, in his opening speech invited the students to learn more
about ASEAN, to work together for the benefit of ASEAN in order to
make ASEAN’s Founding Fathers’ dream a reality.
The ASEAN Schools Tour will travel to the other
nine ASEAN Countries over the next two months.
Posted on 21 Oct 2008
ASEAN Information Ministers Sign MOU on Information and Media
Cooperation
Nanning, 16 October 2008
The ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information and their China
counterpart have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on information
and media cooperation.
The signing ceremony was held at the Conference of China-ASEAN
Ministers Responsible for Information in Nanning, China, on 16
October 2008. At the meeting, the ASEAN and China Ministers proposed
ways to enhance cooperation in the information sector. Prior to the
meeting in Nanning, the ASEAN Ministers visited scenic Guilin.
Posted on 17 Oct 2008
Ten Cities in ASEAN Receive the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City Award
Ha Noi, 8 October 2008
Mr. Nicholas T. Dammen, Deputy Secretary-General at the 11th
Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment
The ASEAN Ministers responsible for environment presented this evening the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City (ESC) Award to ten cities/townships/districts in ASEAN that have made exemplary efforts towards environmental sustainability. The Ministers hoped that the Award, awarded for the first time, will motivate other cities to share best practices and to make even greater efforts to achieve high standards of environmental sustainability.
The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan in his message for the event stated that “each city that received the Award tells a compelling story of how it has placed environment and nature at the core of city planning, the challenges it faced, and its resolve to ensure the cities remain environmentally sustainable as it develops and modernizes.” He further added that apart from just recognizing their exemplary efforts, the richness of their experience in varied circumstances tells us that there are different models and paths to urbanization and environmental stewardship.
The Ministers supported the “Cool ASEAN, Green Capitals Initiative” proposed by the Secretary-General of ASEAN to encourage efforts by the ASEAN capital cities and other major cities to mitigate climate change through addressing the everyday urban issues faced such as waste management, transportation, creating more green areas and conservation of energy.
The ASEAN Ministers responsible for environment met on 8 October 2008 on the occasion of the 11th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment, and the 4th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. The ASEAN Ministers will also meet with their counterparts from the People’s Republic of China, Japan and Republic of Korea at the 7th ASEAN Plus Three Environment Ministers Meeting on 9 October 2008, and Australia, India and New Zealand at the Inaugural East Asia Summit Environment Ministers Meeting.
Media Release
List of Cities that Received the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City Award 2008
- Brunei Darussalam: Temburong District
- Cambodia: Municipality of Phnom Penh
- Indonesia: Palembang City
- Lao PDR: Luang Prabang District
- Malaysia: North Kuching City Hall
- Myanmar: Taungyi City
- Philippines: Puerto Princesa City
- Singapore: South West Community Development Council
- Thailand: Bangkok City
- Viet Nam: Ha Long City
Mr. Nicholas T. Dammen, Deputy Secretary-General at
the presentation ceremony of the ASEAN ESC Award
Mr. Nicholas T. Dammen, Deputy Secretary-General at
the presentation ceremony of the ASEAN ESC Award
Mr. Nicholas T. Dammen, Deputy Secretary-General at
the 7th ASEAN Plus Three Environment Ministers Meeting
Posted on 9 Oct 2008
Largest Group of US Officials Visit the ASEAN Secretariat
8 October 2008
A group of 30 officials from U.S. Embassies in Southeast Asia were briefed by ASEAN Secretariat officers on ASEAN’s economic integration, community building efforts, the ASEAN Charter and ASEAN identity. This was the largest group of official visitors from the U.S. and from a Dialogue Partner country to the ASEAN Secretariat.
One US official noted that the visit was “very well received” by his colleagues from around the region.
Posted on 9 Oct 2008
ASEAN Support for Southeast Asian Writers Awards 2008
A compilation of short stories and poems from ASEAN has been published by the S.E.A. Write, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Southeast Asia Writers Awards or S.E.A. Write Awards. Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, sponsored this publication, entitled “The S.E.A. Write Anthology of ASEAN Short Stories & Poems”.
In his foreword, Dr Surin said, “the S.E.A. Write’s success goes beyond the literary dimension. I believe that its sustained efforts to promote greater exchange and understanding among Southeast Asians writers and the reading public over the last three decades have made a very important contribution to the cause of ASEAN regionalism. In its fifth decade, ASEAN wishes to promote a people-oriented region-building process, as evident in the ASEAN Charter. Creating synergy in the realm, I fervently hope that S.E.A Write can play a leading role in helping to strengthen a sense of regional identity and to bring about such a community”.
The theme for this year’s S.E.A. awards was “wisdom, vision and penmanship of Southeast Asians”. The ceremony was held on 30 September 2008 at the Oriental Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, and was presided by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Nine awards were given this year at the gala dinner. Dr Haji Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Abd Rahman from Brunei Darussalam, Dr Sin Touch from Cambodia, Hamsad Rangkuti from Indonesia, Othong Kham-Insou from Lao PDR, Professor Hatta Azad Khan from Malaysia, Dr Elmer Alindogan Ordonez from Philippines, Stella Kon from Singapore, Watchara Sutjasarrasin from Thailand, and Nguyen Ngoc Tu from Vietnam were the recepients. Antony Beevor, the famous author and writer of such bestsellers as “The Spanish Civil War” and “Stalingrad”, was the guest speaker.
Ahead of the awards ceremony, a poetry and prose reading called Harmony in Diversity was held on 29 September in the idyllic setting of Suan Pakkad Palace.
The Southeast Asian Writers Awards honours leading poets and writers in the ASEAN region.
Posted on 7 Oct 2008
