ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

 

Res 29GA/2008/Eco/01

 

RESOLUTION ON

NARROWING THE ECONOMIC GAP

The Twenty-Ninth General Assembly:

 

Conscious that the different levels of development among ASEAN Member Countries requires technical cooperation and capacity building to address the development divide and accelerate the economic integration of the less developed ASEAN Member Countries;

Aware of the need for the ASEAN-6 to continue assisting the less developed Member Countries to increase a latter’s rate of economic growth in line with “Prosper Thy Neighbour” concept;

Stressing the important roles of the ASEAN Development Fund, Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and other related international financial institutions and support of dialogue partners in financing programmes to reduce the development gap between ASEAN members, and the financing for the programmes on infrastructure and human resource development for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to be given priority; and

Realising that the ASEAN Policy Blueprint for SME Development 2004-2014 (APBSD) outlines the framework for SME development in ASEAN, stimulating economic growth and increasing the region’s economic diversity and capacity;

 

Resolves to:

Enhance the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) to serve as a platform for identifying and implementing technical assistance and capacity building programmes for both public and private sectors in AIPA Member Countries;

 

 

Urge for the effective and timely implementation of the IAI Work Plan 2009-2015 and the ASEAN Policy Blueprint for SME Development 2004-2014 (APBSD) by all AIPA Member Countries to enhance the competitiveness and strengthen the resilience of ASEAN SMEs; and

Encourage best practices among SMEs and promote networking and technical exchanges of SMEs and their participation in the building of regional production and distribution networks.

 

__________________

 

 

 

Res 29GA/2008/Eco/02

 

RESOLUTION ON

ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

The Twenty-Ninth General Assembly:

Reaffirming the Resolution 28GA/2007/Eco/02 of the 28^th AIPA General Assembly held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which calls for the acceleration of ASEAN integration through the enhancement of trade, technology, infrastructure development and investment linkages between member countries, especially in the identified twelve priority sectors for accelerated integration;

Aware that the ASEAN Leaders have signed the Declaration on the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint at the 13^th ASEAN Summit and that member countries are committed to fulfilling their commitments as laid out in the Blueprint to ensure the realisation of the AEC by 2015;

Noting that ASEAN’s economic integration provides strategic benefits imperative for ensuring that ASEAN continues to play a key role in the Asia Pacific region and the global environment;

Recognising that ASEAN’s economic integration provides economic gains essential for a competitive and thriving environment attractive to investors and advantageous to the ASEAN economies; and

Stressing that along with implementing internal integration initiatives, ASEAN should also continue cultivating strong linkages with extra-ASEAN partners, so that maximum economic gains can be reaped from a holistic approach to benefit the people of ASEAN;

Resolves to:

Urge all AIPA member countries to extend their fullest cooperation in ASEAN’s internal integration efforts, in particular, in complying with the commitments laid out in the AEC Blueprint; and

 

 

Encourage all AIPA member countries to be committed to developing strong economic relationships with extra-ASEAN partners through trade and economic arrangements and initiatives.

__________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Res 29GA/2008/Eco/03

 

RESOLUTION ON

ENERGY SECURITY AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

The Twenty-Ninth General Assembly:

 

Recalling the commitment to implement the ASEAN plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2004-2009 adopted at the Twenty-Second ASEAN Ministers of Energy meeting, under which New and Renewable Energy is one of the main components for promotion and cooperation;

Noting the continuing significance of RES.26GA/2005/ECO/04 adopted by the 26^th AIPO General Assembly in September 2005 in Vientiane, Laos, and of RES.28GA/2007/Eco/04 adopted by the 28^th AIPA General Assembly in August 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which collectively called for “ASEAN Renewable Energy and Development”, and the “development of new technologies for the creation of renewable and alternative energy sources”;

Realizing the importance of energy security to ASEAN economic development amidst rising oil prices and the adverse effect of high dependence on oil importation for energy requirements from oil producing countries on the financial positions of ASEAN countries; and

Noting that a significant proportion of the oil and gas from the Middle East is transported by sea to Asia and other regions, the bulk of these supplies transit a series of maritime chokepoints, such as Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), and that there are mechanisms currently in place for user states to cooperate with littoral states to enhance the safety of navigation in the SOMS;

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resolves to:

Urge all AIPA member countries to promote the production and utilization of renewable and alternative environmentally friendly energy suitable for each country to secure energy efficiency and competitiveness enabling economic growth and sustainable development in the region;

Call on all AIPA member countries to create an environment conducive to greater participation of the private sector, non-governmental organizations and the local communities in the development of both traditional and alternative renewable energy sources; to promote cooperation and sharing of relevant technology and best practices;

Call on AIPA member countries to further strengthen inter-ASEAN efforts to ensure the security of vital energy sea lanes, especially the Straits of Malacca; and

Encourage AIPA member countries with diverse natural resources to cooperate on all energy sources to promote frameworks to prevent price speculation through effective legal, regulatory and technical frameworks that will address the need for adequate, affordable and accessible energy sources while at the same time encouraging energy savings, preserving ecological balance and sustainable development.

 

__________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

 

28^th General Assembly

19 – 24 August 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Res.28GA/2007/Eco/01

 

RESOLUTION

ON

FOOD SECURITY AND THE RIGHT TO FOOD

The Twenty-Eighth General Assembly:

 

Cognizant of the fact that one of the objectives of ASEAN Vision 2020 is to transform Southeast Asia into a region which is free from poverty, where hunger, malnutrition and deprivation of food will no longer be problems faced by citizens of ASEAN nations in the future;

 

Stressing that the Right to Food entitles every person to have regular access to sufficient, nutritionally adequate and culturally acceptable food for an active and healthy life and that ii is the right to feed oneself in dignity, rather than the right to be fed;

 

Acknowledges that governments have an obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the Right to Food for each and every citizen in their respective countries;

 

Proposing that trade facilitation measures and harmonisation of food regulation and control standards among Member Countries could reduce the cost of trade in food products;

 

Resolves to:

Urge all AIPA Member Countries to agree on what food security collectively means and to list all food items that are important to each country such as rice so that regional complementation, integration and cooperation under the auspices of ASEAN can be promoted;

 

 

Encourage AIPA Member Countries to allocate adequate budgetary resources for research and development in agricultural technology to increase the collective volume of food production which is sufficient for regional consumption presently and in the future;

 

Call upon all AIPA Member Countries to extend their fullest cooperation to ensure the successful implementation of the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS);

 

Support the collaboration with various universities and institutions of higher learning to produce inter disciplinary research related to the Right to Food with the aim of sharing the knowledge acquired and implementing tile appropriate and effective strategies to ensure food security for the ASEAN region in tile next decade and beyond.

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of August 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

 

 

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

 

28^th General Assembly

19 – 24 August 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Res.28GA/2007/Eco/02

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

The Twenty-eighth General Assembly:

 

Reaffirming the Resolution 27GA106!ECO-02 of the 27°’ AIPO General Assembly held in Cebu City, the Philippines, which calls for the acceleration of ASEAN integration through the enhancement of trade, technology and investment linkages between member countries, especially in the identified twelve priority sectors for accelerated integration;

 

Aware that the deadline for the creation of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) has been brought forward by five years to 2015 and that in order to achieve this goal it is imperative for member countries to be more focused and innovative in tackling ASEAN’s varied economic conditions and more responsive to the business community’s concerns and suggestions;

 

Noting that ASEAN’s process of economic integration is market-driven and that its competitiveness is not just about harmonisation of tariff nomenclature and easing custom procedures;

 

Stressing that the dynamism of global economic climate requires ASEAN to go beyond tariff reduction and that issues such as movement of skilled labour, in-flow of FDI, and other non-tariff barriers need to be addressed.

 

Resolves to:

 

Urge all AIPA member countries to extend their fullest cooperation for the completion of the IAI Work Plan that cover the development of legal, institutional and regulatory frameworks and capacity-building;

 

Encourage all AIPA member countries to speed up infra structure development such as rail-links eg Singapore-Kunming. highways, water links, air links and cyber links to facilitate the economic development and integration in the ASEAN region;

Encourage the ASEAN governments to adopt a multi-speed, multi-track and market- friendly plan whereby the more developed member countries could start working together on selected common issues with a view for the less developed member countries to join later;

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of August 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

 

 

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

 

28^th General Assembly

19 – 24 August 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Res.28GA/2007/Eco/03

RESOLUTION

ON

NARROWING TUE ECONOMIC GAP BETWEEN ASEAN MEMBERS

The Twenty-Eighth General Assembly:

 

Conscious that the gap between the original and new ASEAN Member Countries will continue to be substantial if ASEAN continues to be more of a forum rather than a problem-solving organisation;

 

Aware of the need for the more developed member countries to assist the less developed Member Countries to increase the latter’s rate of economic growth in line with “Prosper Thy Neighbour” concept;

 

Stressing the important role of the ASEAN Development Fund (ADF) in financing programmes to reduce the development gap between ASEAN members, and that the financing for the programmes on infra-structure and human resource development for CLMV countries be given priority;

 

Realizing that financial and trade liberalization measures could increase the regional economic capacity that would benefit Member Countries in the long term thus narrowing the economic gap between the original and new Member Countries.

 

Resolves to:

 

Urge all AIPA Member Countries to continue to increase intra-ASEAN trade and foreign direct investment by bringing together regional business communities and develop economic value chains for the twelve priority sectors that would benefit all Member Countries;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encourage all AIPA Member Countries to promote cooperation on issues of common concern such as the fight against pandemic diseases and the protection from natural disasters in view of the fact that in the event of these calamities, the worst victims are the marginalised and the poor, and that addressing these kinds of issues produces some positive impact on reducing inequality among Member Countries.

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of August 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

 

 

 

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

 

28^th General Assembly

19 – 24 August 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Res.28GA/2007/Eco/04

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ENERGY SECURITY

 

The Twenty-Eighth General Assembly:

 

Noting the continuing significance of Resolution 27GA/06/ECO-01 adopted by the 27^th General Assembly in September 2006 held in Cebu City, the Philippines which urged all AIPO Member Countries to promote the production and utilization of renewable and alternative energy suitable for each Member Country;

 

Stressing the important role played by the private sector and institutions of higher learning to continually develop sources of renewable energy such as geo-thermal, hydropower, wind power, solar power, tidal power and bio-fuels/energy to achieve energy security for the ASEAN region;

 

Concerned that the drive and need for competitiveness and efforts to secure energy sources will contribute to more intense rivalry among powerful nations of the world in the future and that sharing and co-developing new technology for renewable energy sources should be the way forward;

 

Resolves to:

 

Call on all AIPA Member Countries to institutionalise and to encourage greater involvement of the private sector and institutions of higher learning on the development of new technologies for the creation of renewable and alternative energy sources;

 

Encourage all ASEAN governments to have greater infusion of funds for energy saving programmes and to promote greater awareness among its citizens on the need to conserve energy;

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of August 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

 

 

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

 

28^th General Assembly

19 – 24 August 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Res28GA/2007/Eco/05

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

 

 

The Twenty-Eighth General Assembly:

 

Reaffirming the important role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the conduct of trade and the flow of investment among the ASEAN Member Countries and the importance of cooperation in intellectual property in the region as stated in the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Intellectual Property Cooperation signed in 1995 in Bangkok, Thailand;

 

Aware of the fact that Intellectual Properly is more than mere laws and a protection regime, and that it is the fuel to the new knowledge economy;

 

Desiring to continuously foster closer cooperation in the field of intellectual property and related fields in order to provide a firm basis for economic progress and prosperity among the Member Countries under the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA);

 

Recognising the need to have an effective and efficient Intellectual Property Office in all AIPA Member Countries that could foster understanding among the countries in the region in the field of intellectual property and related fields to contribute to regional dynamism, synergy and growth;

 

Resolves to:

 

Urge all AIPA Member Countries to foster intellectual properly cooperation which include enhancing intellectual property enforcement and protection, strengthening intellectual property administration and legislation, promoting human resource development, public awareness, cooperating with the private sector, and information exchanges;

 

Encourage all AIPA Member Countries to position the Intellectual Property as a key business infrastructure to strengthen the knowledge economy by facilitating the efficient creation, exploitation, valuation, protection, trading and management of intellectual capital in the conduct of business.

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of August 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

 

 

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

 

28^th General Assembly

19 – 24 August 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Res.28GA/2007/Eco/06

 

RESOLUTI ON

ON

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING INFORMATION SYSTEM IN

ASEAN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

The Twenty-Eighth General Assembly:

 

Mindful of Resolution 27GA/2006/ECO-05 which requested the President of AIPO to submit resolutions to the Chairman of ASEAN Standing Committee with the objective of promoting cooperation among ASEAN Member Countries in improving quality, standard, and yield of agricultural products;

 

Aware that the overwhelming majority of AIPA Member Countries are agrarian societies with the continuous need to improve the production and quality of agricultural products and that marketing plays an integral part in the functioning of the whole agricultural market;

 

Recognizing that information technology plays an increasingly significant role in marketing agricultural products and that the dissemination of timely and accurate marketing information system is vital in helping farmers make good marketing decisions for their agricultural produce;

 

Acknowledging that there is a pressing need for an efficient agricultural marketing information system particularly with regard to improved access, knowledge and the latest information on agricultural trends and news especially for the use of farmers in all Member Countries;

 

Resolves to:

Call upon all AIPA Member Countries to make available accurate and up-to-date information in respect of their domestic agricultural market so that efficient marketing actions could be implemented throughout the region’s agricultural market with the long- term objective of lowering the price of agricultural products supplied to all citizens of ASEAN;

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call upon all AIPA Member Countries to extend their fullest cooperation to ensure the successful implementation of the ASEAN Food Security information System (AFSIS) and to make full use of AFSIS to enhance the overall efficiency of the region’s agricultural market;

 

Encourage all AIPA Member Countries to create an environment where marketing information collected could be disseminated in a form that is accessible to farmers and in accordance to their needs.

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of August 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

 

 

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

 

28^th General Assembly

19 – 24 August 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Res.28GA/2007/Eco/07

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

 

 

The Twenty-Eighth General Assembly:

 

Recognizing the limited and depleting global reserves of fossil energy and the volatility of world fuel oil prices, and the surging global energy consumption demands and the race for larger and newer energy sources, in meeting the growing economy and economic development in ASEAN;

 

Aware of the expanding and diverse energy networks and cooperation inside and outside ASEAN, and their strong determination to meet the fundamental needs of the member countries for reliable, adequate and affordable energy supplies which are essential for strong and sustainable economic growth and competitiveness;

 

Recalling AIPO Resolution 27GA/O6IECO-0l on Achieving Energy Security in ASEAN which urged all member countries of ASEAN to promote the production of alternative energy suitable for each country;

 

Mindful of the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security adopted by the Second East Asian Summit in January 2007 which aims to use alternative energy and cleaner and lower emissions technologies that allow for the continued economic use of fossil fuels to ensure energy security for East Asian countries, while addressing urgently the worsening problems of environment and health, and global warming and climate change;

 

Recognizing that ASEAN is endowed with abundances of renewable energy resources such as geo-thermal, hydro-power, solar power and biofuels;

 

Appalling that ASEAN countries are alarmingly experiencing unprecedented weather havocs and calamities in recent years resulting from unsustainable utilization of fossil energy and incomprehensive policies and measures to address the infinite energy needs and the urgency of environmental conservation in the region;

 

Hereby resolves to:

Call on ASEAN member countries to create greater public awareness on the energy situation and the usefulness of alternative energy, and the promotion of cleaner and lower emissions technologies in producing and utilizing alternative energy;

 

Encourage greater public and private sector involvements in ASEAN to research and invest in the optimum production and utilization of geo-thermal, hydropower. solar power and biofuels from sugarcane, palm, coconut and Jatropha curcas as the renewable and alternative sources of energy for the region;

 

Urge the governments of the ASEAN countries to implement regional energy infrastructures such as the ASEAN Power Grid and the Trans ASEAN Gas Pipeline to ensure regional energy security;

 

Strongly urge the ASEAN governments to adopt comprehensive and effective policies and measures on energy security, and to work closely with the private sector and the regional partners on research and innovative financing schemes to ensure sustainable supplies of energy and contribute to global climate change abatement.

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of August 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

 

28^th General Assembly

19 – 24 August 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Res.28GA/2007/Eco/08

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

REAFFIRMING THE CALL FOR DEBT-FOR-EQUITY IN

UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (UN-MDG)

PROPOSAL TO REDUCE POVERTY BY 2015.

The Twenty-Eighth General Assembly;

Recalling that the 27 General Assembly adopted the Resolution on debt-for-equity in UN-MDG to reduce poverty by 2015:

 

Mindful of the adoption by the Cebu ASEAN Summit of the ASEAN leader’s statement on debt-for-equity proposal for funding UN-MDG projects;

 

Emphasizing that such adoption of the debt-for-equity recognizes that the proposal will truly impact the development of many middle income countries presently in debt to rich countries;

 

Resolves to:

projects in the light of the global warming and environmental

 

Reaffirm the call of the ASEAN leaders to put into reality the debt repayment proposal to allow middle income countries to get cut of poverty by 2015;

 

Express appreciation for the support of the Presidents and Prime Ministers at the Cebu ASEAN Summit for the global debt-for-equity anti-poverty proposal especially the initiative to convert part of the foreign currency debt for massive reforestation and water- resource development degradation;

 

Urge the ASEAN leaders to bring this debt for equity proposal to the attention of the G-8 countries and the Paris Club – for their urgent consideration and positive response.

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of August 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

 

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

 

28^th General Assembly

19 – 24 August 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Res.28GA/2007/Eco/09

Resolution

URGING ASEAN COUNTRIES TO UNDERTAKE STUDIES FOR THE

CREATION OF AN ASIAN MONETARY FUND

The Twenty-Eighth General Assembly;

 

Aware of the devastating effect of the 1997-1998 Asian Financial Crisis on the countries of East Asia, Russia and other countries;

 

Mindful of the most recent and on-going crisis in the global financial markets as a result of the sub-prime housing debt problem in the United States and other markets;

 

Acknowledging China’s acquisition 1 .3 trillion dollars in foreign currency reserves – the largest in the world, Japan’s stockpile of $800 billion, the rebound of the Japanese and South Korean economies, the rise of India as an economic heavyweight, and the emergence of Saudi Arabia and Iran as petro-powers – all these merit recognition of Asia’s new powers by the G-8 countries;

 

Recognizing that the recent successes of Asian bonds and swap arrangements among some Asian central banks are movements toward an Asian monetary vehicle;

Resolves to:

 

Urge ASEAN countries to undertake studies leading to the creation of an Asian Monetary Fund whose objective is to mitigate the negative effects on member countries arising from the shock of any future financial crisis that could debilitate their economies;

 

Explore schemes such as currency swaps whereby an ASEAN member hit by a foreign exchange crisis like the one in 1997 could borrow foreign currency – usually US dollars – from another country to bolster its reserves until the crisis had passed;

 

Provide guidelines so that the Asian Monetary Fund will not compete, hut will complement and augment the work and function of the International Monetary Fund.

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of August 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

27^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

10 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2006 – CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES

 

 

27GA/06/ECO-01

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ACHIEVING ENERGY SECURITY IN ASEAN

 

The Twenty-seventh General Assembly:

 

Recalling the commitment to implement the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2004 – 2009 adopted by the Twenty-Second ASEAN Ministers of Energy meeting, held in June 2004 in Manila, Philippines under which New and Renewable Energy is one among main components for promotion and cooperation;

 

Realizing the importance of energy security to ASEAN economic development amidst rising oil prices and the adverse effect of too much dependency in oil importation for energy requirements from oil producing countries that affects the financial positions of ASEAN countries;

 

Aware of the member countries’ diverse natural resources endowment and the tremendous potential for alternative energy resources that may be harnessed bearing in mind ecological balance and sustainable development;

 

Conscious of the fragile ecosystem of the regions which constant exposure to energy exploration, utilization and development have rendered them vulnerable;

 

Noting the continuing significance of RES.26GA/2005/ECO/04 adopted by the 26^th General Assembly in September 2005 in Vientiane, Laos which collectively called for “Asean Renewable Energy and Development”.

 

 

Resolves to :

 

Urge all AIPO member countries to promote the production and utilization of renewable and alternative energy suitable for each country such as geo-thermal, hydro-power, wind power, solar power, tidal power and bio fuels/energy to secure energy efficiency and competitiveness, enabling environmental friendly economic growth and sustainable development in the region.

 

Call on all AIPO member countries to create an environment conducive to greater participation of the private sector, Non-governmental organizations and the local communities in the development of both traditional and alternative renewable energy sources;

 

Call upon AIPO member countries to promote cooperation and sharing of relevant technology and best practices; and

 

Encourage AIPO member countries to promote effective legal, regulatory and technical frameworks that will address the need for adequate, affordable and accessible energy sources while at the same time preserving the delicate ecological balance.

 

Adopted this 14^th day of September 2006 in Cebu, City, Philippines.

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

27^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

10 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2006 – CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES

 

 

27GA/06/ECO-02

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

INITIATIVE FOR ASEAN INTEGRATION (IAI)

 

The Twenty-seventh General Assembly:

 

Reaffirming the strategic importance of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) for the promotion of the integration of new AIPO Member states into the ASEAN, particularly by way of the reduction of the development gaps between said states and the older members of ASEAN;

 

Cognizant of the common goal of an ASEAN Economic Community by 2020 that will create a single economic entity, with and enlarged market of 550 million, and a free from of goods, services, investment, skilled labour and capital;

 

Noting that the AIPO member states must complement the growth and the emerging economic needs arising from the phenomenal growth of China and India, the re-emergence of Japan from a decade of stagnation and the re-making of Korea into a new growth area, in order to benefit from the dynamism of such economies;

 

Recognizing that AIPO member states must not neglect but instead further strengthen its longstanding relations with existing partners lime the US and Europe while establishing ties with new partners such as the Middle East and Russia;

 

Stressing that while strengthening cooperation with external partners, AIPO member states must also enhance cooperation internally within the group, through initiatives like the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) and the proposed ASEAN Charter;

 

Determined to push through with the completion the IAI Work Plan as a rolling plan for the six-year period from 2002 to 2008 with its 129 projects that cover the development of legal, institutional and regulatory frameworks and the technical capacity building among the new member states of the AIPO member states;

 

 

 

 

Resolves to:

 

Accelerate further the pace of ASEAN integration through the enhancement of trade, technology and investment linkages between the member countries, especially in the identifies eleven priority sector for accelerated integration, that include agro-based products, automotives, electronics, fisheries, rubber based products, textile and apparels, wood-based products, air travel, e-ASEAN (ICT), healthcare and tourism as well as education;

 

Enhance the complementation of strengths of each country through and integrates market and supply chains in the region that will leverage on competitive and comparative advantages of different countries in AIPO member states to optimize production;

 

Pursue ways to open up more economic sectors, remove non-tariff barriers and educe costs for businesses to operate seamlessly across the individual economies;

 

Provide regional interconnectivity that will physically connect the sources production and market centers in the region and render accessible the global market through air, land and sea links.

 

Support the adoption of the proposed ASEAN Charter as an important step in the eventual integration of the regional; and

 

Urge governments of the AIPO countries that while moving forward in the integration efforts that the same time address the economic diversity of states in the region.

 

Adopted this 14^th day of September 2006 in Cebu City, Philippines.

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

27^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

10 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2006 – CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES

 

 

27GA/06/ECO-03

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

DEBT FOR THE U.N. MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDG) TO FIGHT POVERTY

 

The Twenty-seventh General Assembly:

 

Aware that much of the foreign debts by developing AIPO member countries were incurred following the 1973 oil crisis when international banks lent large amount of money without taking into consideration the capacity of borrowers to pay or where the money would be spent;

 

Conscious that default in debt payments on account of massive borrowings would result to crisis, most governments of developing countries have been forced to impose additional taxes which burdened their people especially those below the poverty line;

 

Recalling the Millennium Development Goals  (MDG) which WERE adopted by the United Nations during the Millennium Summit in September, 2000, member countries affirmed their commitment to reduce poverty and the worst forms of human deprivation;

 

Cognizant that as a result of debt-servicing, the most indebted LDC’s and DC’s are deprived of their scare resources and hard-earned saving and must sacrifice their budget allocations for education, health care, housing and development projects;

 

Alarmed that the debt-burden on the developed and developing countries has been blocking economic progress for billions of the world’s poorest peoples;

 

Resolves to

 

Urge all AIPO member countries to optimize all available resources and adopt proper framework that will help our people gain access to the best quality of life possible without depending on foreign borrowings whilst also making efforts to increase economic growth in order to reduce poverty as well as promoting good governance and combating corruption.

 

 

Call upon developed countries and multilateral financial institutions to provide a more affordable debt relief service to enable borrowing countries to pay their debts without necessarily burdening their economy and their people;

 

Encourage all creditor countries, multilateral institutions and large commercial banks to reinvest in the economies of the debtor-countries fifth (50) percent of the agreed-on portion of the debt-service payments due to them in the form of equities or other kinds of financial assets and technical assistance towards MDG programs such as reforestation, rural development program, mass-housing, safe water systems, education, hospital and health care, infrastructure and micro financing; and

 

Support the creation of INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE CONVERSION/INVESTMENT OF FOREIGN DEBT OF POOR COUNTRIES which will create social, political and legal framework and mechanism that shall serve as a platform in which the debt servicing of the poorest 100 countries shall be converted to tangible values based on MDG and consequently, that AIPO be a permanent member of the international conference.

 

Adopted this 14^th day of September 2006, in Cebu City, Philippines.

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

27^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

10 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2006 – CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES

 

 

27GA/06/ECO-04

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

PROMOTING REGIONAL CENTERS OF GROWTH

(BIMP-EAGA, MEKONG RIVER DEVELOPMENT)

 

The Twenty-seventh General Assembly:

 

Aware of the contributions of sub-regional arrangements, such as the Mekong River Development and the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines – East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) towards reducing the development gap within the ASEAN region and the strengthening of ASEAN integration;

 

Recognizing that, as a natural resources, the Mekong River, together with its basin, is vital to the economic, socio-cultural and ecological activities of the people in the riparian states, namely, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and China,

 

Cognizant of the main thrust of the BIMP-EAGA which is to accelerate the development of sub-regions which are remote and less economically developed relative to their  national capitals;

 

Noting that the activities of the Mekong River Commission and the development of the BIMP-EAGA Roadmap and Action Plan constitute strategic initiatives by the stakeholder states for their development;

 

Stressing that only through the principle of cooperation and the striving towards greater solidarity that the future development of the Mekong River and its basin may be sustained and achieved;

 

Re-affirming the fact while regular trade among traditional global and regional markets remains a primary objective in the region, intra-subregional trade and development are emerging as an equally important goal;

 

 

 

 

Resolves to:

 

Encourage, intensify and strengthen sub-regional cooperation measures as laid down in the BIMP-EAGA Roadmap to Development by improving the flow of trade and investment information within and outside EAGA, facilitate the cross-border flow of goods and people to, from and within EAGA, promote and facilitate intra and extra-EAGA trade and investment in priority sectors, especially those with high impact on SME development, improve EAGA air, sea and land connectivity, improve the information and communication technology (ICT) facilities and services in EAGA, improve coordination for the sustainable development of natural resources and biodiversity in EAGA, promote sustainable development practices in the management of economic development projects and strengthen intra-EAGA institutional coordination;

 

Pursue the implementation of the Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin and create an ad-hoc committee for continuing dialogue with the affected COUNTRIES towards a more balanced developmental approach of the international river basin;

 

Support the various initiatives of the ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDC), Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMES) for the total development of Indo-China;

 

Enhance regional economic cooperation by identifying the countries’ respective potential, facilitating economic development, accelerating growth and supporting regional development of areas that are relatively undeveloped, which areas are included in the BIMP-EAGA and MEKONG RIVER DEVELOPMENT zones but have yet to attain their fullest extent of development notwithstanding their great potentials; and

 

Consolidate the active support of the private sector in the BIMP-EAGA, with the government as catalyst, by establishing linkages and networks with focal business organizations, NGO’s, academy, religious people and local community for them to take a more pro-active stance in the development of the sub-region.

 

Adopted this 14^th day of September 2006 in Cebu City, Philippines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

27^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

10 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2006 – CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES

 

 

27GA/06/ECO-05

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

COMMON LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY STANDARD AND QUANTITY OF THE AGRICULTURE PRODUCT

 

The Twenty-seventh General Assembly:

 

Mindful of the Resolution 26GA/2005/Org/06 of the 26^th AIPO General Assembly which mandated the AIPO Ad-Hoc Committee on Transformation of AIPO Into a More Effective and Closely Integrated Institutions to formulate the term of reference in identifying common legislative initiatives;

 

Realizing that majority of the ASEAN Member Countries are basically agrarian societies which lead to the need for strengthening regional cooperation to enhance the international competitiveness of ASEAN’s agriculture products which in turn would benefit ASEAN Member Countries and their societies in particular their farmers;

 

Recalling the Vientiane Action Programme adopted by the ASEAN Leaders during the 10^th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Lao PDR, November 2004 which mandated the ASEAN Member Countries to take action on the development and adoption of new technology in agriculture production, promotion of trade, investment and services incidental to agriculture to increase trade in agro-based products; and development harmonizing and adopting quality, standards and regulations for agricultural product;

 

Reaffirming that one of aims of Transforming AIPO into a More Effective and Closely Integrated Institutions is to enhance the important role of parliaments of ASEAN Member Countries to promote regional cooperation, particularly to attain the objectives of ASEAN Community;

 

Acknowledging that one of the problems in advancing agricultural sector especially in increasing the level of agricultural production in ASEAN derived from the lack of the implementation of modern technology and the predominantly sub-quality soil in the ASEAN Member Countries;

 

 

 

Recognizing that in the common effort to increase the production and quality of the agriculture, ASEAN Member Countries need to foster their cooperation and the sharing on the development and adoption of new technology and harmonization as well as adopting the legislation to improve the quality, standards and yield of the agriculture product;

 

Encouraging ASEAN Member countries to harmonize their legislation in improving the quality, standards and yield of agricultural product;

 

Hereby resolves to request:

 

1.            The President of AIPO to submit this resolution to the Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee with the objective of promoting cooperation among ASEAN Member Countries in improving quality, standards and yield of the agricultural product;

 

2.            The ASEAN Standing Committee to initiate the development of ASEAN Agreement for the improvement of quality, standards and yield of the agricultural product in ASEAN;

 

3.            The AIPO Member countries to ratify the aforesaid agreement in their respective national parliaments.

 

Adopted this 14^th day of September 2006 in Cebu City, Philippines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

26^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

18 – 23 SEPTEMBER 2005, VIENTIANE, LAO PDR

 

 

26GA/2005/Eco-01

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ACHIEVING ENERGY SECURITY IN ASEAN

 

The Twenty-Sixth General Assembly:

 

Recalling the Resolution No. 25GA/2004/Eco/02 adopted by the 25^th AIPO General Assembly on Promoting Cultural and Eco-Tourism to Stimulate Economic Grwoth resolved to request the General Assembly to mandate an Ad-Hoc Committee to Study Means to Promote Cultural and Eco-Tourism in the ASEAN region and Provide Funding to These Efforts;

 

Noting the commitment to implement the ASEAN Tourism Agreement signed by the ASEAN Leaders at the 8^th ASEAN Summit on 4 November 2002 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, calling for facilitation and implementation of intra-ASEAN and international travel, facilitation of transport services, market access, quality tourism, tourism safety and security, joint marketing and promotion, and human resources development;

 

Noting also the Vientiane Declaration on Enhancing ASEAN Tourism Cooperation by the ASEAN Tourism Ministers in Vientiane, Laos on 3 February 2004;

 

Recognizing the ASEAN consensus for a Program of Culture Exchange among ASEAN Countries that such exchange could make greater understanding among the people of ASEAN;

 

Reminding that the Cultural Cooperation and Exchange Programs should receive the fullest support from the Government of ASEAN Countries. Cultural forms such as arts, literatures, poetries and museum exhibitions as well as its relevance should also be in cooperation with these programs;

 

Being aware that cultural creativities and diversities guarantee the ultimate viability of ASEAN Society and the growing development of eco-tourism puts a lot of ASEAN people attention too;

 

 

Being aware also that cultural tradition which is a greater tourism attraction is an integral part of ASEAN’s intangible heritage and an effective means of bringing together ASEAN peoples to recognize their regional identity;

 

Acknowledging the work of the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (COCI) in its efforts to promote awareness and appreciation of the culture heritage of ASEAN and to enhance mutual understanding of the cultures and value systems among the people of ASEAN;

 

Reaffirming that the basic values and practices among the ASEAN people are needed for widening dissemination, so that greater understanding and tolerance are promoted in the region. More works should be done on research and the documentation in order to preserve and strengthen the cultures of ASEAN so as to halt the erosion of the ASEAN culture heritage;

 

Mindful that Eco-tourism is an important sector not only to generate the valuable foreign exchange revenues for ASEAN Member Countries but also to showcase the diversity and prosperity of the various cultures and the peoples in Southeast Asia Countries for tourists within ASEAN and from all over the World; and

 

Also mindful that the idea behind eco-tourism concept and culture promotion is bringing direct economic benefits to local people and contribution to the conservation of nature. Therefore, the Governments, Private Sectors and Universities/Scientists and any other institutions related to tourism industry are needed to support the abovementioned idea in order to spread the sustainable tourism initiative relating to peace in the region.

 

Hereby resolves to :

 

Call on the Government of the respective ASEAN Countries to implement the Vientiane Declaration on Enhancing ASEAN Tourism Cooperation by the ASEAN Tourism Ministers as early as possible once it is being adopted by the ASEAN Tourism Ministers so as to strengthen the Tourism Cooperation programs particularly with the private sector as a leading role

 

Also call on bilateral and multilateral development agencies to become increasingly involved in cultural and eco-tourism funding with concessional loans and/or grants as well as to provide more resources to restore the damaged cultural sites, returning of missing artefacts and preventing further losses;

 

Call upon the ASEAN Secretariat to continue to take an active role in the discussion and promotion of cultural and eco-tourism;

 

Request all AIPO Member Countries and Special Observers to create a legislative framework and monitor the proper implementation of the five principles, as attached, relating to cultural and eco-tourism developments in the country as follows:

 

 

 

1)            Responsibility, Concern and Commitment to Restoration and Conservation;

2)            Consultation with, and consent for, econ-tourism development by the local community;

3)            Benefit to the local community;

4)            Sensitivity and respect for local culture and religious traditions; and

5)            Observation of government regulations and laws.

 

Request the General to set up a Study Group within the respective parliaments of AIPO Member Countries in order to monitor and disseminate the progress of the above five principles of cultural and econ-tourism development and the results will be reported to the next General Assembly; and

 

Encourage the Government of ASEAN Countries to accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

26^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

18 – 23 SEPTEMBER 2005, VIENTIANE, LAO PDR

 

26GA/2005/Eco-02

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

THE ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, THE VIENTIANE ACTION

PROGRAMME AND THE ASEAN DEVELOPMENT FUND

 

 

The Twenty-Sixth General Assembly:

 

Recalling the decision of the ASEAN Leaders at their 9^th Summit in 2003 in Bali, Indonesia, to establish an ASEAN Community in 2020 with an ASEAN Economic Community as one of its three pillars;

 

Welcoming the adoption of the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP), the decision to establish an ASEAN Development Fund (ADF) by the ASEAN Leaders at their 10^th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane in 2004 and the signing of the agreement on the establishment of the ADF by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers;

 

Welcoming further the ASEAN Protocol on Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism and the 11 ASEAN Sectoral Integration Protocols by ASEAN Economic Ministers during the 10^th ASEAN Summit in November 2004 in Vientiane;

 

Reaffirming the need to accelerate regional economic integration in order to make ASEAN a single market and production base in 2010 and the need to mobilize necessary resources to support the implementation of the VAP and subsequent action plans to realize the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2020 as specified in the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II;

 

Recognizing the challenges that ASEAN is facing in the process of realizing the AEC, in particular, the economic disparity among ASEAN Member Countries, the limitations on intra-regional trade and services, the impacts of the free trade areas, and the lack of adequate and effective institutional frameworks, etc; and

 

Acknowledging the important contribution of the cooperation under the sub-regional framework such as Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS), Mekong River Commission (MRC), Ayeyawady-Chao Phray-Mekong Economic Integration (ACMECS), Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) and others, to the ASEAN integration process.

 

Hereby resolves to:

 

Support ASEAN Member Countries in their efforts to create a single market and production base and to establish the ASEAN Economic Community so as to make ASEAN a highly competitive economic region;

 

Encourage ASEAN Member Countries to actively implement the adopted activities and programmes, to improve the existing laws and regulations and introduce the new ones deemed necessary for the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2020;

 

Request ASEAN Member Countries to intensify current economic cooperation initiatives and measures to reduce the gap in development between ASEAN countries;

 

Encourage further the more developed ASEAN member countries to consider making additional contribution, apart from their initial contribution of USD 1 million, on voluntary basis, to the ASEAN Development Fund;

 

Urge ASEAN Member Countries and Dialogue Partners to contribute generously to the ADF which should be used effectively;

 

Share the experiences among AIPO Members in the monitoring and co-ordination of the implementation of the programmes and activities to realize the ASEAN Economic Community; and

 

Call on the ASEAN Dialogue Partners, other countries, regional and international organizations to support ASEAN in the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme and the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five Principles Relating to:

 

1.                  Responsibility, Concern and Commitment to Conservation

• Take the “carrying capacity” of eco-tourism destination into consideration during the planning and design phases.
• Manage the overall number of tourist, the tourism infrastructure and facilities in accordance with the destination’s carrying capacity.
• Enchance/increase the host communities ‘and visitors’ environmental awareness.
• Employ local resources sustainable.
• Minimize the negative impact of econ-tourism development.

 

2.                  Consultation with, and consent for, econ-tourism development by the local community

• Develop partnership with the local community throughout the process of eco-tourism project planning and development.
• Clearly and truthfully inform the local community about the development’s purpose and intent in the area.
• Give the local community the free choice of accepting or refusing eco-tourism developments in its area.

 

3.                  Benefit to the Local Community.

• Open opportunities for local community residents to participate actively, as well as passively, in eco-tourism development.
• Empower the local community to increase its social economic welfare
• Improve the local community’s expertise and skill.

 

4.         Sensitivity and respect for local culture and religious traditions.

• Introduce a code of ethics for tourism and tour operators.
• Work with local community to compose a local code of ethic for tourist and tour operators in accordance with the community’s socio-cultural values and religious traditions.

 

5.         Observation of Government regulations and laws.

• Observe laws on environmental management.
• Observe laws for conservation of natural resources and their eco-systems.
• Observe laws for spatial planning.
• Observe laws protected area management.
• Observe laws for tourism and other government regulations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

26^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

18 – 23 SEPTEMBER 2005, VIENTIANE, LAO PDR

 

 

26GA/2005/Eco-03

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

THE INITIATIVE FOR ASEAN INTEGRATION (IAI)

 

The Twenty-Sixth General Assembly:

 

Recognizing that globalization has brought about new challenges to the development of the world economy and that the development gap among nations and regions would be further widened without concrete and effective measures to address the negative impact of globalization.

 

Acknowledging that a prosperous and competitive ASEAN as a single market in a global economy could not be achieved if the economic disparities and the development gap between ASEAN member countries remain wide;

 

Recognizing that the digital divide among ASEAN Countries, if not addressed in a timely manner and satisfactorily, could result in the further widening of the development gap within ASEAN;

 

Recalling the decision of ASEAN leaders on the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) adopted at the Fourth Informal ASEAN Summit in Singapore in 2000, and the Hanoi Declaration on Narrowing the Development Gap for Closer ASEAN Integration adopted at the 34^th ASEAN Ministerial  Meeting in Hanoi 2001, which aims at narrowing the development gap within ASEAN by devoting special efforts and resources to promote and accelerate the development of the newer ASEAN member countries, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV), and between ASEAN and the rest of the world for the sake of dynamic and sustained growth of our region and prosperity of all our people;

 

Acknowledging the contribution of the more developed countries to the less developed ASEAN Member Countries in the implementation of the IAI Work Plan and the provision of technical assistance under bilateral and multilateral cooperation framework in order to accelerate the regional integration of ASEAN.

 

 

 

 

 

Hereby resolve to:

 

Encourage the newer member countries to be more pro-active in initiating programmes and projects that are relevant and responsive to the needs of each individual country;

 

Encourage further the more developed ASEAN Member Countries to continue their support to the newer Member Countries and address the process to narrowing the development gap with a greater sense of urgency;

 

Call on AIPO member to make efforts in passing new laws in ICT, harmonizing and standardizing existing ICT-related law, with a view to setting up a common legal framework for the e-ASEAN;

 

Urge the more experienced AIPO Members to assist the new Members in the areas of human resources development and capacity-building; and

 

Call on the ASEAN Dialogue Partners, other countries, regional and international organizations to continue to support ASEAN in the implementation of the IAI, especially with regard to the unfunded projects of the IAI Work Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

26^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

18 – 23 SEPTEMBER 2005, VIENTIANE, LAO PDR

 

 

26GA/2005/Eco-04

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ASEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND DEVELOPMENT

 

The Twenty-Sixth General Assembly:

 

Recalling the ASEAN Vision 2020 adopted by the ASEAN Leaders in 1997 calling for ASEAN Partnership in Dynamic Development aimed at forging closer economic integration within the region which, among others, seeks to promote cooperation in energy efficiency and conservation, including the development of renewable energy sources;

 

Recalling the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), held in Langkawi in July 2003, which called for intensified cooperation in the development and exploration of the energy sources potentials in the ASEAN region, as well as in encouraging the private sector’s participation and investment in the ASEAN energy sector;

 

Reaffirming the commitment to implement the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2004 – 2009, adopted by the Twenty-Second ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting, held in June 2004 in Manila, Philippines under which New and Renewable Energy is one among main components for promotion and cooperation;

 

Recognizing the increasing importance of renewable energy as alternative sources of energy in facilitating the economic and social progress of ASEAN; which, at the same time, promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development in the region;

 

Realizing the importance of energy security to ASEAN economic development amidst rising oil prices;

 

Recognizing member countries’ diverse natural resources endowment and tremendous potential of new and renewable energy sources.

 

Hereby resolves to:

 

Urge the ASEAN Member Countries to further promote the production and utilization of renewable energy such as geo-thermal, hydro-power, wind power, solar power, tidal power and bio-mass-based fuels to secure energy efficiency and competitiveness, enabling environmental friendly economic growth and sustainable development in the region;

 

Urge also the ASEAN Member Countries to explore the possibility of including electric power in the Common Effective Preferential tariff (CEPT) scheme under the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) as those of the industrial and agricultural products;

 

Encourage greater intervention of the ASEAN governments in the creation of an environment conducive for the private sector’s involvement in the renewable energy sector via market friendly instruments, including measures to attract foreign direct investment;

 

Call on ASEAN Member Countries to promote renewable energy development through projects such as the Joint ASEAN Mini-hydro Program (JAMP), COGEN 3, Information Networking for Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources in Southeast Asia (PRESSEA), the ASEM Green Independent Power Producers Network (GR-IPP-Net) and ASEAN Small-Scale Renewable Energy Program (ASREP);

 

Encourage further ASEAN Member Countries to further promote the transparent legal, regulatory and technical frameworks for various energy projects, in particular, the cross-border inter-connection project, and therefore, call on AIPO Member to work on necessary policies and legislations so as to enable a legal environment that is conducive to the development or renewable energy;

 

Urge further the ASEAN Member Countries to concentrate on technological innovation as well as infrastructure investment for renewable energy;

 

Call on ASEAN Member Countries to concentrate particularly in encouraging the participation of the local community in renewable energy development projects to take advantage of the local people’s wisdom and local resources. Attention should also be paid to the development of small-scaled projects in order to assist the less developed areas in each country as well as the less developed countries in region

 

Request the more developed ASEAN Member Countries to assist the new ASEAN Member Countries to improve their technological and human capacity in the area of renewable energy promotion and development; and

 

Invite the Plus 3 countries, other Dialogue Partners and international organizations with stronger technological research and development and investment capability to strengthen their cooperation with ASEAN in the development of renewable energy for mutual benefits.

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

25^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

12 – 17 September 2004, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

 

 

25GA/2004/Eco-01

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

BOOSTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN NEW MEMBER COUNTRIES THROUGH TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY

 

 

The Twenty-Fifth General Assembly:

 

Considering that new member countries are mainly agrarian societies with the majority of their population living in rural areas and that most of this population, comprising mostly of smallholders, are currently under-utilizing agricultural resources;

 

Realizing that agriculture in the new member countries in the driving force of the rural economy and its performance leads to investment and increased economic activities in the rest of the rural economy;

 

Observing that most farmers in new member countries employ traditional technology that is often obsolete thus making their agricultural productivity far behind the productivity of the more developed member countries both in terms of labour and in terms of land;

 

Recognizing that with less-developed technologies such as in post-harvest, logistical support, transportation and communication facilities, development of agricultural products both for domestic consumption and export carry very high production and marketing cost as well as considerable risks;

 

Believing that promoting technology together with policy and institutional reforms, and investment in the agriculture sector enhances the intensification and diversification towards high-value crops and high yielding production (the more effective commercialization of agriculture products) and provide employment opportunities through the active participation of the poor and women in agriculture production and marketing; and

 

Realizing that as long as low value-added growth remains, inequality and chronic poverty for the rural poor will persist.

 

Hereby resolves to:

 

Encourage the more developed ASEAN member countries to assist new member countries to improve their productivity in agriculture sector through scientific cooperation, human resources development improving access and exchanges of knowledge and modern techniques of agricultural production;

 

Encourage the new member countries to explore ways to work more closely with relevant agencies and organizations in more developed member countries, as well as with bilateral, regional and international organizations such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Agent French Development Agency (AFD), Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Canadian International Agency (CIDA), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Japan International Agency (JICA), World Food Program (WFP) Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank (WB), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) etc. to improve agricultural productivity;

 

Request the more developed member countries to assist the new member countries in improving and strengthening the present relevant national institutions and private organizations that deal with agricultural research activities to generate and disseminate knowledge on new agricultural technology and high-value products;

 

Request the more developed member countries to provide improved knowledge and advanced technology to new member countries in order to improve agricultural productivity and diversification;

 

Request the more developed member countries to promote competitive agricultural commercialization in new member countries and to provide them with human resources development formal and informal training in order to increase agricultural outputs; and

 

Encourage all member countries to set up/increase national budgets for research and development in agricultural technology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

25^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

12 – 17 September 2004, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

 

 

25GA/2004/Eco-02

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

PROMOTING CULTURAL AND ECO-TOURISM

TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH

 

The Twenty-Fifth General Assembly:

 

Recalling the Declaration of Bali Concord II signed by ASEAN Leaders at the Ninth ASEAN Summit on 7 October 2003 in Bali, Indonesia to establish and ASEAN community for a closer and mutually beneficial integration among member countries and among their people;

 

Recalling the decision of the ASEAN Leaders during the Ninth ASEAN Summit that tourism is a priority sector for integration of ASEAN;

 

Reaffirming the commitment to implement the ASEAN Tourism Agreement signed by the ASEAN Leaders at the Eight ASEAN Summit on 4 November 2002 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, calling for facilitation and implementation of intra-ASEAN and international travel, facilitation of transport services, market access, quality tourism, tourism safety and security, joint marketing and promotion and human resources development;

 

Recognizing that tourism stimulates economic growth, energizes the development of other related sector, and promotes social development, employment, and better understanding among nations;

 

Realizing the need to develop cultural and eco-tourism as an additional way especially for the less-developed member countries to generate local employment opportunities and to stimulate economic development without destroying their environmental endowments;

 

Believing that cultural and eco-tourism is an alternative to sustainable tourism development; and

 

Recognizing the member countries has tremendous diversity of cultural historical heritage and natural endowments.

Hereby resolves to:

 

Urge the member countries to advance integration of tourism in accordance with the ASEAN Concord II by 2010 through the development and promotion of ASEAN as a single tourism destination with world-class standards, facilities, and attractions;

 

Advance further the implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Agreement in policy cooperation and coordination to reduce restrictions to trade in tourism and travel services among member countries, encourages investments by the public and private sectors in cultural and eco tourism, and improves the communication and information sharing initiatives so as to deal with all threats to tourism such as terrorism and health crises;

 

Assist new member countries to realize these goals through provision of, among others technical assistance in the areas of capacity building, human resources development, promotion if investment, and protection of environment and cultural heritage;

 

Promote cultural and ecotourism to a new level in the tourism industry by establishing and protecting natural areas and educate stakeholders about biodiversity, conservation, and sustainability and involve small communities to give local ownership and success through supporting micro, small and medium enterprises;

 

Encourage the international community and more developed countries to invest in infrastructures to support cultural and eco-tourism in less developed member countries;

 

Request multilateral development agencies as well as bilateral agencies to become increasingly involved in funding cultural and eco-tourism with loans and grants; and

 

Request the General Assembly to mandate an ad hoc committee to study means to promote cultural and eco-tourism in the ASEAN region and provide funding to these efforts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

24^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

7 – 12 September 2003, Jakarta, Indonesia

 

 

Res.24GA/2003/Eco/01

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

THE NEED TO CREATE AN ASEAN COMMON LEGISLATION ON THE

REALIZATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA (AFTA)

 

 

The Twenty-Fourth General Assembly:

 

Recalling AIPO Resolution No. 23GA/2002/Eco/01 on AFTA Implementation Road Map.

 

Realizing that trade and investment cooperation intra-ASEAN must be continuously developed in order to contribute to economic development in each ASEAN Member Countries.

 

Reaffirming that goals of AFTA implementation will strengthen structure of the economy of each ASEAN member countries.

 

Noting the Agreement on Common Effective and Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the various AFTA-related ASEAN Agreements including the ASEAN Agreement on Customs, the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and the ASEAN Investment Area Agreement (AIA).

 

Realizing that customs cooperation was part of the ambitious work programme being developed under the Customs Vision 2020, which aims to enhance efficiency, professionalism, and services to promote trade and investment in ASEAN Members.

 

Hereby resolves:

 

a)      To call for the active participation of each AIPO Member Parliament in promoting and formulating common legal frameworks to facilitate trade and investment pursuant to the various relevant ASEAN Agreements.

 

 

 

 

 

b)      To call upon ASEAN member countries to undertake economic reforms, including tax and custom framework with a view to accelerating trade liberalization among ASEAN Members.

 

c)      To urge all ASEAN member countries to implement the various economic agreement with a view to reforming trade an investment regulations towards the realization of ASEAN Vision 2020.

 

d)     To call for closer cooperation among ASEAN in working towards a better, fairer and more balanced international economic and trade in the framework of WTO.

 

e)      To  welcome all initiatives of each ASEAN member countries to promptly re-formulate trade and investment regulations for accelerating the implementation of AFTA, AFAS and AIA.

 

f)       To work towards equitable and verifiable trading practices, and to share technical expertise in this respect with new member countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

24^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

7 – 12 September 2003, Jakarta, Indonesia

 

 

Res.24GA/2003/Eco/02

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP

BETWEEN ASEAN AND PLUS THREE (CHINA, JAPAN AND REPUBLIC OF KOREA)

 

 

 

The Twenty-Fourth General Assembly:

 

 

Recognizing that economic globalisation confronts each economy both as individuals and as group, giving rise to a phenomenon of increasing inevitable interdependence among them to realize the potential of economic benefits and to collectively manage challenges and negative impact.

 

Realizing that the process of economic co-operation and comprehensive partnership for mutual interests and benefits between ASEAN and Plus Three has expanded significantly and cover wider areas of co-operation.

 

Reiterating that the increasing degree of economic co-operation and comprehensive partnership between ASEAN and Plus Three could sustain ASEAN efforts towards intra-ASEAN economic integration process.

 

Noting several political commitments, joint declarations and framework agreements launched by the heads of state and government of ASEAN and East Asian countries through forums notably ASEAN + 3 Summit, ASEAN-China Summit, ASEAN-Japan Summit, and ASEAN-the Republic of Korea Summit held in conjunction with the 8^th ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in November 2002.

 

Inspired by the political commitments made by the Leaders of ASEAN+3 expressing their willingness to explore the phased evolution of the ASEAN+3 Summit into and East Asian Summit and having tasked their economic minters to study and formulate options on the gradual formation of an East Asia Free Trade Area.

 

 

 

 

Hereby resolves:

a)            To welcome and support joint commitment, agreements and active effort, in the past the present, by the Leader of ASEAN + 3 to enhance closer economic cooperation for comprehensive mutual benefits between the two regions with view to further realizing an East Asia economic integration in the future.

 

b)            To formulate a roadmap within ASEAN+3 with specific steps to advance towards the establishment of East Asia cooperation.

 

c)            To call on ASEAN member countries to focus on the two pillars of economic and development cooperation in order to narrow the development gap, especially the digital divide between ASEAN and Plus Three.

 

d)           To urge ASEAN member countries to consistently reaffirm ASEAN’s enhanced economic co-operation and comprehensive partnership with Plus Three in East Asia and particularly welcome their support aimed at accelerating the integration of ASEAN’s newer members and create a good environment for internal exchanges, especially in trade by applying equal treatment as well as bilateral FTAs with Plus Three.

 

e)            To call on each ASEAN member country to commit to the implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration plans and projects aimed at realising the bridging of development gap between the older and newer members of ASEAN and ASEAN’s integration conductive for the following-up economic co-operation and comprehensive partnership agreements with Plus Three.

 

f)             To call for ASEAN member countries to actively welcome and support East Asia countries’ support for the IAI work plan and projects, Japan’s Initiative for Development in East Asia (IDEA), and Joint Declaration on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEP) between ASEAN and Japan, the Republic of Korea-initiated-the East Asia Vision Group and the East Asia Study Group, and the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Co-operation between ASEAN-China aimed at increasing trade and investment.

 

g)            To urge ASEAN member countries to consistently commit that the nees to enhance economic co-operation and comprehensive partnership with Plus Three shall not weaken intra-ASEAN economic co-operations notably through AFTA and other areas of economic co-operation.

 

h)            To call on ASEAN member countries to positively view that the success of the economic co-operation and integration between ASEAN and Plus three could enhance the welfare of the people of the two regions, and could also make ASEAN and Plus Three more attractive to other regions to explore economic co-operation.

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

23^rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

8 – 13 September 2002, Ha Noi, Viet Nam

 

 

Res.23GA/2002/Eco/01

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON  AFTA  IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP

 

The Twenty-Third General Assembly:

 

 

Realizing that the actual growing economic globalization process is presenting ASEAN with not only great opportunities but also tremendous challenges;

 

Reaffirming that a strong AFTA will compete effectively with other regional economic organizations;

 

Reiterating that the ASEAN Free Trade Area is an engine for regional economic development to meet the following economic goals:

 

+          Increasing intra-ASEAN trade through the removal of regional tariffs and non-tariff barriers;

 

+          Attracting foreign investors to the region by establishing a single market;

 

+          Encouraging ASEAN Member Countries to actively integrate into the international economy which is undergoing rapid changes;

 

Noting the proposal to accelerate the implementation of AFTA in four new member countries of ASEAN, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam put forth in the ASEAN Informal Economic Ministerial Meeting in Malaysia and the 25^th meeting of the Coordination Committee on the Implementation of CEPT/AFTA Scheme;

 

Affirming that is necessary to take further measures to realize AFTA, taking into account each country’s conditions with an aim to help overcome constraints unfolded in the implementation process;

 

 

 

Hereby resolves:

 

a)            To welcome and support the active efforts, in the past and at present, by the Association and its Member Countries to strengthen economic cooperation within ASEAN, creating premises for the realization of “ASEAN Vision 2020″;

 

b)            To call on ASEAN Member Countries to continue implementing the Ha Noi Plan of Action (HPA) and promoting the implementation of agreements on regional economic integration, namely the Agreement on ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the Agreement on the harmonization of ASEAN Customs Procedures, and the Agreement on ASEAN Investment Area (AIA);

 

c)            To recommend ASEAN Member Countries to promote economic reforms, including financial structure and tax system with a view to accelerating the liberation process;

 

d)           To call for the active participation of the AIPO Member Parliaments in formulating a legal framework conductive to trade and investment liberalization in ASEAN; to endorse and assist Governments’ efforts in finding effective measures to continue implementing the AFTA roadmap; and

 

e)            To call on ASEAN Members to adopt appropriate measures to assist enterprises, especially small and medium-sized ones, of the four new Members, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam, with an aim of accelerating the AFTA implementing process.

 

 

—————————————-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

23^rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

8 – 13 September 2002, Ha Noi, Viet Nam

 

 

Res.23GA/2002/Eco/02

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON  NARROWING THE DEVELOPMENT GAP

AMONG ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES

 

The Twenty-Third General Assembly:

 

 

Acknowledging that ASEAN is confronted with numerous opportunities and challenges posed by the actual growing globalization, particularly the declining investment inflow to the region, and the decreasing competitiveness build upon traditional advantages like raw materials and labour due to changes in the world economy;

 

Realizing that ASEAN is compelled to narrow the wide development gap among its Member Countries, as well as between the Association and other parts of the world so as to enhance its role and position in the process of regional and international integration;

 

Noting the results of the implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and plans and projects to assist newer Member Countries in four major areas, namely human resources development, infrastructure, information and communication technology and regional economic integration;

 

Emphasizing the importance of the development of sub-regional projects (such as the Brunei Darussalam – Indonesia – Malaysia – the Philippines – East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), the Indonesia – Malaysia – Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), the ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDC), the West – East Corridor (WEC) and the Cambodia – Laos – Viet Nam Triangle) as well as of the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement to the common development of the region and of each Member Country;

 

Reaffirming the need to mobilize resources and increase efforts for the region’s sustainable economic development, to narrow the development gap among ASEAN Member Countries and to raise ASEAN’s competitiveness in the world economy;

 

Hereby resolves :

 

a)            To welcome and support efforts, in the past and at present, made by ASEAN Member Governments for narrowing the development gap among ASEAN Member Countries, and in implementing programmes and projects under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI);

 

b)            To call upon ASEAN Member Countries to increase their efforts in accelerating the implementation of agreements on stepping up regional economic co-operation and further promoting economic reform in each Member Country with a view to increasing the ASEAN competitiveness in the world.

 

c)            To recommend ASEAN Member Countries to give priority to implementing programmes and projects on human resources development, infrastructure, information and communication technology and regional economic integration under the framework of the IAI; and in that process, to encourage older Member Countries to actively support newer Member Countries in their regional economic integration efforts;

 

d)           To call upon AIPO Member Parliaments to assist efforts made by ASEAN Member Governments in mobilizing internal and other resources for the development of sub-regions and implementation of the region’s important infrastructure projects;

 

e)            To urge ASEAN Member Countries to work closely with one another and with their partners in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international for a with a view to ensuring genuine trade liberalization between developed and developing countries, to removing tariffs and non-tariff barriers on goods and services, especially agricultural procedure of developing countries; and to call upon ASEAN Member Countries, which are WTO members, to continue supporting the early accession to the WTO of Cambodia, laos and Viet Nam;

 

f)             To call upon AIPO Member Parliaments, through their legislative activities, to maximize each Member’s internal strength in order to harmonize legal and regulatory frameworks of countries in the region with a view to strengthening intra-ASEAN co-operation in the spirit of the ASEAN Summit in Ha Noi, encouraging businesses and the private sector to be actively involved in development investment in the region, and play a greater role in the process of regional economic integration; and

 

g)            To reaffirm the determination to stand united and strive for narrowing the development gap among ASEAN Countries, raising the competitiveness of ASEAN Member Countries, and to assist ASEAN Member Governments’ efforts to this end.

 

 

 

—————————————–

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

23^rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

8 – 13 September 2002, Ha Noi, Viet Nam

 

 

Res.23GA/2002/Eco/03

 

RESOLUTION ON

COOPERATION IN ICT AND E-COMMERCE

AMONG ASEAN COUNTRIES

 

The Twenty-Third General Assembly:

 

 

Recognizing the gap between ASEAN Members in ICT digital divide and therefore in e-commerce;

 

Recognizing that the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement is an important milestone for narrowing these gaps;

 

Approving that the fundamental objectives of the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement are to facilitate the establishment of ASEAN information infrastructure in each country and in ASEAN as a whole; to promote and facilitate the liberalization of ICT goods and services; to step up the use of ICT in providing e-government’s public services; and to develop ASEAN e-societies;

 

Acknowledging the significant initial results of the implementation of the e-ASEAN initiative: efforts in each Member Country to enhance its capacity in ICT, establishment of a common e-commerce legal framework to be used a source of reference, formulation of a number of projects funded by dialogue partners (namely Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Australia and New Zealand…….);

 

 

 

Reaffirming the need for continued actions to promote the implementation of the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement;

Hereby resolves:

 

a)                  To welcome and support the signing and the implementation of the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement;

 

b)                  To call on the Governments of the ASEAN Members who are more advanced in ICT to continue to share experiences and to provide assistance to the less advanced Members in ICT in general, and e-commerce in particular, especially in Human resources training and development;

 

c)                  To call on the Governments of ASEAN countries to continue narrowing the digital divide among ASEAN Members by taking measures such as developing common programmes for ICT infrastructure development in ASEAN Countries. Some other examples include developing a lingual conversion tool, formulating a project on e-commerce implementation in ASEAN Countries, creating a common legal framework, establishing an ASEAN e-Commerce Portal and e-commerce website of each Member Country with a view to promoting intra-regional trade and formulating standards for information exchange;

 

d)                 To call on the Parliaments of Dialogue partners to recommend their Governments to take measures in assisting ASEAN Countries, especially the less advanced Members in ICT, to develop ICT; and

 

e)                  To recommend the Parliaments of ASEAN Countries to request their Governments to elaborate policies and programmes on ICT development, human resources training and development, dissemination of information to inform widely in the society the role of information technology and e-commerce in business and production with the aim to raise the awareness of parliamentarians, civil servants, and people.

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

23^rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

8 – 13 September 2002, Ha Noi, Viet Nam

 

 

Res.23GA/2002/Eco/04

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

 

The Twenty-Third General Assembly:

 

Recognizing that economic growth and social development are vital to environmental protection;

 

Expressing concerns that environmental degradation and natural calamities such as droughts, floods, forest fire, etc. are occurring in the region more frequently, causing enormous damage and losses for the environment and people;

 

Affirming nevertheless that the negative impacts of actual economic globalization and the unidirectional unfair North – South liberalization of trade are root causes of global environmental degradation;

 

Recognising further that the rapid degradation of the regional and global environmental is a corollary of commercial behaviours harmful to the environmental, the excessive production and consumption, the population boom, poverty and hunger and environmentally-unfriendly technologies;

 

 

 

Understanding that environmental degradation is a global issue insurmountable without regional and international co-operation and the involvement of communities, international, regional and national organizations, and non-governmental organizations;

Noting with satisfaction that ASEAN member countries have been actively fulfilling their commitments under international and regional treaties and conventions on environmental protection;

 

Encouraged by the results produced  by ASEAN’s recent efforts in protecting the environment, such as the signing of the ASEAN Agreement on Cross-Border Haze; and

 

Reaffirming that AIPO and the entire ASEAN people welcome and support the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September 2002.

 

Hereby resolves:

 

a)                  To call on the ASEAN Governments to enhance public awareness in protecting the environment and to encourage their people to do their best in protecting our common home by concrete daily activities;

 

b)                  To call on the ASEAN Governments to map out their respective national sustainable development strategies with the participation of their local authorities, organizations and individual, aimed at harmonizing socio-economic development with environmental protection as well as promoting co-operation in environmental protection in order to build a “green, clean and beautiful” ASEAN and ensure sustainable development, thus contributing to preservation and protection of the global environment as a whole;

 

c)                  To call on ASEAN Countries to coordinate actions at the national, sustainable development strategies with the participation of their local authorities, organizations and individual, aimed at harmonizing socio-economic development with environmental protection as well as promoting co-operation in environmental protection in order to build a “green, clean and beautiful” ASEAN and ensure sustainable development, thus contributing to preservation and protection of the global environment as a whole;

 

d)                 To encourage the formulation of concrete programs and measures at regional level, especially those on poverty alleviation and hunger eradication with a view to minimizing the negative social and economic impacts of environmental degradation on the people, particularly the most vulnerable groups;

 

e)                  To recommend that ASEAN parliamentarians and Parliaments enhance their supervisory function, accord appropriate priority in the national budget for environmental preservation, and pay due attention to combining economic growth with social development and environmental conservation;

 

f)                   To call on all ASEAN Member Countries to develop the legal framework and effective mechanisms to protect the environment;

 

g)                  To encourage the participation, assistance and support of all countries, especially developed ones, international and regional organizations and non-governmental organizations in protecting the environmental for the sustainable development of all countries in the region;

 

h)                  To call upon the WTO Member Countries not to use environmental protection issues as a leverage to continue with unfair trade practices.

 

 

 

—————————————–

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

23^rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

8 – 13 September 2002, Ha Noi, Viet Nam

 

 

Res.23GA/2002/Eco/05

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON  ECONOMIC MATTERS

 

The Twenty-Third General Assembly:

 

 

Noting that the future of intra-ASEAN co-operation within the AFTA framework offers consideration potential. These potentials have been reflected in the improved economic growth of ASEAN Countries in recent years despite the Asian economic crisis in 1997.

 

Reaffirming that in order to deal with current global economic challenges, ASEAN needs to enhance its economic integration, taking into account the various development levels existing in its member countries;

 

Recognizing that ASEAN industries should their efficiency in order to be able to compete at the regional and global levels;

 

Realizing that all ASEAN countries should give priority to their domestic economic development in order to deal with present challenges in the global economy;

 

Emphasizing that all ASEAN governments and private sector continue developing the industrial sector with a view to build capacity to meet the challenges of international competition, and to reduce the regional over-dependency on products from other regions,

 

Hereby resolves:

 

a)                  To urge ASEAN countries to enhance their economic resilience and competitiveness through concerted endeavours in be prepared in facing global free trade area;

 

 

 

 

 

b)                  To call on ASEAN Countries to enhance and deepen their economic co-operation in line with global developments and trends in accordance with the agreed timeframes for the implementation of AFTA and to narrow the development gap among ASEAN countries in line with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration and the Han Noi Declaration on Narrowing the Development Gap;

 

c)                  To call on ASEAN Countries to strengthen economic and trade co-operation by promoting common interests and collaborative endeavours in order to realize the ASEAN’s common objective of a prosperous Southeast Asian region;

 

d)                 To underline the importance of ASEAN solidarity and unity in promoting AFTA as one of the main vehicles to cope with global competition and to realize a prosperous Southeast Asia community;

 

e)                  To underline the importance role played by scientific and technological progress, especially in ICT, in the development process of every country and therefore urge ASEAN Member Countries to make every effort to narrow the digital divide among themselves;

 

f)                   To urge for improved communication and co-ordination between governments and private sectors on information relating to business competition in AFTA;

 

g)                  To call for further promotion and strengthening of trade and investment co-operation in order to facilitate trade and investment liberalization in the region;

 

h)                  To welcome the signing by ASEAN Finance Ministers in Yangon in 2002 of the Protocol to Implement the second Package of Commitments on Financial Serives under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services, which will further liberalize the financial services sector as agreed upon in the 1995 ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services; and

 

i)                    To call on ASEAN Countries to make every effort to strengthen simultaneously economic growth, social development and environmental conservation, the three pillars of sustainable development as recently called for by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002.

 

 

 

————————————

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE 22^nd ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

2  – 7 September 2001 Bangkok, Thailand

 

 

Res.22GA/2001/Eco/01

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Twenty-Second General Assembly of AIPO:

 

 

Recalling that the recent Asian financial crisis has raised alarm on the way we have managed our economies amidst increasing globalization and insufficient transparency and accountability of governmental and corporate institutions, whereupon the more integrated and cohesive global economic environment calls for Asia to increase its consideration with regard to policy settings of other countries;

 

Noting with concern that decreasing inflow of foreign direct investment to this region and insufficient financial resources for SMEs/SMIs will adversely effect the economic situation of the ASEAN member countries, and that free trade should not be seen as an in itself but as a toll to increase economic efficiency and competency;

 

Cognizant that since each economy faces a different set of circumstances, there can be no uniform solution nor generic responses, rather various development strategies are emerging and recommended as alternative approaches in alleviating negative socio-economic impacts from crises, eradicating poverty, improving quality of life, and improving good governance to immunize for all to withstand the challenges of globalization;

 

Aware that regional resilience does not advocate isolationism, but rather, envisage and promote the way for ASEAN nations towards a smoother and more successful integration of their domestic economies into a process of increasing global interdependence;

 

Reaffirming that the realization of AFTA and the encouragement of economic reforms with an aim to spurring economic integration area meaningful and important to the Southeast Asian region on its direction to become a globally competitive region;

 

 

Hereby resolve:

 

1.            to urge AIPO member countries to improve information exchange, policy dialogues and openness to enable economic policy managers of participating countries to formulate policies that are in their national interests and in tune with regional and global initiatives;

 

2.            to urge to promote regional value adding activities taking advantage of regionally available raw materials and resources;

 

3.            to urge AIPO members to focus on each member country’s competitive advantage and assist in channelling the foreign direct investment within the region;

 

4.            to urge ASEAN members to foster elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers to promote trade and investment in the region;

 

5.            to agree to push for a new round of global trade talks with a balanced and broad based agenda taking into account the interest of all WTO members;

 

6.            to call upon ASEAN parliamentarians to play their role in the legislative process in supporting the successful implementation of any chosen alternative development strategy, including innovative financial policies to avert poverty, for example, the Grameen Bank concept, the Village Fund concept and the concept of using labour as collateral for loans;

 

7.            to suggest that AIPO members make use of the “Youth Volunteer Corps and Volunteer Corps” which are to be established upon the recommendation of the ASEAN Eminent persons Group as the vehicle to facilitate the exchanges of experiences with regard to alternative development strategies in the region;

 

8.             to study and suggest a time frame and specific plans for executing the above and other ASEAN initiatives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

21^st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

10 – 15 September 2000, Singapore

 

 

Res.21GA/2000/Eco/01

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION ON ASEAN ECONOMIES

 

The Twenty-First General Assembly:

 

Convinced that the integration of the international economy through the process of globalization has and will continue to have a profound impact on ASEAN member countries;

 

Noting that the rapid development in the fields of info-communications technology and electronic commerce will accelerate the process of globalisation;

 

Recognising that that ASEAN member countries should strive to keep pace with the rapid changes in technology which are instrumental in the process of globalization;

 

Acknowledging that there is still a difference in the level of economic progress among the ASEAN member countries;

 

Aware that in order to be able to continue to compete in the era of economic globalisation, ASEAN member countries must cooperate in developing science and technology so that human resources of member countries may gain the skills needed by the industry of today and of the future;

 

 

 

Taking note that ASEAN has carried out various efforts to further encourage the progress in economic cooperation in regional trade;

 

Realising the need for mutual cooperation within ASEAN, as well as multilateral cooperation with countries within other economic regions;

 

Resolves to :

1.            Set-up bilateral and multilateral cooperation among ASEAN member countries to check the negative effects of globalisation;

 

2.            Urge developed and industrialised nations to increase import quotas from developing nations and to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers in their importation;

 

3.            Urge ASEAN member countries to remove all tariff and non-tariff barriers which impede the realisation of a free trade area and a liberal area for investment;

 

4.            Appeal to all international financial institutions that in disbursing financial assistance, they may consider such terms that are proportional to the prevailing conditions of the respective countries, particularly in the case of developing countries;

 

5.            Welcome and support the initiative of the e-ASEAN Task Force, whose efforts are aimed at enhancing ASEAN’s competitiveness in the global market;

 

6.            Encourage greater public and private sector collaboration in realising the initiatives aimed at enhancing ASEAN economic cooperation.

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

21^st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

10 – 15 September 2000, Singapore

 

Res.21GA/2000/Eco/02

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA – COMMON EFFECTIVE

PREFERENTIAL TARIFF) (AFTA-CEPT) SCHEME

—————————-

 

The Twenty-First General Assembly:

 

Convinced that preferential trading arrangements among ASEAN member countries will act as stimulus to strengthening of national and ASEAN economic resilience, and the development of the national economies of the member countries by expanding investment and production opportunities, trade and foreign exchange earnings;

Noting with satisfaction the successful implementation of the Singapore Declaration of 1002, which marked the region’s determination to intensify and enhance economic cooperation;

Reaffirming the adopting of Agreement of the Common Effective Preferential tariff (CEPT) Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) signed in Singapore on 28^th January 1992; the CEPT scheme is an agreed effective tariff which is preferential to ASEAN member countries which have been identified for inclusion under the scheme;

Recognising that ASEAN member countries have since then, made considerable progress in the implementation of the CEPT, as evidenced by the results of the 6^th Summit in Hanoi in December 1998, where the six original signatories will further accelerate its implementation by one year, from 2003, as was agreed in 1994, to 2002;

 

 

Realising that these developments testify to the further deepening of ASEAN regional cooperation and integration;

Resolves to:

1.                  Urge ASEAN member countries to hasten the establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), using the Common Effective Preferential Trade (CEPT) Scheme as the main mechanism;

2.                  Encourage ASEAN member countries to reaffirm their commitments under the CEPT scheme and discourage them from postponing their commitments;

3.                  Further urge ASEAN member countries to strengthen economic cooperation by including more products into the CEPT and by keeping the products in the Temporary Exclusion List and the Sensitive List to a minimum, as well as to hasten the implementation of the CEPT scheme on a timely basis to provide the needed environment of stability and predictability to the business secotr;

4.                  Call upon ASEAN member countries to reaffirm their  commitments to the timeframe on the implementation of the CEPT Scheme for the AFTA to be reduced from 15 years to 10 years to be completed by 01 Jan 2002 for the original ASEAN-6 member countries, 01 Jan 2006 for Vietnam, 01 Jan 2008 for Laos and Myanmar, and 01 Jan 2010 for Cambodia;

5.                  Call upon ASEAN member countries to reaffirm their commitment to the elimination of tariffs by 01 Jan 2010 for the original ASEAN-6 member countries and 01 Jan 2015 for the newer ASEAN member countries;

6.                  Support the early resolution on the Protocol for the Temporary Suspension of CEPT Concession; and

7.                  Encourage the ASEAN private sector to work closely with their ASEAN official to realise the aforementioned liberation dates.

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

21^st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

10 – 15 September 2000, Singapore

 

 

Res.21GA/2000/Eco/03

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA – CLOSER ECONOMIC

RELATIONS (AFTA – CER) TRADE AGREEMENT

—————————-

 

The Twenty-First General Assembly:

 

 

Noting the close economic and social relations between ASEAN and CER countries (Australia and New Zealand);

Convinced that one of the vital means of achieving the ultimate goals of unity, solidarity, understanding and cooperation between ASEAN, and also with other countries in the world, and the promotion of the region’s prosperity, is the promotion of economic relations between ASEAN and other regions;

Expressing the belief that ASEAn’s rapidly expanding market, with its dynamic demand potential for consumer goods, capital equipment, and technological expertise, together with its productive potential, to a large part, account for the increasing interest of other regions in establishing and furthering relations with ASEAN;

Recognising that enhanced relations between the ASEAN and CER countries could bring about the cooperative partnership between governments and companies from both regions;

Affirming the ASEAN-CER Trade Minister decision to explore an AFTA-CER FTA by 2000;

Further recognising that the AFTA-CER Lingkage would lead to both short term and long term economic benefits and strategic gains for the two regions;

Appreciate the efforts of the AFTA-CER Task Force set-up by the ASEAN Economic Minister;

Resolves to:

1.                  Welcome and support the establishment of the AFTA-CER linkage;

2. Urge the governments of both ASEAN and CER countries to assist in this development by liberalising their markets through reducing and eliminating both tariff and non-tariff barriers;

3. Support the deliberations of the AFTA-CER Task Force;

4. Encourage ASEAN to maintain the momentum established at the inaugural meeting of the ASEAN and CER countries on 09 September 1995 in Brunei and continue to build upon common areas of interest and to identify further areas of cooperation to strengthen the AFTA-CER lingkage thereby providing tangible benefits to both regions;

5. Urge ASEAN to explore further area of cooperation between ASEAN and CER countries and to accelerate the process of regional economic integration;

6. Support the establishment of an AFTA-CER Free Trade Area by 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

20^th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

September 19 – 24, 1999, Manila – Philippines.

 

 

Res.20GA/99/ECO-01

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON ASEAN ECONOMIES

 

The Twentieth General Assembly:

 

Recognizing that globalization has contributed to the transformation of the political and socio-economic environment, exposing ASEAN economies to the vagaries of financial liberalization, while in the process strengthening ASEAN solidarity and intensifying ASEAN cooperation;

 

Recalling that while globalization offered a powerful vision of world prosperity, it also has some unappealing aspects such as the financial crisis of 1997 – 1998 that has swept the world, highlighting conflicting opinions and heightening fears on the possible adverse impact of globalization;

 

Noting that as a response to the widespread impact of the financial crisis, ASEAN countries have intensified individual, bilateral, sub-regional, regional, multi-lateral and international efforts to provide the necessary reforms and other steps that their diverse circumstances call for;

 

Stressing that it would be useful to distinguish the concerns and challenges of globalization in order to formulate an agenda to address the impact of competition on the living standards, and tackle issues related to expanded trade and investment, such as environmental degradation, disease, migration, crime and terrorism;

 

Mindful of the Hanoi Plan of Action that the ASEAN would undertake in cooperation and solidarity, to respond to the challenges of globalization; for the short term, it would spur ASEAN’s economies to recover and seek to protect the poor from the ravages of the crisis; for the longer term, it would conserve the environment, and lay the foundation for solid, equitable and sustainable development;

 

 

 

 

 

Resolves to:

 

Encourage governments and parliaments to confront the issue of globalization squarely and to proceed as planned the implementation of their existing commitments to the World Trade Organization;

 

Urge member countries to draw up programs of action and specific measures to move ASEAN closer to the realization of ASEAN Vision 2020, the vision of an ASEAN working together in concern, partnership and community;

 

Appeal to governments to address the moral and social implications of globalization by reshaping social services and enhancing social safety nets in order to support social justice under an open economy.

 

Adopted this 22^nd day of September, 1999 in Mania, Philippines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

20^th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

September 19 – 24, 1999, Manila – Philippines.

 

 

Res.20GA/99/ECO-02

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ASEAN ECONOMIC RECOVERY

 

The Twentieth General Assembly:

 

Recalling that most countries which experienced the Asian financial crisis exhibit sound macroeconomic indicators and hence there had been no advance warming about the impending crisis;

 

Aware that transparency, accountability, and good governance are called for in the global economy;

 

Optimistic that, as expressed by the ASEAN Finance Ministers in March 1999, and as recent statistics show, 1999 will witness improved economic prospects for the region characterized by “return of stability: in the foreign exchange markets; rising current account surpluses and a build-up of reserve; substantial decline in domestic interest rates; easing of inflationary pressures; recovery in stock markets; improvement in consumer sentiment; and levelling- off in the contraction of industrial production;

 

Cautious however, of certain external factors or challenges that could hinder economic recovery like the risk of rising protectionism, a sharp reversal in the US stock market, exchange rate misalignment of major currencies, and uncertainty of external financial flows;

 

Convinced that ASEAN financial architecture has to be reviewed and strengthened in order to hasted ASEAN economic recovery;

 

Aware of the risks of short-term capital flows and its effect on the volatility of ASEAN markets;

 

Recognizing that integration is the path toward making our economies more efficient, thereby attracting investments and stimulating economic activity;

 

 

Resolves to:

 

Support the ASEAN position on the international financial architecture which should include, among others, the following elements;

 

(i)                 The global effort to resolve the current crisis must recognize the diverse circumstances and priorities of individual economies at different stages of development. Any proposed solution must therefore be sufficiently flexible to accommodate these differences;

 

(ii)               In view of the global nature of today’s financial markets. The reform of the international financial architecture must involve the participation of all countries, including the emerging economies. In this context, we commend the G-22 for its excellent work in this area;

 

(iii)             ASEAN shall adopt a more proactive role of various international and regional for a to ensure that its interests and priorities are given due consideration in any proposal to reform the international financial architecture;

 

(iv)             While the purpose of any international reform is to enhance efficiency and stability in financial markets and to promote global economic activity, such efforts must not lose sight of overriding objective of improving living standards. Due priority must, therefore, be accorded to measures to protect the poor and most vulnerable segments of society;

 

(v)               Measures to strengthen the international financial architecture would need to include a review of the roles of the international financial institutions (IFIs), as well as the international regulatory bodies, in order to enhance their capacity and capability to contain and resolve crisis;

 

(vi)             Standards of transparency and disclosure must be applied equally to the public and private sector, In particular, large market participant, such as highly leveraged institutions which have systemic significance, should be subject to regular and timely transparency and disclosure requirements;

 

(vii)           Strengthen the ASEAN Surveillance Process, which shall keep an eye on the movement of capital and on shifts in economic indicators. This will serve as an early warning system to alert ASEAN Ministers to impending trouble in the future;

 

(viii)         There must be closer and more coordinated monitoring of shorter-term capital flows. In particular, there should be global agreement on the disclosure requirements of  for such flows and closer collaboration and information-sharing among national and international regulators;

 

Reaffirm the acceleration of regional economic integration such as AFTA as ASEAN’S most important response to the global economic upheaval that has hit Southeast Asia particularly hard.

 

 

Adopted thus 22^nd day of September, 1999 in Manila, Philippines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

20^th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

September 19 – 24, 1999, Manila – Philippines.

 

 

Res.20GA/99/ECO-03

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

APPROVING

THE REPORT OF THE AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON THE

ROLE OF ASEAN LEGISLATIVE BODIES IN THE FACE

OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRISIS

 

The Twentieth General Assembly:

 

 

Recalling the AIPO Ad-Hoc Committee Meeting in “The Role of ASEAN Legislative Bodies in the Face of Regional Economic and Financial Crisis” held in Hanoi last March 9 – 11, 1999, pursuant to the agreement by Heads of Delegations to the 19^th AIPO General Assembly to study, discuss and help resolve the impact of the financial crisis in the ASEAN Region;

 

Noting in detail the Report submitted by the Ad-Hoc Committee which comprehensively covers the aims, objectives and views expressed during the 19^th General Assembly by all the member countries;

 

Emphasizing that AIPO Member Countries must continuously organize consultations on economic issues to reaffirm their commitment to move the region’s development forward;

 

Hereby approves:

 

The Report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Role of ASEAN Legislative Bodies in the Face of Regional Economic and Financial Crisis.

 

 

Adopted this 22^nd day of September, 1999 in Manila, Philippines.

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

20^th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

September 19 – 24, 1999, Manila – Philippines.

 

 

Res.20GA/99/ECO-04

 

RESOLUTION

ON

APPROVING

THE PROGRESS REPORT OF THE THAI NATIONAL GROUP ON THE AIPO STUDY PROJECT: THE DEVELOPMENT OF

NATIONAL LAWS TO ENHANCE ASEAN ECONOMIC

COOPERATION AND FACILITATE TRADE LIBERALIZATION

IN TRADE SERVICES AND INVESTMENT

 

 

The Twentieth General Assembly:

 

Noting the goals of ASEAN to foster a closer economic integration and create a competitive ASEAN market through ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) and the ASEAN Vision 2020;

 

Recalling Resolution No. Res. 17GA/1.2 adopted by the 17^th AIPO General Assembly establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee to study ways and means to harmonize laws to effectively strengthen and further promote intra-ASEAN economic cooperation and trade liberalization in line with the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and World Trade Organization (WTO);

 

Recalling further Resolution No. Res. 18GA/97/E/10 and Res.19/GA/E/98/03 adopted by the 18^th and 19^th AIPO General Assemblies assigning the Thai AIPO National Group to continue further the 1996 AIPO Study Project by conducting a more comprehensive study on legal issues relevant to ASEAN economic integration process, promoting AIPO’s legislative role in contributing to wider and deeper intra-ASEAN trade liberalization and economic cooperation in response to global and structural readjustments; identifying obstacles in the implementation of economic commitments and exploring ways and means to solve them, and to recommend necessary measures;

 

Noting with concern the dynamics of multilateral trade and investment negotiations and the impact of the Asian Economic Crisis on the unilateral efforts of the ASEAN member countries to adjust and reform their economies;

Acknowledging with satisfaction the progress report of the first series of the study project by the Thai AIPO National Group on the Development of National Laws to Enhance ASEAN Economic Cooperation and Facilitate Trade Liberalization in Trade in Services and Investment which comprehensively covers the aims, objectives and views expressed by the member countries during the 17^th , 18^th and 19^th General Assembly.

 

Emphasizing that AIPO Member Countries should continuously monitor legal developments on trade liberalization and harmonize legislative measures to effectively strengthen ASEAN economic cooperation and accelerate economic integration process;

 

Hereby Resolves to:

 

Reaffirm AIPO’s intention to devise legislative means for closer economic integration and intra-ASEAN trade liberalization and investments;

 

Encourage ASEAN to adopt a proactive approach towards trade and investment liberalization along the line of the Hanoi Plan of Action;

 

Endorse the first series of the study by the Thai AIPO National Group on the subjects.

 

Adopted this 22^nd day of September, 1999 in Manila, Philippines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19/GA/E/98/01

 

Appendix  3

 

 

NINETEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ECONOMIC RESOLUTION NO. 1

ON

ASEAN ECONOMIC RECOVERY

 

 

The Nineteenth General Assembly:

 

 

Recognising that the crisis currently engulfing most  of ASEAN member states is the most serious economic crisis faced by the region in the post-WW II era, that the resulting currency crisis and collapse of the stock markets have irrevocably undermined economic prospects for member states in the near term;

 

Admitting that both domestic and international factors contribute to the onset of the crisis, that both the economic crisis and the haze problem show that economic, environmental, and indeed political issues are not entirely national in nature, that there are cross border effects on all fronts;

 

Understanding that the said increased sophistication of and innovation in international financial practices and markets have also created an inherent instability and presented new challenges within the financial system of member states; that the crisis has also exposed institutional, regulatory and policy weaknesses amongst member states in light of increased financial liberalisation and global integration.

 

Noting that ASEAN a priori lacks the framework and mechanism to address as well as provide safeguards against regional financial crisis such as the present one, thus, exposing member states to the vagaries of international financial capital flows.

 

Knowing that the prospect for recovery will be dependent on a judicious combination of national domestic policies and international support appropriate and relevant for each member country.

 

Hereby resolves:

 

1.                  that ASEAN member countries seek to enhance regional trading arrangements by reaffirming their commitment to the implementation of AFTA, promote intra-regional trade using local currencies on a voluntary bilateral basis;

 

2.                  that ASEAN member countries promote initiatives towards better international standards for each financial institution;

 

 

 

 

3.                  that ASEAN should develop an early warning system to monitor and anticipate impending economic crisis in accordance with the recommendation of the Second AFM Meeting in Jakarta in February 1998;

 

4.                  that ASEAN member countries introduce a mechanism for macroeconomic policy coordination and harmonisation, with due regard to national priorities, sovereignty and interest;

 

5.                  that ASEAN develop an appropriate fund and programme of humanitarian aid for member countries severely affected by the crisis as an addition to the national provision of a social safety net for political stability;

 

6.                  to call on the developed economies to lead international efforts and coordinate policy responses in resolving the financial crisis which is a global concern’

 

7.                  to call on ASEAN Dialogue Partners, particularly the Unites States, the European Union, China and Japan and on APEC member economies to provide greater market access to ASEAN exports and increase direct investments on ASEAN; and

 

8.                  to urge international financial institutions and foreign banks based in ASEAN to maintain credit support to ASEAN traders, and for concerned international agencies to build social safety net programmes into their support packages.

 

Adopted this 25^th day of August 1998 at Kuala Lumpur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19/GA/E/98/02

 

Appendix  4

 

 

NINETEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ECONOMIC RESOLUTION NO. 2

ON

ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA (AFTA)

 

 

The Nineteenth General Assembly:

 

Recalling that the Second ASEAN Informal Summit in Kuala Lumpur in December 1997 decided to accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) to restore confidence in the region;

 

Nothing that ASEAN member countries have since reduced their respective tariff levels and that they are moving towards the removal of quantitative restriction and non-tariff barriers by the year 2003;

 

Nothing further that the ASEAN member countries have continually improved the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Agreement to expedite the realisation of AFTA;

 

Realising that AFTA will further accelerate the development ASEAN economy and market and at the same time enhance cost competitiveness.

 

Hereby resolves:

 

1.                  to support measures and programmes to facilitate the implementation of CEPT Agreement and the removal of quantitative restrictions and non-tariff barriers with the view to achieving free trade in the region by the year 2003;

 

2.                  to urge ASEAN member countries not to limit the acceleration of the implementation of AFTA to a time frame but should also aim to cover both trade liberalisation and facilitation activities; and

 

3.                  to encourage ASEAN member countries to proceed as planned the implementation of their existing commitments and that no member country should backtrack on their CEPT/AFTA commitments.

 

Adopted this 25^th day of August 1998 at Kuala Lumpur.

 

 

 

 

 

19/GA/E/98/03

 

Appendix  5

 

 

NINETEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ECONOMIC RESOLUTION NO. 3

ON

DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL LAWS TO ENHANCE ASEAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND

FACILITATE TRADE LIBERALISATION

 

 

The Nineteenth General Assembly:

 

Noting the vitality of legislative vision and developments of domestic laws in realising the ASEAN Vision 2020’s call for closer ASEAN economic integration;

 

Realising the call for legislative support to deepen ASEAN economic cooperation in view of the current regional economic crisis;

 

Realising further the need for parliamentarians to understand the dynamics of liberalisation and economic integration in keeping abreast with developments in ASEAN;

 

Reiterating the role of AIPO in this respect and recalling the 18^th AIPO General Assembly resolution RES. 18GA/97/E/10 assigning Thailand to conduct comprehensive studies of legal issues for ASEAN;

 

Hereby resolves:

 

1.                  to acknowledge the progress report on the study project by Thailand and endorse the study package on the Development of National Laws to Enhance ASEAN Economic Cooperation and Facilitate Trade Liberalisation in Trade in Services and Investment (See Appendix 5.1).

 

Adopted this 25^th day of August 1998 at Kuala Lumpur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19/GA/E/98/04

 

Appendix  6

 

 

NINETEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ECONOMIC RESOLUTION NO. 4

ON

ASEAN SUB-REGIONAL COOPERATION

 

 

 

The Nineteenth General Assembly:

 

 

Recalling that the 1992 Singaporean ASEAN Summit acknowledged that sub-regional arrangements among the ASEAN member countries, or between them and non-ASEAN economies and could complement overall ASEAN economic cooperation;

 

Recalling that the ASEAN Heads of Government, at the Second Informal Summit in Kuala Lumpur in Decelber 1997, resolved to forge closer economic cooperation towards the year 2020 (ASEAN 2020) by undertaking, inter alia, to intensify and expand sub-regional cooperation in existing and new sub-regional growth areas;

 

Noting the success of ASEAN initiatives in sub-regional cooperation exemplified by the BIMP-EAST Growth Area (EAGA), IMT Growth Triangle, IMS Growth Triangle, and the ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDS);

 

Noting further that the ASEAN Summit in Singapore in 1992 included in the Framework Agreement on Enhancing ASEAN Economic Cooperation to, among other things, encourage further liberalisation of the use of ASEAN currencies in trade and investments;

 

Recognising the successful hosting by the Philippines of the 31^st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting which urges member countries to organise a collective defense against speculative attacks on their currencies through initiatives ranging from the use of ASEAN currencies in bilateral trade to the creation of an ASEAN economic monitoring mechanism;

 

Welcome the realisation of the Bilateral Payments Arrangement (BPA) scheme to use ASEAN Currencies for intra-ASEAN trade on a voluntary basis which is currently being implemented between the Philippines and Malaysia.

 

Hereby resolves:

 

1.                  to call on member countries to fully implement all commitments to ASEAN economic agreements, especially through promulgation and the coordination of necessary laws and regulation, so that ASEAN sub-regional cooperation will be realised for the common good of the region;

 

2.                  to urge member parliaments to identify the existing obstacles for enterprises to participate actively in the development of cross-border areas, particularly with respect to legal implication, to explore ways and means to tackle such obstacles, and to recommend necessary measures to the concerned authorities for consideration and implementation; and

 

3.                  to call on AIPO to encourage member countries to enter into Bilateral Payments Arrangements using ASEAN currencies on a voluntary basis for the purpose of strengthening the region’s trading system.

 

Adopted this 25^th day of August 1998 at Kuala Lumpur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 1 – 6, 1997, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. RES.18.GA/97/E/01

OF THE EIGHTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

WORLD AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

 

The Eighteenth General Assembly;

 

Aware of the increasing globalization and liberalization of the world economy;

 

Recognizes that the full implementation of the WTO will liberalize trade resulting in economic efficiency and country; comparative advantages.

 

 

Aware of the significant interdependency among the world economic regions has led to the need of a closer cooperation among them.

 

Recognizes that due to the increase in economic exchanges in trade and investment, the region is experiencing rapidly deepening regional interaction and cooperation;

 

Recalls with pride the framework of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region is exemplified by the adoption of the Bogor Declaration at the Conference in November 1994, of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum; and the Osaka Action Agenda at the APEC Leaders meeting in Osaka, Japan in November 1995; and also Manila Declaration in November 1996;

 

Recognizes further, that the above three Summit Meetings have significant contribution to the progress of trade and investment in the Asia pacific region;

 

Expects that the forthcoming APEC Leaders Meeting in Vancouver, Canada in November 1997 will be a fruitful and successful one;

 

Notes with satisfaction the success of ASEAN initiatives in regional cooperation exemplified by the designation of growth areas for investments and developments such as Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore Growth Triangle (IMS-GT);

 

Urges APEC member economies to intensify their efforts so that APEC will become a model for an open regional cooperation that can supplement and reinforce the multilateral free trade system;

Recognizes current developments in the area of trade liberalization and facilitation in APEC;

 

Calls on all APEC member economies to intensify their efforts on development cooperation of human resources, industry, science and technology, energy, small and medium-sized enterprises, transportation, and communications, in order to narrow down the differences in economic development levels and to further vitalize the economy in the Asia-Pacific region;

 

Calls on the ASEAN member countries to fully support the economic development of the EAGA, IMT-GT, IMS-GT, and other identified growth areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 1 – 6, 1997, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. RES.18.GA/97/E/02

OF THE EIGHTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO)

 

The Eighteenth General Assembly;

 

Welcomes the outcome of the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Singapore 1996;

 

Recalls the importance of the free multilateral trade system based on the WTO;

 

Calls upon the international community, especially the advanced industrialized countries, to give developing countries opportunities to achieve progress by guaranteeing free flow of international trade;

 

Encourages the acceleration of substantial meetings on protocol and market access issues in order to achieve the universality of the WTO membership;

 

Support the WTO as a world trade organization to create a more dynamic global trade in accordance with the common agreed regulation;

 

Reminds the WTO to accelerate the entry of countries yet to be members of the WTO. In line with the WTO vision to establish global trade objectives, a fairly free world trade can only be achieved by including as many countries as possible to the WTO consensus on trade liberalization;

 

Rejects the link of social and political issues i.e.  : labor standards, human rights and democratization on one hand, to international trade and investment agreements set out in the WTO on the other hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 1 – 6, 1997, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. RES.18.GA/97/E/03

OF THE EIGHTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC)

 

The Eighteenth General Assembly;

 

Supports the Manila Declaration on Action Plan of Action for APEC (MAPA), resulted in the 1996 APEC Leaders Meeting in Manila, as the first step towards the implementation of trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region;

 

Agrees that APEC should promote significant efforts in the fields of economic and technical cooperation;

 

Recognizes the positive role of the private sectors in the process of APED economic cooperation;

 

Opposes any economic domination by one APEC member of another;

 

Encourages the reduction of tariff and non tariff barriers in APEC trade;

 

Realizes that other countries will follow APEC steps in creating global trade liberalization;

 

Urges all member countries to implement APEC commitment on free trade;

 

Reaffirm APEC members commitment to improve the Individual Plan of Action continuously based on a fair comprehensive and transparent principles;

 

Admits the need to simplify and harmonise customs regulations as it will significantly contribute to the facilitation of trade among APEC members;

 

Stresses the importance of infrastructure development cooperation, including investment from industrialized countries to developing countries within APEC;

 

Reminds all ASEAN member countries of the importance of Human Resource Development;

 

Supports fully any efforts to maintain the effectiveness of APEC, by limiting the numbers of member without any intention of developing APEC as a closed regional cooperation organization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 1 – 6, 1997, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. RES.18.GA/97/E/04

OF THE EIGHTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA (AFTA)

 

The Eighteenth General Assembly;

 

Recalls that ASEAN in moving towards the realization of an ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) to be implemented in the year 2003;

 

Realizes that AFTA was established to increase direct investment among ASEAN member countries, and to increase comparative advantage of ASEAN products in the global marker;

 

Noted that the acceleration of ASEAN economic cooperation has made ASEAN the most dynamic regional organization in the world;

 

Calls on ASEAN new members to immediately make adjustments to the AFTA;

 

Recalls further, the need for ASEAN to improve its cooperation and avoid any discrediting action among its members;

 

Urges ASEAN to continue to develop new ideas to prepare for the implementation of ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)

 

Encourages the countries of ASEAN to fully implement AFTA in the spirit of ASEAN Vision, not only for the year 2003 but also for the year 2002, in the hope that trade liberalization in the Asia Pacific region will be implemented;

 

Proposes the need to develop cooperation among ASEAN’s small and medium-sized enterprises to accelerate the achievement process of free trade area in the Southeast Asia region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

18^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 1 – 6, 1997, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. RES.18.GA/97/E/05

OF THE EIGHTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASEAN SUB-REGIONAL GROWTH AREAS

 

The Eighteenth General Assembly;

 

Realizes that rural cross-border areas can be effectively and co-operatively developed so as to become powerful resources to support the development of the countryside;

 

Expects transparent policies in regulating people’s mobility to increase investment and industry in the sub-regional areas;

 

Reaffirm the ASEAN sub-regional scheme cooperation stressing on the outward development strategy by involving regional and foreign investment to the third countries;

 

Encourages active participation of enterprises in developing ASEAN Sub-regional economic cooperation by providing better facilitation in fiscal and non-fiscal sectors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 1 – 6, 1997, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. RES.18.GA/97/E/06

OF THE EIGHTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASEAN VISION 2020

The Eighteenth General Assembly;

 

Taking into account the objective of ASEAN Vision 2020 to create Southeast Asia as a region which is to develop naturally, free from poverty and become a model of regional cooperation among developing countries;

 

Notes that ASEAN Vision 2020 contains steps which are aimed at enhancing ASEAN comparative advantages and economic strengths;

 

Supports the importance of notification procedures for all ASEAN member countries, in case that any member issues new regulations concerning the changes of trade tariff;

 

Hopes that ASEAN Vision 2020 is able to encourage ASEAN in developing its natural resources and protecting its environment to achieve an environmentally sound ASEAN economy;

 

Reaffirms ASEAN’s commitment on global free trade;

 

Convinced that an integrated ASEAN economic cooperation will give significant contribution to the establishment of international and regional free trade;

 

Calls on all ASEAN member countries to give significant contribution to the implementation of ASEAN Vision 2020;

 

Supports the currency swap accord policy among ASEAN member countries as a mechanism of funding short term liquidity to fulfil the need of temporary balance of payment problem of member countries, and as a positive step towards stabilizing currency rate of ASEAN member countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 1 – 6, 1997, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. RES.18.GA/97/E/07

OF THE EIGHTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

TOURISM

 

The Eighteenth General Assembly;

 

Fully supports Bali Declaration on Tourism Policy passed in the International Forum for Parliaments and Local Authorities: Tourism Policy Makers 0f 1996;

 

Recalls that tourism sector can improve people’s prosperity through economic activities in the form of sustainable business on services and can enhance understanding and friendship among nations to maintain peace;

 

Calls on ASEAN member countries to intensify exchange of information on tourism in order to make ASEAN as integrated tourism region, with the aim to increase the number of tourist visit within countries in the Asia Pacific region;

 

Takes notes that East Asia and Pacific region is the most rapidly growing region in tourism in this decade;

 

Encourage ASEAN countries in increase tourism cooperation by immediately implementing the Four Flagship Project, i.e. establishment of ASEAN Satellite Channel, expansion of ASEAN web to include homepage for culture and information, Biennale ASEAN Arts Festival integrating the Visual and performing Arts, and ASEAN Youth friendship programme;

 

Hopes ASEAN member countries shall establish a healthy and wholesome tourism promotion based on a complimentary principle;

 

Prevents any possible utilization of ASEAN tourism cooperation as an illegal business object such as drug illicit drug trafficking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 1 – 6, 1997, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. RES.18.GA/97/E/08

OF THE EIGHTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASIA – EUROPEAN MEETING (ASEM)

 

The Eighteenth General Assembly;

 

Supports the consensus reached at the First Informal meeting of Asia-Europe Leaders in Bangkok, Thailand in 1966 to conduct political dialogue, strengthen economic cooperation, as well as cooperation in other areas between Asia and Europe;

 

Expresses its satisfaction with the Joint Declaration of the ASEAN-Europe Ministerial Meeting in Singapore 1997 as a framework of strengthening relations between the two regional organization;

 

Encourages the on-going process of ASEAN aiming at increasing cooperation for the mutual benefit of Asia-Europe;

 

Notes that the differences in historical background, values, culture and political systems between European and Asian communities shall not be impediments in enhancing cooperation for the realization of the people’s progress and prosperity;

 

Agrees on the need to expand opportunities for economic and business cooperation through increasing capital flow, exchange expertise and transfer of technology, and to enhance the level of trade and investment based on reciprocity and mutual commitment on market economy and non-discriminative liberalization.

18^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 1 – 6, 1997, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. RES.18.GA/97/E/09

OF THE EIGHTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASEAN – EU COOPERATION

 

 

The Eighteenth General Assembly;

 

Notes with concern that ASEAN-EU economic cooperation has not yet realized its full potentials;

 

Realize the increasingly tighter global competition on the international business environment;

 

Reaffirms that ASEAN-EU economic cooperation is not based on donor-recipient relationship, but rather on partnership based on mutual benefit;

 

Notes        that ASEAN is a large and growing potential market;

 

Urges the EU to open its market more and that it will not impose a protectionist policy;

 

Supports ASEAN and Europe entrepreneurs to exchange views and to encourage business cooperation through dynamic partnership;

 

Hopes ASEAN-EU cooperation could create an environment conducive for an increased cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises.

18^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 1 – 6, 1997, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. RES.18.GA/97/E/10

OF THE EIGHTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL LAWS

TO ENHANCE ASEAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION

AND FACILITATE TRADE LIBERALIZATION

 

The Eighteenth General Assembly;

 

Inspired by the ASEAN Vision 2020 Partnership in Dynamic Development issued on June 14, 1997 in Jakarta by the ASEAN Economic Ministers calling for closer economic integration;

 

Recognizing the need for wider and deeper intra-ASEAN trade liberalization and economic cooperation in response to the growing global economic competition;

 

Realizing that ASEAN economic cooperation must be outward-looking as the region must be responsive to global economic changes;

 

Realizing further the role of AIPO in contributing to ASEAN deepening economic cooperation with respect to legislative supports for such purposes;

 

Noting the role of the ASEAN private sector in closer economic cooperation;

 

Convinced that legislative vision and development of national laws are vital to economic integrative cooperation;

Convinced further that sufficient information on ASEAN economic cooperation and integrative cooperation process, its mechanism and legislative requirements are essential for the effective contribution of AIPO to such process;

Recognizing that there still exists a number of legal and technical barriers to trade and other economic transactions among the ASEAN countries which may hamper economic liberalization in ASEAN;

 

Recognizing Resolution No. Res. 17 GA/1.2 adopted by the 17^th AIPO General Assembly establishing and Ad-Hoc Committee to study ways and means to harmonize laws to effectively strengthen and further promote intra-ASEAN economic cooperation and trade liberalization in line with AFTA and WTO;

 

Endorsing the measures recommended in the concept paper on ASEAN Prospects for Regional Economic Cooperation and its Implications for ASEAN legislative and Institutional Framework;

 

Acknowledging the Thai National Group’s intention to continue with the AIPO study project;

 

HEREBY RESOLVES

 

Urge AIPO members to keep abreast of developments in ASEAN economic integrative cooperation process, especially where its mechanisms and legislative requirements are concerned;

 

Promote greater awareness among legislators in particular and public in general on ASEAN economic integrative cooperation process, as well as the benefits thereof to all ASEAN countries and peoples;

 

Identify the existing obstacles in the implementation of economic commitments, particularly with respect to legal implication, explore ways and means to tackle such obstacles, and recommend necessary measures to the appropriate authorities for consideration and implementation;

Call on ASEAN member countries to fully implement all commitments to the ASEAN economic agreements, especially through the promulgation and the harmonization of necessary laws and regulations, so that ASEAN economic integrative cooperation will be realized for the common good of the region;

 

Establish an AIPO network system to foster exchanges of legislative information, coordinate parliamentary monitoring and supervision activities, and develop modal laws for ASEAN economic liberalization and effective economic cooperation;

 

Encourage AIPO to continue further and more comprehensive studies of all the legal issues relevant to the ASEAN economic integration process and assign the Thai National Group to continue the AIPO study project thereof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 1 – 6, 1997, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. RES.18.GA/97/E/11

OF THE EIGHTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASEAN COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS IN FINANCIAL MARKETS

 

The Eighteenth General Assembly;

 

NOTING that the recent turmoil in the foreign exchange markets of Asia and elsewhere underscores the need to enhance cooperation among ASEAN countries to safeguard the region’s financial system;

 

REALIZING that the existing cooperative measures among Asian countries meant to stabilizing financial markets need to be further strengthened;

 

RECOGNIZING the need for ASEAN countries to unite in the effort to ensure that our financial system is protected from unjustified monetary upheavals;

 

NOTING that in the Thirtieth Ministerial Meeting held in Malaysia last July 24 – 25, 1997, the foreign ministers of ASEAN expressed serious concern over well coordinated efforts to destabilize ASEAN currencies for self-serving purposes, thus threatening the stability of all ASEAN economies.

 

RECOGNIZING that ASEAN must unite in the effort to promote ASEAN’s interest against the self-serving manipulation in the region’s financial markets;

 

 

 

 

DO THEREBY RESOLVES TO:

 

 

1.         CALL ON all AIPO members to deepen the existing cooperative measures for the purposes of strengthening the region’s financial system against monetary upheavals and any efforts to destabilize ASEAN currencies for self-serving purposes;

 

2.         AUTHORIZE the Philippines National Group to undertake further studies on various measures to strengthen ASEAN cooperative arrangements in financial markets to include but not limited to the following:

a.      Strengthening the existing framework for consultation and exchange of information among the region’s financial regulators ad supervisors.

b.      Adopting common policies for the development of the financial and capital markets in the ASEAN member countries.

c.      Enhancing the institutional capabilities of the financial regulators and supervisors of the countries in ASEAN to strengthen systems.

d.      Consider the feasibility and timeliness of setting up a regional central monetary body.

 

3.         AUTHORIZE the Philippines National Group to host an Ad-Hoc Committee Meeting to discuss the foregoing as well as other measures that will strengthen and improve ASEAN cooperative arrangements in financial markets and report the result in the next AIPO General Assembly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

16^th – 21^st September 1996, Phuket, Thailand

 

RES. 17GA/1.1

RESOLUTION

OF THE SEVENTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

WORLD AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

 

The Seventeenth General Assembly;

 

Aware of the increasing globalization and liberalization of the world economy;

 

Recognizing that the full implementation of the Uruguay Round will liberalize trade resulting in economic efficiency and a country comparative advantages;

 

Aware that the Asia-pacific region is attracting worldwide attention as the most dynamic region of the world for its remarkable economic development, culture, religion and languages;

 

Recognizing that due to the increase in economic exchanges in trade and investment, the region is experiencing rapidly deepening regional interaction and cooperation beyond national borders;

 

Recalling, with pride, that the framework of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region is exemplified by the adoption of the Bogor Declaration at the Conference in November 1994, of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum and the Osaka Action Agenda at the APEC Leaders Meeting in Osaka, Japan in November 1995;

 

Recalling, further, that the Bogor Declaration designated as goals the liberalization of trade and investment and the promotion of development cooperation; while the Osaka Action Agenda is aimed at putting the Bogor Declaration into practice;

 

Aware of the intensive preparation being undertake by the Philippines to make the forthcoming APEC Summit to be held in Subic Bay in November 1996 a fruitful and successful one;

 

Recognizing the role that the East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) can play as a forum for enlarging ASEAN’s linkages with the new and emerging markets of East Asia;

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noting with satisfaction the success of the initiatives of ASEAN in regional cooperation exemplified by the designation of growth areas for investments and development such as the East Asia Growth (EAGA); Indonesia, Malaysia Growth Triangle (IMT-GT); the Growth Triangles;

 

Resolves to:

 

Urge APEC member economies to intensify efforts so that APEC will become a model for an “open regional cooperation” that can supplement and reinforce the multilateral free trade system;

 

Recognize current developments in the area of trade liberalization and facilitation in APEC;

 

Call on all APEC member economies to intensify development cooperation efforts in the field of development of human resources, industry, science and technology, energy, small and medium-sized enterprises, transportation and communications in order to narrow the differences in levels of economic development and further vitalize the economy in the Asia-Pacific Region.

 

 

Congratulate Japan for its successful hosting of the APEC Meetings in 1995 and encourage and support the Philippines to carry on with its outoing preparation for the APEC Annual Meeting in November, 1996;

 

Urge and support the early realization of the EAEC so as to expand ASEAN’s linkages to the new and emerging markets of East Asia;

 

Call on the ASEAN member countries to fully support the economic development of the EAEG, IMT-GT, the Growth Triangles, and other identified growth areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

16^th – 21^st September 1996, Phuket, Thailand

RES. 17GA/1.2

RESOLUTION

OF THE SEVENTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA

 

The Seventeenth General Assembly;

Recalling that the Heads of State and Governments of ASEAN, convinced that ASEAN cooperation is vital to the well-being of their peoples, unequivocally declared at their Fourth Summit Meeting held in Singapore on 28 January 1992 that ASEAN must move towards a higher plane of political, security, and economic cooperation to ensure regional peace, progress and prosperity;

 

Recalling also that in the field of economic cooperation, tariff and non-tariff barriers are impediments to intra-ASEAN trade and that the ASEAN member countries agreed to establish the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) using Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme as the main mechanism within a time frame between 15 years beginning 1 January 1993 with the final effective tariffs ranging from 0 to 5%;

 

Recognizing that the Fifth ASEAN Summit marks a significant step towards ASEAN’s economic integration as ASEAN agreed to the full implementation of AFTA within 10 years (2003) instead of the original timeframe of 15 years (2008), and as the decision made by the 28^th AEM Meeting in Jakarta to reduce the overall tariffs of merchandized goods for high trade value into the 0-5 % category by the year 2000 or to 0 % by the year 2003 on voluntary basis;

 

Noting that the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme for AFTA includes a provision for ASEAN member countries to implement measures necessary for the protection of national security, public morals, human, animal or plant life and health;

 

Noting that since the implementation  of the CEPT for AFTA, intra-ASEAN exports for products under the CEPT Scheme has grown rapidly as demonstrated by the 21% increase in export value during 1994-95;

 

Aware of ASEAN’s commitment towards the realization of AFTA by 1^st January 2003 as agreed by the Leaders at the Fifth ASEAN Summit in Bangkok;

 

Convinced that the realization of AFTA will contribute towards trade and investment liberalization at the global and regional level;

 

Realizing that AIPO could complement intra-ASEAN economic cooperation and trade liberalization by providing guidelines for the member countries to expand its legislative related activities and adjust their laws and regulations to facilitate free flows of goods, investments, and transfer of technology;

Recalling and endorsing Resolution No.16GA/95/03 urging that the laws of the ASEAN member countries related to or having an impact on the implementation of AFTA which have been compiled and indexed be made readily available to the business community and the general public and that these laws be recommended for study by future member countries of ASEAN in order for them to be aware of the relevant laws in the other ASEAN member countries;

 

Resolves to:

 

Urge ASEAN member countries to further hasten the establishment of ASEAN Free Trade Area to cope with the increasing globalization and liberalization process of the world economy and the unprecedented growth of the regional groupings as well as to further expand intra-ASEAN trade;

 

Reiterate the call on all ASEAN member countries to include more products such as unprocessed agricultural products in the CEPT Scheme and to phase out all the products in the Temporary Exclusion List and the Sensitive List by 2003 and 2010 respectively;

 

Further call on all ASEAN governments to accelerate harmonization of customs procedures, tariff nomenclature and standards, as well as to intensify efforts to remove non-tariff barriers;

 

Recommend that an Ad-Hoc Committee be established to study ways and means to harmonize laws to effectively strengthen and further promote intra-ASEAN economic cooperation and trade liberalization in line with AFTA and the World Trade Organization.

 

 

 

 

 

17^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

16^th – 21^st September 1996, Phuket, Thailand

RES. 17GA/1.3

RESOLUTION

OF THE SEVENTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASEAN-MEKONG BASIN DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

 

The Seventeenth General Assembly;

Recalling the Fifth ASEAN Summit which discussed the ASEAN Cooperation with the Mekong Riparian States and noting the importance attached by the ASEAN Heads of Governments to the issue;

 

Noting with satisfaction the success of the First and Second Meeting of the senior officials from ASEAN and the Mekong Riparian States on 23 – 24 May and 14 – 15 June 1996 in Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, respectively, and the Ministerial Meeting on ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation held on 17 June, 1996 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;

 

Realizing that the great economic potential of the Mekong River, if properly developed and managed, would contribute immensely to the economic growth of the ASEAN and the Riparian States region;

 

Realizing further that closer cooperation among the ASEAN countries and the Mekong Riparian States would strengthen the interconnections and economic linkages between the two regions;

 

Reaffirming the Basic Framework of the ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation adopted during the Ministerial Meeting on ASEAN-Mekong basin Development Cooperation held in Kuala Lumpur on 17 June 1996, which outlines the objectives and the underlying principles on cooperation in the development of the Mekong Basin;

 

Supporting the formation of the ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation as a basis for the economic integration of Southeast Asia into one closely-connected region, as well as to provide an important link between Southeast Asia and East Asia;

 

Resolves to:

Welcome and support the ASEAN-Mekong basin Development Cooperation and look forward to the closer economic cooperation mutually beneficial to both the ASEAN member countries and the Mekong Riparian States; and

 

 

 

Call upon the Governments of the ASEAN member countries and the participating Mekong Riparian States to adhere to the objectives, principles and concepts of the Basic Framework of ASEAN-Mekong basin Development Cooperation adopted during the Ministerial Meeting on ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation held on 17 June 1996 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

17^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

16^th – 21^st September 1996, Phuket, Thailand

RES. 17GA/1.4

RESOLUTION

OF THE SEVENTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASEAN COOPERATION ON TOURISM

 

The Seventeenth General Assembly;

 

Recalling Resolution No. 16GA/95/31 adopted by the 16^th AIPO General Assembly Establishing an Ad-hoc Committee on ASEAN laws Related to Tourism to promote mutual understanding and exchange of information on tourism laws and regulations of the ASEAN member countries;

 

Emphasizing The significance of tourism as an integral industry which generates cross-flows of foreign exchange, promotes better understanding among people, and fosters cultural exchanges;

 

Realizing that tourism is the main vehicle for interpersonal relations and political, economic and cultural contacts, as well as a ground for life improvement in contemporary society;

 

Noting with satisfaction the AIPO Ad-hoc Committee Meeting on ASEAN Laws Related to Tourism held at Banyan Tree Laguna Hotel, Phuket, Thailand, on July 8^th 1996;

 

Adopting the Draft Resolution on ASEAN Tourism Co-operation submitted by the AIPO Ad-Hoc Committee Meeting on ASEAN Laws Related to Tourism;

 

Recognizing the concerns of ASEAN, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the World Tourism Organization on un integrated and unsustainable tourism developments, and their negative impacts on the quality of life of the peoples;

 

Affirming the promotion of tourism as a strategy for the establishment of a strong commitment to cooperation and understanding among ASEAN countries to maintain peace and ensure security and stability in the region;

 

Resolves to:

 

Urge AIPO to take lead in encouraging the Governments of ASEAN member countries, and coordinating with ASEAN mechanism at all levels, to explore ways and means to implement the Ad-Hoc Committee’s recommendations, particularly with regards to integrated tourism development, intergovernmental and intersectoral as well as ASEAN citizens’ participation in tourism planning and promotion, and the facilitation of intra-ASEAN travels;

 

Call upon ASEAN, as a geographical unit, to look for possible expansion of cooperation and assistance in tourism for potential members of ASEAN, the other Southeast Asian countries, and the immediate contiguous region;

 

Endorse the recommendation in Resolution 16GA/95/03 on Laws of ASEAN Member States Related to or Having an Impact on the Implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), and reaffirm that they be used as the requisite for the AIPO Secretariat to implement this Ad-Hoc Committee’s Resolution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

16^th – 21^st September 1996, Phuket, Thailand

RES. 17GA/1.5

RESOLUTION

OF THE SEVENTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASIA – EUROPE MEETING (ASEM)

 

The Seventeenth General Assembly;

 

Noting with satisfaction the success of the first historic summit between the 26 leaders of Asia and Europe held on March 1 and 2, 1996 in Bangkok, Thailand, in bridging the missing link at the highest level which resulted in the numerous proposals by the leaders aimed at enhancing Asia-Europe understanding and relations contributing toward the maintenance of global peace, stability and prosperity;

 

Aware that the ASEAM Summit provide an excellent opportunity to foster closer ties between Asia and Europe and to gain better understanding and insight on the social political and economic issues to promote closer cooperation;

 

Resolves to:

 

Urge the ASEM members to hasten the implementation of the follow-up activities so as to maintain the momentum in the leas-up to the ASEAM Foreign Ministers Meeting in Singapore in February 1997 and thereafter to the second ASEM in the UK in 1998;

 

Further urge the policy-makers and officials of the participating countries of ASEAN to strengthen the economic relations between the two regions through greater trade and investment liberalization and facilitation;

 

Encourage increased people-to-people contacts through cultural and intellectual exchange between the two regions;

 

Recognize the supporting role the national and regional parliaments in the ASEM economic process as an exerting influence in furthering the follow-up activities initiatives by all member countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

16^th – 21^st September 1996, Phuket, Thailand

RES. 17GA/1.6

RESOLUTION

OF THE SEVENTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

 

The Seventeenth General Assembly;

 

Recognizing the importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system for the continued economic dynamism of ASEAN, and ASEAN’s contribution to maintaining the usefulness and relevance of the multilateral trading system;

 

Realizing that the objective of the WTO is to continue to work towards freer trade and investment which will in turn encourage greater trade, investment and job creation, and result in higher standards of living, while allowing for the optimal use of the world resources in accordance with the objective of sustainable development;

 

Recognizing that the full implementation of the Uruguay Round will have the effect of liberalizing trade in goods and services;

 

Resolves to:

 

Full support Singapore in its hosting of the inaugural WTO Ministerial Conference in December 1996;

 

Urge all ASEAN member countries of the WTO to ensure the success of the Singapore Ministerial Conference (SMC), as this being an inaugural event is especially important in setting the pace and tone for the future work program of the WTO;

 

Urge ASEAN member countries and all WTO members to critically review the implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements and call on all signatories to implement their Uruguay Round commitments fully, faithfully and in a timely manner;

 

Reaffirm the commitment to pursue further the work program build into the Uruguay Round Agreements and to observe strictly the timetables provided therein;

 

Recognize that the work program of the WTO should be balances, non-discriminatory and transparent and should take into consideration the different levels of development of countries and should also work towards sustainable development;

 

 

 

Reiterate that ASEAN member countries object to the inclusion of issues which are extraneous to trade at the SMC;

 

Affirm the co-operation with other relevant institutions such as UNCTAD to alleviate the problem of marginalization faced by some Least Developing Countries.

 

Call for the early accession of countries which have applied for WTO membership, especially the large economies, such as China and Russia, in order to underline the importance and desirability of universal membership in the WTO so as to provide stability and predictability in trading relations in an increasingly interlinked global economy;

 

Support Vietnman’s application to be a member of the WTO and its early accession in order to ensure the full participation of ASEAN member countries is such international for a;

 

Congratulate Thailand on its selection to host UNCTAD X in the year 2000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

16^th – 21^st September 1996, Phuket, Thailand

RES.17GA/2.1.

Resolution on

ASEAN Tourism Co-operation

 

The Seventeenth General Assembly;

 

Recalling Resolution No. 16GA/95//31 adopted by the 16^th AIPO General Assembly establishing an Ad Hoc Committee on ASEAN Laws Related to Tourism to promote mutual understanding and exchange of information on tourism laws of the ASEAN member countries;

 

Noting that tourism is the main vehicle for interpersonal relations and political, economic and cultural contacts, as well as a ground for life improvement in contemporary society;

 

Realizing that problems of tourism often pose a challenge to the physical environment, cultural heritage, and human conditions of the destination countries which need to be urgently resolve;

 

Underscoring the concerns of ASEAN, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the World Tourism Organization on unintegrated and unsustainable tourism developments, and their negative impacts on the qualities of life of the peoples;

 

Reiterating that a viable tourism promotion policy should reflect the overall image of a destination such as local cultures, religions, and traditions rather than its tourism interests alone, be decentralized and multidisciplinary, and foster a balanced intergovernmental, intersectoral, and intra as well as extra-regional partnership and peace;

 

Rediterating further that tourism should not be calculated solely for income generation and that human aspects and environmental considerations should be integral to any sustainable tourism development;

 

Reaffirming the outstanding ASEAN directives and programs to promote the region as a tourist destination and stressing that these ASEAN commitments to tourism be effectively implemented by all the member countries;

 

 

 

Commending the efforts of the ASEAN member countries at various ASEAN levels and at the AIPO General Assemblies, to promote intra and extra ASEAN tourism, liberalize intra-ASEAN travels, and increase ASEAN tourism competitiveness overseas;

 

Cautioning that the non-existence of an ASEAN level tourism body with cler-cut mandate, decision-making authority, as well as a mechanism to formulate and implement ASEAN policies on tourism is an impediment to ASEAN’s current collective efforts at tourism promotion;

 

Emphasising that there is a real need for ASEAN to focus more attention on research and exchange of information in regard to the legal impediments and unpropitious implications to tourism development that my derive from different levels of tourism laws in each of the member countries;

 

Taking note with appreciation and welcoming the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on ASEAN Laws Related to Tourism on the legislative measures to resolve problems on tourism currently confronting ASEAN, and to promote a broad scale and integrated ASEAN tourism promotion and development;

 

Hereby resolves to:

 

Urge AIPO to take the lead in encouraging the Governments of ASEAN member countries, and coordination with ASEAN mechanisms at all levels, to explore ways and means to implement the Ad-Hoc Committee’s recommendations, particularly with regards to integrated tourism development, intergovernmental and inter sectoral as well as ASEAN citizens’ participations in tourism planning and promotion, and the facilitation of intra-ASEAN travels;

 

Further urge that ASEAN, in close consultation with AIPO and ASEAN national parliaments, introduces parliamentary dimension into ASEAN tourism; with particular emphasis on sustainable tourism development; decentralization of ASEAN tourism promotion, protection and insurance of properties and rights of tourists and tour operations; and liberalization of ASEAN tourism sector in conformity with the directives of the Fifth ASEAN Summit, the requirements of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as the guidelines of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), in order to increase ASEAN’s competitiveness in world tourism market and its attractiveness for intra-ASEAN travel;

 

Recommend that ASEAN establish a decentralized, multidisciplinary, and inter ministerial ASEAN tourism body, empowered with a mandate to initiate, formulate, coordinate, and executive ASEAN overall tourism policies and programs as well as development and promotion, and oversee their implementation and supervise their sources of funding;

 

Call upon ASEAN as a geographical unit, to look for possible expansion of cooperation and assistance in tourism for potential members of ASEAN, the other Southeast Asian countries, and the immediate contiguous region;

 

Endorse the recommendations in resolution 16GA/95/03 on Laws of ASEAN Member States Related to or Having an Impact on the Implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), and reaffirm that they be used as the requisite for the AIPO Secretariat to implement this Ad Hoc Committee’s Resolution; and

 

Request the Thai AIPO National Group on rotational basis to coordinate’s AIPO efforts in the promotion of tourism in the ASEAN region in cooperation with other ASEAN mechanisms at all levels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—————————-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16^th ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

18 – 23 September 1995, Singapore

 

RES.16GA/95/03

RESOLUTION

ON

LAWS OF ASEAN MEMBER STATES RELATED TO OR

HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA (AFTA)

The Sixteenth General Assembly;

 

Recalling Resolution No. 15GA/94 Res-0-7 adopted by the 15^th AIPO General Assembly establishing an Ad Hoc Committee to promote mutual understanding of an the exchange of information on the laws of ASEAN Member States related to or having an impact on AFTA;

 

Affirming the need for strengthening intra-ASEAN economic cooperation in view of the rapid and pervasive changes in the international political and economic environment, and the consequent challenges and opportunities;

 

Noting the importance of the realisation of free trade within ASEAN;

 

Affirming also the need to extend the spirit of friendship and cooperation among ASEAN Member States to other countries in the region and beyond which would contribute to the overall economic development of the Member States and the region;

 

Recognising the need to promote mutual understanding of and the exchange of information on the laws of ASEAN Member States related to or having an impact on

the implementation of AFTA;

 

Recognising that there is a need for the business community of the ASEAN Member States to know and understand the laws in all the ASEAN Member States relating to AFTA for the successful implementation thereof;

 

Being aware that potential future members of ASEAN would also be assisted by the availability of a full set of laws related to AFTA in the formulation of their own laws to effect AFTA;

 

Having studied the various laws of ASEAN Member States related to the implementation of AFTA;

 

Hereby recommends:

 

That the laws of the ASEAN Member States related to or having an impact on the implementation of AFTA which have been compiled and indexed be made readily available to the business community and the general public

 

That these laws be recommended for study by future Member States of ASEAN in order for them to be aware of the relevant laws in the other ASEAN Member states;

 

That the compilation of these laws be periodically updated by the AIPO Secretariat in order for them to be of use and relevance to the business community and the general public;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16^th ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

18 – 23 September 1995, Singapore

RES.16GA/95/08

RESOLUTION

ON

WORLD AND REGIONAL OUTLOOK

The Sixteenth General Assembly;

 

Aware that economic liberalisation and the reduction of trade barriers are rapidly redefining a globalising world economy;

 

Aware that ASEAN cannot thrive and prosper in isolation and should strive to be linked to economies of North America, European Union, Japan and the fast growing economies of the Asia Pacific and the rest of the world;

 

Recognising that for ASEAN to remain competitive, relevant and useful to the international community, ASEAN must play a pro-active role in regional and international for a such as APEC and the WTO to help steer these organisations in the direction of free trade and investment liberalisation;

 

Recognising that the full implementation of the Uruguay Round will have the effect of liberalising trade in goods and services;

 

Realising that trade liberalisation results in potential benefits, including the improvements that lower prices will give consumers, and the gains in economic efficiency that will result from trade patterns conforming more closely to a country’s comparative advantage;

 

Realising further that there is a link between trade and investment in that trade liberalisation will reduce the cost of capital and improve market access, and hence, encourage investment;

 

Resolves to:

 

1.                  Welcome the establishment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and expecting the WTO to play a significant role in realising and implementing justice and adhering to the principle of non-discrimination and transparency in international trade practices;

 

2.                  Uphold the principles of multilateral free trade through the WTO mechanism, thereby further enhancing the role of the WTO in liberalising trade in goods and services;

 

3.                  Urge all Contracting Parties to the WTO to retain their best offers on a Most Favoured Nation (MFN) basis so as to ensure a successful new round of multilateral trade negotiations and to remove all linkages of trade matters to non-trade related issues such as human rights and labour standards;

 

4.                  Call on all ASEAN Member Countries to reaffirm their commitment to the principle of free trade by liberalising their market further and continuing with their efforts in bringing down trade barriers in accordance with their commitments and the provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreements;

 

5.                  Urge the timely accession of major trading countries and economies to the WTO and call on all signatories to implement their Uruguay Round commitments in a fruitful and timely manner;

 

 

 

 

6.                  Congratulate and fully support Singapore on its selection as host of the First WTO Ministerial Review Conference in 1996, and Chairmanship of the WTO’s General Council; Malaysia on its Chairmanship of the WTO’s Committee on Trade and Development; and Thailand on its Chairmanship of the WTO’s Committee on Agriculture;

 

7.                  Support Vietnam’s application as a full member of the WTO and APEC as soon as possible in order to broaden ASEAN’s participation in such international for a;

 

8.                  Welcome all forms of open regional economic arrangements, that augment complementarity and mutual benefits, and eagerly await the successful conclusion of the APEC Leaders ‘ and Ministerial meetings to be held in Osaka in November 1995;

 

9. Ensure a credible and concrete Osaka Action Agenda in order to maintain the momentum set in the 1994 Bogor Declaration and at the same time paving the way for APEC under the Chairmanship of the Philippines in 1996; and

10. Support the early realisation of the East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) so as to expand ASEAN’s linkages to the new and emerging markets of East Asia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16^th ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

18 – 23 September 1995, Singapore

RES.16GA/95/09

RESOLUTION

ON

ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF ASEAN WITH OTHER REGIONS

The Sixteenth General Assembly;

 

Convinced that one of the vital means of achieving the ultimate goals of unity, solidarity, understanding and cooperation between ASEAN countries, and also with other countries in the world, and the promotion of the region’s prosperity, is the promotion of economic relations between ASEAN and other regions;

 

Noting that the Dialogue process has acquired greater importance in promoting a better understating of issues brought about by rapid changes in the world environment;

 

Nothing further that development cooperation projects with Dialogue Partners are increasingly directed at promoting economic and commercial objectives;

 

Expressing the belief that ASEAN’s rapidly expanding market, with its dynamic demand potential for consumer goods, capital equipment, and technological expertise, together with its productive potential, to a large part, account for the increasing interest of other regions in establishing and furthering relations with ASEAN;

 

 

 

Realizing that ASEAN is more effective in articulating its interests at international for a on issues such as market access, the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), development cooperation, and environmental issues through the dialogue process;

 

Aware of the latest ASEAN Economic Ministers’ consultative meeting with the Ministers from Australia and New Zealand (CER);

 

Recognising that enhanced relations between ASEAN and CER countries could bring about cooperative partnership between companies from both regions or in third countries like China and those in new markets in Indochina;

 

Deploring the efforts of developed countries to impose terms and conditions linking non-trade matters to trade and development issues;

Resolves to:

 

1.                  Welcome and support the establishment of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and look forward to the first meeting of ASEM in March 1996 at Bangkok;

 

2.                  Urge ASEAN member countries to further their economic cooperation with each other and with other countries so as to establish and maintain the fundamental conditions of which economic development is dependent;

 

3.                  Call on the governments of other countries to assist this development by liberalising access to their markers through reducing at eliminating non-tariff barriers to trade;

 

4.                  Encourage ASEAN to develop and promote a continuing economic cooperation countries, by sustaining dialogues with other countries on the principles of fairness and reciprocity;

 

5.                  Encourage ASEAN to maintain the momentum established at the inaugural meeting of the ASEAN and CER members on 9 September 95 in Brunei and continue to build upon common areas of interest and to identify further areas of cooperation to strength the AFTA-CER linkage thereby providing tangible benefits to both regions;

 

6.                  Urge ASEAN to explore the possibility of further linkages with other regional economic groupings like the European Union (EU) and the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA); and

 

7.                  Call upon ASEAN to oppose any attempts by developed countries to link labour standards with international trade and non-trade concerns such as their definitions of human rights, labour standards, and other social and environmental matters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16^th ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

18 – 23 September 1995, Singapore

RES.16GA/95/10

RESOLUTION

ON

INTRA-ASEAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Sixteenth General Assembly;

Convinced that ASEAN’s economic prosperity is dependent on economic cooperation between ASEAN members;

 

Noting with satisfaction the successful implementation of the Singapore Declaration of 1992 which marked the region’s determination to intensify and enhance economic cooperation;

 

Reaffirming the Framework Agreement on enhancing ASEAN Economic Cooperation signed in Singapore on 28^th January 1992, which enhances the stability and prosperity of the region by furthering ASEAN economic cooperation and supporting the economic growth and development of all member states;

 

Aware of the importance of harmonising standards and customs valuations, so as to promote and facilitate trade between member countries;

 

Further aware of the importance of the private sector’s role in generating value-added, creating employment and fostering closer economic cooperation;

 

Determined to accelerate the liberalisation of intra-ASEAN trade and investment, through the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), in order to further enhance the economic growth of the region;

 

Bearing in mind the Report of the 5^th AFTA Council to the 26^th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting on the CEPT Scheme;

 

Determined to accelerate the liberalisation of intra-ASEAN trade and investment, through the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), in order to further enhance the economic growth of the region;

 

Recognising that economic cooperation should go beyond trade in goods to include other areas of economic cooperation such as Services, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Manufacturing and Investments;

 

Noting the progress of ASEAN economic cooperation in areas such as food and agriculture, energy, transportation, and communications;

 

Supporting the formation of sub-regional growth areas to encourage greater regional economic cooperation;

 

Resolves to:

 

1.                  Welcome and full support the admission of Vietnam into ASEAN, and look forward to an extended period of mutually beneficial economic cooperation;

 

2.                  Urge ASEAN countries to further hasten the establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), using the Common Effective Preferential Trade (CEPT) scheme as the main mechanism;

 

3.                  Further urge ASEAN members to strengthen economic cooperation by including more products into the CEPT and by keeping the products in the Temporary Exclusion List and the Sensitive List to a minimum, as well as to hasten the implementation of the CEPT scheme on a timely basis to provide the needed environment of stability and predictability to the business sector;

 

4.                  Call upon ASEAN members to accelerate harmonisation of customs procedures, tariff nomenclature and standards, and to intensify their efforts to remove non-tariff barriers in order to further accelerate growth in intra-ASEAN trade;

 

5.                  Call upon member countries to adhere to the principles, concepts and ideals of the Framework Agreement on Enhancing ASEAN Economic Cooperation signed in Singapore on 20^th January 1992;

 

6.                  Call on ASEAN member countries to reaffirm their commitments to the timeframe on the implementation of the CEPT Scheme for the AFTA be reduced from 15 years to  10 years to be completed by 31 December 2002;

 

7.                  Encourage the ASEAN private sector to make reference to the compilation by AIPO on “ASEAN Laws Relating to or Having an Impact on the CEPT scheme for AFTA” to guide them in their business activities within ASEAN;

 

8.                  Support the formation of sub-regional growth areas as enunciated in the Singapore Declaration of 1992 and further facilitate the private sector to play a lead role in realising the benefits of such cooperation;

 

9.                  Support the establishment of working groups which will undertake technical work in the areas of economic cooperation in Food and Agriculture, Energy, and Transport and Communications, to make them compatible with AFTA in particular and the world in general; and

 

10.              Encourage member countries to further the course of exploring economic linkages with regional economic grouping, with the view to expanding business opportunities and committing to the concept of “open regionalism”.

 

16^th ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

18 – 23 September 1995, Singapore

RES.16GA/95/25

RESOLUTION

ON

ASEAN FOOD SECURITY AGREEMENT

The Sixteenth General Assembly;

 

Noting the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Agreement forged in 1979 between the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore and later with Brunei Darussalam, which initially established a “rice pool” of 50,000 MT to help any member country encountering an emergency situation;

 

Considering that the entry of Vietnam has further strengthened ASEAN’s capability in food production, especially on rice;

 

Viewing with deep concern that the increasing global food shortage problem is often associated with problems of logistics and distribution, among others;

 

Aware that inadequate food supply hampers the economic development and social progress of the country concerned;

 

 

 

 

 

Resolves to:

 

1.                  Encourage ASEAN member countries to take the necessary steps to avert the escalation of food supply problem that might endanger the security and stability of a member country, including efforts to improve food storage, distribution, handling and transportation;

 

 

 

2.                  Urge ASEAN member countries to focus their collective efforts and resources towards the development of agriculture in the ASEAN region to fuel the industrialisation of ASEAN economies while protecting the sustainability of ASEAN resource base;

 

3.                  Further urge ASEAN member countries to undertake an immediate review of the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Agreement to make it responsive to the needs, inter alia, the level of stockpile and the range of food items where appropriate, of the original community in the event of a food crisis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16^th ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

18 – 23 September 1995, Singapore

RES.16GA/95/29

RESOLUTION

ON

ASEAN COOPERATION ON TOURISM

The Sixteenth General Assembly;

 

 

Recognising that the success of the Visit ASEAN Year 1992 is generating unprecedented opportunities for ASEAN to enhance its world image as a tourist destination;

 

Realising the need for a continuous programme to promote ASEAN as a tourist destination similar to that being done in other regions;

 

Realising further the benefits of promoting tourism within and outside the region;

 

Resolves to:

 

1.                  Urge the ASEAN Governments to promote tourism by removing all impediment restricting  travel within ASEAN;

 

2.                  To formulate a vigorous marketing and promotion programme to ensure an effective, competitive positioning of ASEAN as compared to other regions; and

 

3.                  Call on ASEAN Governments to establish and offer a comprehensive tourism package and to promote regional cooperation which shall include, but not limited to, the following:

 

a.                   introducing of the concept of an ASEAN travel document which will allow nationals of ASEAN member countries to travel freely within ASEAN;

 

b.                  reduction and rationalisation of air fares, hotel and telecommunication rates and other tourism-related services to ASEAN nationals;

 

c.                   continued improvement of tourism-related facilities and infrastructure; and

 

d.                  packaging of media and travel programmes promoting ASEAN as a competitive tourism destination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

15^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

Manila, Philippines, September 19 – 24, 1994

RESOLUTION NO. 15GA/94/RES-E-1

OF THE FIFTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

WORLD AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

The Fifteenth General Assembly;

 

Aware of the globalization of the world economy and the accompanying economic liberalization and removal of trade barriers;

 

Cognizant of the doubts and fears of some quarters concerning the perceived disadvantage that may arise from the full implementation of the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) more particularly, from those who currently enjoy concessional access to protected markets and also those who believe that economic growth will exacerbate environmental damage;

 

Realizing however, that potential benefits from trade liberalization include the gains that consumers enjoy from lower princes and the improvements in economic efficiency that occur when trade is more closely aligned with a country’s comparative advantage;

 

Realizing further that trade liberalization encourages investment directly though reduction of the cost of capital and improving market access;

 

Resolves to:

 

 

1.                  Welcome the conclusion of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in December 1992 and the subsequent signing of the GATT in April 1994;

 

2.                  Welcome further the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to replace the GATT, while taking into consideration the apprehensions of some quarters regarding the effect on the environment of liberalization of world trade and the disadvantages that may befall some sectors, particularly the agricultural sector, arising from the removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers;

 

3.                  Strongly support the offer of Singapore to host the First WTO Ministerial Review Conference in 1996 and Thailand’s candidacy as Chairman of the WTO’s Committee on Agriculture;

 

4.                  Congratulate and fully support Indonesia on her Chairmanship of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting and the APEC Ministerial Meeting to be held in Indonesia in November 1994;

 

5.                  Welcome all form of regional and global economic cooperation scheme to enhance complementation and mutual benefits; and call upon the parliaments and governments of large consumers of timber to consider schemes such as debt-for nature swaps in favour of ASEAN member countries to help reforest Asia’s denuded forests as a parallel formula for debt relief.

 

Adopted, this 23^rd day of September, 1994, Manila, Philippines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

15^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

Manila, Philippines, September 19 – 24, 1994

RESOLUTION NO. 15GA/94/RES-E-2

OF THE FIFTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

INTRA-ASEAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION

The Fifteenth General Assembly;

 

Convinced that economic cooperation between the ASEAN member countries is one of the vital means of promoting the region’s economic prosperity;

 

Noting with satisfaction the Singapore Declaration of 1992 which marked the commitment to intensify economic cooperation in the entire region;

 

Reaffirming the Framework Agreement on Enhancing ASEAN Economic Cooperation signed in Singapore on 28 January 1992 that enhances intra-ASEAN economic cooperation and sustains the economic growth and development of all member states which are essential to the stability and prosperity of the Region;

 

Aware of the progress in industrial complementation under the ASEAN Industrial Joint Venture (AIJV) Scheme where ASEAN members specialize in the production of specific lines of products by an enterprise;

 

Determined to further cooperate in the economic growth of the region by accelerating the liberalization of intra-ASEAN trade and investment through the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) using the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme;

 

Noting the progress in areas of ASEAN economic cooperation such as food and agriculture, energy, transportation and communications;

 

Supporting the formation of sub-regional growth areas as a mechanism for regional economic cooperation;

 

Recognizing that consultations on issues of common concern among East Asian economies, as and when the need arises, could contribute to expanding cooperation among the region’s economies, and the promotion of an open and free global trading system;

 

 

 

 

Resolves to:

 

1.                  Urge all member countries to strengthen and intensify intra-ASEAN economic cooperation, particularly in participating actively in the AIJVs;

 

2.                  Encourage ASEAN countries to hasten the establishment of ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) using the Common Effective Preferential Trade (CEPT) Scheme;

 

3.                  Call upon member countries to adhere to the principles, concepts and ideals of the Framework Agreement on Enhancing ASEAN Economic Cooperation signed in Singapore on 28 January 1992;

 

4.                  Support the formation of sub-regional growth areas as a mechanism for regional economic cooperation and urge participant countries to form an appropriate committee and to effect specific activities in order to accelerate the formation of the East ASEAN growth area (EAGA) taking into consideration the gains already made by the earlier growth areas already made by the earlier growth areas of the SIJORI Triangle and the Northern Triangle;

 

5.                  Support the establishment of working groups which will undertake technical work in the areas of economic cooperation in Food and Agriculture, Energy and Transport and Communications, to make them compatible with AFTA in particular and global market liberalization in general;

6.                  Encourage member countries to support the study of an appropriate modality that would complete the elaboration of the concept of an East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) with a view to accomplishing its realization.

 

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of September, 1994 at Manila, Philippines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

15^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

Manila, Philippines, September 19 – 24, 1994

RESOLUTION NO. 15GA/94/RES-E-3

OF THE FIFTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF ASEAN WITH OTHER REGIONS

The Fifteenth General Assembly;

 

Convinced that economic relations of ASEAN region with other regions is one of the vital means of promoting the region’s economic prosperity and achieving its ultimate goals of unity, solidarity, understanding and cooperation among ASEAN countries and also with the other countries of the world;

 

 

Expressing the belief that the intensifying interest of other regions in establishing and maintaining relations with ASEAN is due largely to the region’s fast expanding market with a strong potential demand for consumer goods, capital goods and technical skills;

 

Realizing that through the dialogue process, ASEAN continues to articulate its concerns on issues such as market access, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and development cooperation;

 

Deploring the terms and conditionalities imposed by developed countries relating non-trade matters to trade and development issues;

 

Resolves to:

 

1.                  Urge the ASEAN member countries to intensify their economic cooperation and assist one another in creating and maintaining the basic conditions on which economic development thrives;

 

2.                  Call on the governments of other countries to liberalize access to their markets by not imposing non-tariff barriers in their trading relationships;

 

3.                  Encourage the ASEAN member countries to conduct continuing dialogue with other countries on the basis of fairness and reciprocity as well as develop and promote a continuing economic cooperation between them;

 

4.                  Call upon the ASEAN member countries to strongly object to the attempts by the developed countries to link trade and development to non-trade issues such as human rights, labor standards and other social and environmental matters.

 

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of September, 1994 at Manila, Philippines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

15^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

Manila, Philippines, September 19 – 24, 1994

RESOLUTION NO. 15GA/94/RES-E-4

OF THE FIFTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASEAN COOPERATION OF TOURISM

The Fifteenth General Assembly;

 

Recognizing that the success of the Visit ASEAN Year 1992 is generating unprecedented opportunities for ASEAN to enhance its world image as a tourist destination;

 

Realizing the need for a continuous programme to promote ASEAN as a tourist destination similar to that being done in other regions;

 

Realizing further the benefits of promoting tourism within and outside the region;

 

Resolves to :

 

1.      Urge the ASEAN Governments to promote tourism without barriers and restrictions within the context of a vigorous marketing and promotion programme to ensure an effective, competitive positioning of ASEAN as compared to other regions;

 

2.      Call on ASEAN governments to establish and offer a comprehensive tourism package and to promote regional cooperation which shall include, but not limited to, the following;

 

a.       introduction of the concert of an ASEAN travel document which will allow nationals of ASEAN member countries to travel freely within ASEAN;

 

b.      reduction and rationalization of air fares, hotel and telecommunication rates and other tourism related services to ASEAN nationals;

 

c.       continued improvement of tourism related facilities and infrastructure;

 

d.      packaging of media and travel programmes promoting ASEAN as competitive tourist destination.

 

 

Adopted this 23^rd day of September, 1994, at Manila, Philippines.

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

14^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 19 – 26, 1993, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia

Doc.14GA/93-M/Res-E-1

RESOLUTION ON

ECONOMIC MATTERS

RESOLUTION NO. 1

OF THE FOURTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

PROMOTION OF SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION

Realising South-South Cooperation still needs to be further strengthened;

 

Recognising that since the 1980’s the South has been plagued with many serious problems such as external indebtedness, unfavourable terms of trade, depressed prices of commodities and protectionism;

 

Encourages all ASEAN Governments to take concrete policy action towards the realisation of greater South-south Cooperation; and

 

Requests ASEAN Governments within their national priorities, to remove all obstacles, barriers and restrictions and with their resources to assist other developing countries on a bilateral basis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 19 – 26, 1993, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia

Doc.14GA/93-M/Res-E-2

RESOLUTION NO. 2

OF THE FOURTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

EAST ASIA ECONOMIC CAUCUS (EAEC)

 

 

Taking Note of the consensus reached at the 26^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in Singapore from 23^rd to 24^th July, 1993 to from EAEC as a caucus within Asia-Pacific Economy Cooperation (APEC)

 

Confident that the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting in October 1993 in Singapore will determine the most appropriate time to hold the first meeting of EAEC;

 

Request ASEAN Governments to work closely towards its early realisation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 19 – 26, 1993, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia

Doc.14GA/93-M/Res-E-3

RESOLUTION NO. 3

OF THE FOURTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA (AFTA)

 

 

 

Realising that the implementation of the AFTA is progressing well according to the specified schedule;

 

Realising Further that the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) scheme is expected to increase intra-ASEAN trade and encourage investment in the region, and that the creation of AFTA would encourage competitiveness particularly in the manufacturing sector;

 

Calls upon ASEAN Governments to enact needed legislation to hasten the implementation of AFTA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 19 – 26, 1993, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia

Doc.14GA/93-M/Res-E-4

RESOLUTION NO. 4

OF THE FOURTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

SUB-REGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION OR

“GROWTH TRIANGLE”

 

Recognising that the concept of sub-regional economic cooperation of “growth triangle” continue to be a strategic response in the Asia-Pacific region as it copes with the intense global competition for trade, investment and technology amidst towards protectionism;

 

Realising that sub-regional economic cooperation schemes are essentially a manifestation of economic integration across national borders based on rescurce complementarities at sub-regional rather than national levels;

 

Recalling that the 13^th AIPO General Assembly held in Jakarta in September 1992 had adopted the resolution calling for the Eastern Growth Triangle (Eastern Malaysia, Eastern Indonesia and Southern Philippines);

 

Considering the economic initiative which has been presently developed in the Southern Growth Triangle (Singapore, Johore and Riau Islands);

 

Recalling further the proposal mooted by the Malaysian Government in March 1991 for the formation of the Northern Growth Triangle (Northern Malaysia, Northern Sumatra and Southern Thailand);

 

 

 

 

Request ASEAN Governments to expedite the implementation of such growth triangles and to consider broadening the scope of coverage whenever appropriate, to the mutual benefit of all ASEAN countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 19 – 26, 1993, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia

Doc.14GA/93-M/Res-E-5

RESOLUTION NO. 5

OF THE FOURTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

ASEAN COOPERATION ON TOURISM

 

Recognising the success of the Visit ASEAN Year 1992 in generating unprecedented opportunities for ASEAN to enhance its world image as a tourist destination;

 

Realising the need for a continuous programme to promote ASEAN as a tourist destination similar to that being done in other regions;

 

Realising further the benefits of promoting tourism within and outside the region;

 

Urges the ASEAN Governments to promote tourism without barriers and restrictions within the context of a vigorous marketing and promotion tourism programmes to ensure and effective, competitive positioning of ASEAN as compared to other regions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14^th AIPO Working Committee and General Assembly

September 19 – 26, 1993, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia

Doc.14GA/93-M/Res-E-6

RESOLUTION NO. 6

OF THE FOURTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON

THE URUGUAY ROUND

 

Aware that the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiation (UN-MTN) is aimed at reviewing and revising the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT);

 

Awares Further that decisions arrived at during the UR-MTN will have an impact on the ASEAN economics and on the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA);

 

Concerned that the talks which started in 1986 have been stalled to long;

 

Calls on all participants of the UR-MTN to work for the early conclusion of the negotiations; and

 

Urges all ASEAN Governments to continuously consult each other on the developments in the UR-MTN and the appropriate implementation strategies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

THIRTEENTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SEPTEMBER 21 – 26, 1992, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

 

Doc.13GA/92/RES-SE-09

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

EAST ASIA ECONOMIC CAUCUS (EAEC)

 

 

 

 

THE THIRTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY :

 

 

1.         Taking Note of decision of the 4^th ASEAN Summit held in Singapore from 27 – 28 January 1992 and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in Manila 21 – 22 July 1992 on the proposal to establish at East Asia Economics Caucus;

 

2.         Recognizing that consultations on issues of common concern among East Asian economies as and when the need arises, could contribute to expanding cooperation among the region’s economies and the promotion of an open and free global trading system;

 

3.                  Confident that such consultation and cooperation among East Asian economies would stimulate intra-regional trade and greater economic growth;

 

4.         Support the study of an appropriate modality that would complete the elaboration of the concept of EAEC as stipulated at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila on 21 – 22 July 1992, with a view to accomplishing its realization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

THIRTEENTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SEPTEMBER 21 – 26, 1992, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

 

Doc.13GA/92/RES-SE-10

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

EXTERNAL DEBT

 

 

 

 

THE THIRTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY :

 

 

Stressing that the level of external indebtedness has doubled over a decade from approximately US$ 700 billion in 1981 to about US$ 1,400 billion in 1992, and that the burden of debt servicing has caused a major drain on the resources of the developing countries;

 

Emphasizing that even the UNDP, in its 1992 Human Development Report, acknowledged that debt servicing has taken significant resources away from debtor countries;

 

Noting that the recent Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit held in Jakarta on 1 – 6 September 1992 has called for further significant action from certain donors to write-off part of the bilateral official debt owed them by the Least Developed Countries;

 

Noting further that the NAM Summit has also called on Donor Countries to show special consideration to those countries which, despite an adverse external financial situation, have met their debt obligations in a timely fashion;

 

Recognizing that Indonesia has spearheaded initiatives on the debt problem presented at the NAM Summit, as reflected in the NAM Resolution on External Debt;

 

 

Reiterates its full support to the position taken by the Non-Aligned Countries as expressed in the NAM Resolution;

 

Requests ASEAN Government to consult each other closely on the debt issue with a view to achieving one unified stand on the debt problem raised in international fora;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

THIRTEENTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SEPTEMBER 21 – 26, 1992, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

 

Doc.13GA/92/RES-SE-11

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ASIAN COOPERATION ON TOURISM

 

 

 

 

THE THIRTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY :

 

 

Strongly reaffirming the fact that tourism is a powerful and beneficial agent of both economic and social change as it has stimulated employment and investment, modified land use and economic structure, and made a positive contribution to the balance of payments in many countries throughout the world;

 

Recognizing that tourism develops in a climate of peace and security which can be achieved through the joint effort of all states in promoting the reduction of international tension and in developing international cooperation in a spirit of friendship, respect for human rights, understanding, and interdependence;

 

Realizing that the promotion of tourism is a strategy for the establishment of a strong commitment to cooperation and understanding among ASEAN countries to maintain peace, and ensure security and stability in the region;

 

Recalling the Visit ASEAN Year 1992 (VAY ‘92) program, conceived by the ASEAN Head of Governments in consonance with the commemoration of the 25^th anniversary of the founding of the regional group, which, among others, called for the promotion of ASEAN as “the World’s only 6-in-1 Tropical Paradise”.

 

 

 

Noting with satisfaction the success earned by the VAY ‘92 program, having generated unquantifiable positive opportunities for ASEAN to enhance its world image as a competitive tourist destination;

 

Recommends to:

 

Urge the ASEAN Governments to intensify the consolidation of tourism promotional and marketing efforts for the region as a tourist destination even beyond 1992;

 

Urge Further the ASEAN Heads of States to include the importance of tourism in the framework of the extension of ASEAN economic relations with other regions;

 

Call upon all ASEAN Governments to minimize travel harriers and restrictions to promote intra-ASEAN tourism and to remove all obstacles, barriers and restrictions to the free flow of tourists from non ASEAN countries;

 

Encourage all ASEAN Governments to promote the maximization of benefits derived from VAY ‘92’s marketing program to ensure an effective, competitive positioning of the ASEAN vis-à-vis other countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

THIRTEENTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SEPTEMBER 21 – 26, 1992, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

 

Doc.13GA/92/RES-SE-12

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

 

THE THIRTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY :

 

 

 

Realizing the importance of strengthening and/or establishing cooperation with other countries, regional/multinational economic organizations as well as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC);

 

Attaching importance to APEC’s fundamental objective of sustaining the growth and dynamism of the Asia-Pacific region;

 

Recommends the strengthening of Asia Pacific cooperation by engaging in consultative relationships with internal parties from the Asia Pacific region in areas of economic and other concerns between the parties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

THIRTEENTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SEPTEMBER 21 – 26, 1992, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

 

Doc.13GA/92/RES-SE-13

 

RESOLUTION

ON

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA

 

 

 

THE THIRTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY :

 

 

Mindful of the Declaration of ASEAN concord signed in Bali, Indonesia on 24 February 1976 which provides that Member States shall cooperate in the field of trade in order to promote development and growth of new production and trade;

 

Recalling that the ASEAN Heads of Government, as their Third Summit Meeting held in Manila on 13 – 15 December 1987, declared that Member States shall strengthen intra-ASEAN economy to maximize the realization of the region’s potential in trade and development;

 

Noting with satisfaction the adoption of the foregoing thrusts through the Singapore Declaration of 1992 approving the establishment of an ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) using the Common Effective Preferential tariff (CEPT) Scheme as the main mechanism within a time frame of 15 years beginning 1 January 1993 with the ultimate effective tariff ranging from 0% to 5%;

 

Welcomes the establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) within 15 years beginning 1 Januaru 1993 using the CEPT Scheme as the main mechanism;

 

Calla upon Member Parliaments to pass legislation to hasten the establishment of the AFTA.

 

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

THIRTEENTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SEPTEMBER 21 – 26, 1992, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

 

Doc.14GA/92/RES-SE-14

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

COMMON EFFECTIVE PREFERENTIAL TARIFFS (CEPT)

SCHEME

 

 

 

THE THIRTEENTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY :

 

Desiring to enhance intra-ASEAN economic cooperation to sustain the economic growth and development of all Member states which are essential to the stability and prosperity of the region;

 

Adhering to the principles, concepts and ideal of the Framework Agreement on Enhancing ASEAN Economic Cooperation signed in Singapore on 28 January 1992;

 

Convinced that preferential trading arrangements among ASEAN Member States will act as stimulus to the strengthening of national and ASEAN economic resilience, and the development of the national economies of Member States by expanding investment and production opportunities, trade and foreign exchange earnings;

 

Determined to further cooperate in the economic growth of the region by accelerating the liberalization of intra Asean Trade and investment with objective of creating the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) using the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) scheme;

 

Supports the 1992 Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA);

 

 

Calls on ASEAN Parliaments to pass legislation to facilitate the establishment of the AFTA using CEPT Scheme as the main mechanism within a time frame of 15 years beginning 1 January 1993 with the ultimate effective tariffs ranging from 0% to 5%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

TWELFTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

BANGKOK, THAILAND, 18 – 23 NOVEMBER 1991

 

Doc.12GA/92/RES-SE-05

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ECONOMIC RELATIONS

 

 

 

The Twelfth General Assembly:

 

 

1.         MACRO “Economic Outlook”.

 

Reviewing the international economic situation, and noting the increasing interdependence in global economy, as well as the rapid development on economic grouping in various regions;

Expresses concern over the continuation of protectionism and unilateralism in world trade, and slow pace of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, the failure or further prolongation of which will aggravate protectionism and may bring in trade bloc rivalry and regionalism;

Recognizes the significance of the developments in economic integration in Europe and North America, and that the regional liberalisation will facilitate the development of a free and just economic system at the global level, rather than create trade blocs;

Welcomes the progress of the Atlantic Summit in the Hague on 9 November 1991 with regard to the Uruguay Round, and hopes that, with their leaders’ political will, the Summit countries would help bring about an early and meaningful conclusion of the Round;

Emphasizes that the successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round will strengthen the framework for multilateral, free and fair trade order;

Urges all participants, particularly the major economic powers, to show necessary flexibilities in order to achieve balanced, substantial and far-reaching results of the negotiations;

 

Reiterates the importance for the ASEAN Secretariat to procedure a regular ASEAN macro-economic outlook to provide a basis for greater ASEAN macro-economic consultation and cooperation;

 

2. ASEAN’s Cooperation With Outside Economies

 

Encourages the ASEAN Governments to cooperate with other likeminded countries and groupings with a view to promoting common interests and strengthening the international economic order;

Welcomes the success of the Third Ministerial Meeting of APEC in Seoul, 12 – 14 November 1991, during which they adopted the APEC Declaration, agreed that the regional cooperation has reached a stage where a firm foundation for its future development should be established, and recognized the need to consider the possibility of establishing a mechanism on a permanent basis to provide support and coordination after APEC activities at various levels;

Realizes the need for further and closer consultation among East Asian countries such as in the forum of East Asian Economic Caucus (EAEC);

 

3.                  Intra-ASEAN Economic Relations

 

Recognizing that ASEAN must take a bold and innovative approach to strengthen and intensify its economic cooperation to meet challenges in 1990’s;

Welcomes the new initiatives proposed by the ASEAN member countries to strengthen intra-ASEAN economic cooperation, namely, the establishment of an ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme, the “Growth Triangle” concept, and the ASEAN Treaty of Economic Cooperation;

Supports the agreement of the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) at their 23^rd Meeting in Malaysia, 7 – 8 October 1991, to treat the new initiatives as part and parcel of an integrated package towards the creation of a truly liberalised ASEAN market;

 

 

Further supports the agreement of the AEM for a framework agreement to implement the various initiatives for the expansion of ASEAN trade, investment and economic cooperation, to be signed at the 4^th ASEAN Summit scheduled to beheld in Singapore on 27 – 28 January 1992.

Urges the ASEAN Governments to try their utmost in order to reach such a framework agreement which should at least include consensus on the liberalisation of specific meaningful sectors and timeframes thereof and take account of the political developments of the respective ASEAN member countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

TWELFTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

BANGKOK, THAILAND, 18 – 23 NOVEMBER 1991

 

Doc.12GA/92/RES-SE-07

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ASEAN TOURISM COOPERATION

 

 

 

The Twelfth General Assembly:

 

Mindful of the existence of the ASEAN Declaration of the 3 August 1967, the Manila Declaration of 15 December, 1987, which designates 1992, the 25^th Anniversary of ASEAN as the “Visit ASEAN Year”, the ASEAN Declarations, Resolutions and accord on Environment;

Aware that changing global economic and political realities will necessitate a new vision and new directions and that, therefore, there arises the need for an intensified series of efforts to boost further understanding and meaningful cooperation amongst ASEAN countries in order to attain the cherished goal of peace;

Moreover, mindful of the need to preserve the balance in the natural and cultural environments which have become pressing issues of global proportions;

Noting that intra-ASEAN tourist arrivals have materialised into a major share of the ASEAN tourism market, an that developments in Europe, the Middle East as well as in the United States are likely to result in major shifts in tourism to the Asia-pacific and the ASEAN regions;

Furthermore, aware of the ASEAN resolves to ensure economic stability in order to achieve the national goals and ideals in accordance with the aspirations of their peoples;

Recognising that after almost 25 years of ASEAN regional co-operation, ASEAN tourism has played and potentially can play a more significant role in the development of the region and that the need arises to boost ASEAN regional co-operation even further;

 

 

Welcomes the new initiatives proposed by the ASEAN member countries to strengthen and further enhance ASEAN co-operation in the field of tourism to meet the challenges and opportunities in the 1990s;

Commend and supports the efforts of Sub-Committee on Tourism (SCOT) of the ASEAN Committee on Trade and Tourism (COTT), and ASEAN member countries in the preparation for the Visit ASEAN Year 1992 and in implementing various programmes to foster, strengthen and further enhance ASEAN co-operation in the field of tourism;

Expresses its appreciation to the ASEAN National Carriers and the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) and other ASEAN Committees for their positive contributions and support to make the visit ASEAN Year 1992 a success;

Supports the agreement of the Ninth Meeting of the ASEAN Heads of National Tourism Organizations held in Bandung, Indonesia, on 13 January 1992 in providing new visions, initiatives and strategies for the ASEAN Tourism Industry by way of extending the promotion of ASEAN regional as a tourism destination beyond 1992;

Supports the agreement of the ASEAN Heads of National Tourism Organizations in prioritising human resource development as a major focus of ASEAN tourism planning and development;

Supports the agreement of the ASEAN Heads of National Tourism Organisations in according importance to the preservation of ASEAN cultural and environmental heritage to be an integral part of ASEAN tourism development; and

Further Supports the agreement of the ASEAN Heads of National Tourism Organizations to intensify the promotion of intra-ASEAN travel especially among ASEAN youths in order to further strengthen mutual understanding and appreciation among the peoples of member countries;

Urges the ASEAN Heads of Government to make a public statement of support of VAY 1992 at the Fourth ASEAN Summit in January 1992,

Agrees that in the interest of fostering greater goodwill and understanding among the peoples of ASEAN, Government media of ASEAN member countries should intensify their efforts to promote and publicise the region with the view to stimulate intra-ASEAN travel among ASEAN nationals.

 

 

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

ELEVENTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SINGAPORE, 10 – 15 SEPTEMBER 1990

 

RES. 11GA/11 – 90

 

 

RESOLUTION

ON

LONG – TERM GOALS OF ASEAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Eleventh General Assembly:

 

Noting the profound political and economic changes to be faced by the ASEAN Countries such as the rapid and dramatic changes in Europe and the emergence of regional economic arrangements in North America;

 

Recognizing that ASEAN needs to be dynamic to adapt to fast changes and to preserve at all times a clear and unified sense of purpose;

 

Appeals to ASEAN governments to adopt a more flexible and forward looking approach by adopting bold and innovative measures to prepare itself for the challenges of the 90’s:

 

Supports the call for an ASEAN Summit Meeting in Singapore in 1991:

 

Urges :

 

(a)                the ASEAN Secretariat to produce a regular ASEAN Macroeconomic Outlook (AMO).

(b)               the ASEAN governments to explore the viability of joint projects which would enhance the economic growth of the region.

(c)                The ASEAN governments to intensify participation of the private sector in joint projects, in the dialogue process as well as in intra-ASEAN Cooperation.

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

ELEVENTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SINGAPORE, 10 – 15 SEPTEMBER 1990

 

RES. 11GA/12 – 90

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ASEAN INITIATIVE AGAINST TRADE PROTECTIONISM

 

The Eleventh General Assembly:

 

Recalling the Ninth and Tenth General Assembly Resolution on ASEAN Cooperation Against Trade Protectionism;

 

Restating the ASEAN concern over the rising tide of protectionism and other trade restrictive measures instituted by developed countries against ASEAN;

 

Noting with satisfaction ASEAN’s active participation in the ongoing multilateral trade negotiations (Uruguay Round) under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade;

 

Calls upon GATT participating countries to bring about the successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations by December 1990;

 

Urges ASEAN Governments to intensify their collaborative efforts in formulating common approaches to counter trade protectionism;

 

Stresses the importance to all Governments to adopt trade policies that would contribute to greater transparency in international trade by dismantling protectionist, discriminatory and restrictive tariff and non-tariff barriers;

 

Urges the developed countries to refrain from discretionary use of Countervailing Duty and Anti-Dumping Investigations, health-related regulations, environmental concerns and threats of the withdrawal of GSP privileges as forms of trade protectionism.

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

ELEVENTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SINGAPORE, 10 – 15 SEPTEMBER 1990

 

RES. 11GA/13 – 90

 

RESOLUTION

ON

ASIA – PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION

The Eleventh General Assembly:

 

Noting that the enhancement of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation would complement and strengthen the constructive role played by ASEAN;

 

Reiterating that APEC is outward-looking and does not aim to form a trading bloc, while  contributing to further development of the world economy, especially that of the Asia-Pacific region;

 

Noting the Joint Statement issues by the Ministers from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and United States at the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Singapore, 28 – 31 July 1990;

 

Supports the 7 work projects endorsed by the Ministers;

 

Requests the ASEAN governments to work in close collaboration with the private sectors in these projects;

 

Endorses the agreement to ensure a successful conclusion on the Uruguay Round, in order to preserve and enhance the open multilateral trading system on which all the economies depend;

 

Urges that a continuing central theme of APEC, following the completion of the Uruguay Round, should be the promotion of a more open trading system consistent with GATT principles and which are not to the detriment of ASEAN.

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

10^th WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

AUGUST 21 – 26, 1989

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. GA 16 – 89

LONG – TERM GOALS OF ASEAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Tenth General Assembly:

 

Aware that the Third Meeting of the ASEAN Heads of Government in December 1987 set long range targets in the field of ASEAN trade and economic cooperation;

 

Noting the measures and programmes currently being undertaken so that these economic targets agreed on by ASEAN may be realized by the turn of the century;

 

Recognising that much remains to be achieved in the promotion and enhancement of intra-ASEAN trade and economic cooperation notwithstanding improvements on existing cooperation schemes and new initiatives under implementation;

 

Realising that even longer-term goals need to be formulated by ASEAN, taking into account the emergence of strong regional economic blocs in North America and Europe, development trends in the economies of Asia and the Pacific, the larger perspective of the 21^st century and the opportunities and challenges that these present to ASEAN;

 

Mindful that adopting and articulation of concrete, easily understandable, clearly defined long term goals of ASEAN economic cooperation will substantially help in mustering widespread support among the peoples of the member countries and strengthening the political will to achieve such long term goals;

 

Considering the recommendations of the Working Committee;

 

Resolves to:

 

1.                  Appeal to ASEAN Governments to conduct studies on other possible modalities and structures of ASEAN Economic Cooperation;

 

2.                  Urge that such studies identify viable long term goals for ASEAN Economic Cooperation;

 

3.                  Urge further that the topic “Long Term Goals for ASEAN Economic Cooperation” from part of the agenda of the 11^th AIPO General Assembly.

 

Adopted this 26^th day of August 1989, at Manila, Philippines.

 

 

 

 

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

10^th WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

AUGUST 21 – 26, 1989

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. GA 17 – 89

ASEAN-EC ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Tenth General Assembly:

 

Reaffirming the resolution of the 9^th AIPO Meeting and convinced of the mutual benefit of economic and social cooperation between ASEAN and the European Community;

 

Aware of the importance of the EC as a world trading partner;

 

Noting recent developments pulling ASEAN and EC towards different centres of economic gravity;

 

Concerned that :

 

1.                  The emergence of a single European market in 1992 may accord ASEAN with lesser preferential treatment as an EC trading partner;

 

2.                  Given the huge EC marker of US$4 trillion and 320 million consumers, the EC could afford to be inward-looking, self-sufficient and protectionist;

 

3.                  Access to the enlarged Single European Market by non-EC countries could be conditional upon reciprocity;

 

4.                  There is danger of EC introduction and using industrial, health standards, and certification procedures as non-tariff barriers;

 

Realising that, in the light of 1992 European investments in third countries could be diverted to lower placed economies within the EC ambit;

 

Considering the recommendations of the Working Committee;

 

Resolves to:

 

1.                  Urge ASEAN Governments and EC to exert extra efforts to preserve and strengthen their relations in the light of emerging regional groupings;

 

2.                  Calls on the ASEAN and EC to undertake joint efforts to actively promote ASEAN-EC trade, taking into account the effect of the emerging single European market;

 

3.                  Appeal to ASEAN and EC to formulate a special developmental package designed with the ASEAN Economies specifically in mind;

 

4.                  Request  the EC to:

 

4.1              Reduce the level of protectionism and not to substitute EC-wide restrictions for existing national restrictions;

 

4.2              Contribute to multilateral liberalization by conforming to the GATT principles as well as agreements reached in the Uruguay Round Multilateral Trade Negotiations to reduce trade barriers;

 

4.3              Allow third country firm to enjoy the same business opportunities as EC companies in the Single European Market;

 

4.4              Grant imported produce from ASEAN countries the same access to conformity testing procedures as that afforded to domestic procedures in the EC;

 

4.5              Continue GSP support to ASEAN countries.

 

Adopted this 25^th day of August 1989, at Manila, Philippines.

 

 

CERTIFIED CORRECT

 

 

 

QUIRINO D. AHAD SANTOS, JR.

Secretary General, AIPO

 

Attested by:

 

 

RAMON V. MITRA, JR

President AIPO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

10^th WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

AUGUST 21 – 26, 1989

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. GA 18 – 89

ASEAN TRADE EXPANSION SCHEME

AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Tenth General Assembly:

 

Mindful of the Manila Declaration of 1987 which seeks to intensify expansion of intra-ASEAN trade, accelerate sound industrial development, increase intra-ASEAN cooperation on commodities, and emphasize further access to extra regional markets and resources;

 

Noting with satisfaction the results of the 20^th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, Pattaya, Thailand, 17 – 18 October 1988;

 

Considering the recommendations of the Working Assembly;

 

Resolves to:

 

1.                  Support efforts undertaken by ASEAN governments to foster increased intra-ASEAN trade and economic cooperation;

 

2.                  Review the improvements in the present schemes undertaken so far and to take new initiatives and approaches; and

 

3.                  Urge the full implementation of the country programmes for 1988 on improvement of the ASEAN Preferential Trade Arrangements (PTA) and the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Standstill and Rollback of Non-Tariff Barriers and also the reduction in the percentage on ASEAN content requirement.

 

Adopted this 25^th day of August 1989, at Manila, Philippines.

 

CERTIFIED CORRECT

 

 

 

QUIRINO D. AHAD SANTOS, JR.

Secretary General, AIPO

Attested by:

 

 

 

 

RAMON V. MITRA, JR

President AIPO

AIPO (ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION)

10^th WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

AUGUST 21 – 26, 1989

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. GA 19- 89

ASEAN INITIATIVE AGAINST TRADE PROTECTIONISM

 

The Tenth General Assembly:

 

Recalling the Ninth General Assembly Resolution on ASEAN Cooperation Against Trade Protectionism;

 

Restating the ASEAN concern over the rising tide of protectionism and other trade restrictive measures instituted by developed countries limiting access of ASEAN exports into their markets;

 

Determined to pursue joint ASEAN approaches and actions to effectively address and counter protectionist measures;

 

Noting with satisfaction ASEAN’s active participation in the outgoing multilateral trade negotiations (Uruguay Round) under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade;

 

Considering the recommendations of the Working Committes;

 

Resolves to :

 

1.                  Urge ASEAN Governments to intensify their collaborative efforts in formulating common approaches to counter the moves for protectionism and to continue such efforts in obtaining concrete trade benefits for the member countries;

 

2.                  Call upon the Parliaments of developed countries to urge their respective Governments to bring about further liberalisation of world trade in commodities (except those harmful to health) to end the campaign against tropical vegetable oils and tropical timbers, to remove the subsidies on agriculture which adversely affect exports of ASEAN commodities and to uphold and support the GATT principles of special differential and mote favourable treatment for developing countries and to promote the success of the Uruguay Round;

 

3.                  Further call upon the same Parliaments to urge their respective Governments to refrain from using the threat of GSP withdrawal as another protectionist measure or as another protectionist measure or as a tool of political leverage;

 

4.                  Request the Parliaments of developed countries to refrain from retaliatory and discriminatory trade legislation which would restrict entry of tropical products of importance to ASEAN into their markets.

 

 

 

5.                  Further request the same parliaments to reaffirm their commitment to Multilateral Trade Negotiations in GATT, while observing strict compliance with standstill and rollback commitment together with multilateral surveillance as agreed upon in the Declaration of Punta del Este by the contracting parties.

 

Adopted this 25^th day of August 1989, at Manila, Philippines.

 

 

CERTIFIED CORRECT

 

 

 

QUIRINO D. AHAD SANTOS, JR.

Secretary General, AIPO

 

 

 

Attested by:

 

 

 

RAMON V. MITRA, JR

President AIPO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WC.GA9/88/KL/29/6

 

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

OF THE NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON
THE ASEAN EC-ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Ninth General Assembly,

 

Reaffirms the resolutions of the 8^th AIPO Meeting and convinced of the mutual benefit of economic and social cooperation between ASEAN and the European Community;

 

Concerned with the extremely slow pace of the implementation of the activities of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) established under the ASEAN-EC Cooperation Agreement (1980);

 

Aware of the fact that despite the increasing sign of economic recovery in the European Community, the protectionist measures still persist and, if not, have increased. Consequently, the problem of market access to the EC of products vital to the economies of ASEAN countries is increasingly a major obstacle to the enhancement of ASEAN-EC Economic Cooperation;

 

Concerned that the Development Policy of the EC did not take full cognizance of the socio-economic needs of ASEAN countries and the mutual benefit to be gained from the increased development cooperation between the two regions and this has resulted in the continuing existence of trade barriers in the EC, which may, in the long run, adversely affect the economic relations between EC and ASEAN;

 

 

 

 

 

Strongly urges that :

 

1.                  The EC to take positive steps to accelerate economic cooperation with ASEAN;

 

2.                  The EC refrains from taking measures aimed at singling out ASEAN member countries from the benefits of EC-GSP;

 

3.                  The EC to reconsider various Council Directives which have detrimental effects on products of ASEAN member countries, and take various actions to review and remove the EC-GSP restrictions which affect products of ASEAN member countries;

 

4.                  The EC to continue to take greater account of the needs of ASEAN countries and to examine further the Boon Economic Declaration May 1985, and implement further measures to improve economic relations with the developing countries;

 

5.                  The European Parliament to take concrete steps to influence and to intervene on matters so as to enable the ASEAN-EC Cooperation to be further strengthened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WC.GA9/88/KL/29/7

 

 

RESOLUTION

OF THE NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON
THE ASEAN TRADE EXPANSION SCHEME AND

ECONOMIC COOPERATION

The Ninth General Assembly,

 

Following the Resolution GA8/SE/PL/Res.07 and GA8/SE/PL/Res.08 adopted at the Eighth AIPO General Assembly on ASEAN Trade Expansion Scheme and Economic Cooperation;

 

Fully supports the terms of economic cooperation in the Manila Declaration of 1987 agreed to by the Heads of Government of the ASEAN member countries;

 

Urges the implementation, on a matters or urgency, of the agreement on matters relating to Economic Cooperation as embodied in the Manila Declaration of 1987;

 

Urges further that wide publicity and bureaucratic assistance, wherever necessary, be given to the private sector on the package of measures for the improvement of the Preferential Trading Agreement so as to speedily expand intra-ASEAN trade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WC.GA9/88/KL/29/8

 

 

 

RESOLUTION

OF THE NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON
THE ASEAN  COOPERATION ON TOURISM

 

The Ninth General Assembly,

 

Convinced that intra-ASEAN Cooperation on Tourism is one of the vital means in promoting the region’s economic prosperity and achieving its ultimate goals of unity and solidarity as well as understanding and cooperation among ASEAN countries and beyond;

 

Restating the Resolution GA9/SE/PL/Res.09 adopted at the Eighth AIPO General Assembly on the ASEAN Cooperation on Tourism;

 

Recognizing the vigorous efforts of cooperation among ASEAN private and governmental sectors in promoting South East Asia as tourist destination;

 

Endorsing the positive steps and programme initiated by the Sub-Committee on Tourism (SOT), particularly the proposal to designate 1992 as Visit ASEAN Year (VAY);

 

Fulls Aware that despite considerable achievements and cooperation, certain areas of problems remain. Direct and active addresses by all concerned are needed to solve these problems. It calls for the minimization of the travel barriers in order to promote intra-ASEAN tourism and to promote the ASEAN Countries as a common destination for tourists from other countries;

 

Urges the Governments of ASEAN countries to adopt more flexibilities and concerted efforts to:

 

 

1.                  Facilitate intra-ASEAN travel though lifting or easing restrictions hampering its smooth flow;

 

2.                  Give total financial support and commitment to the Visit ASEAN Year (VAY) programme which will incorporate the following activities:

 

a.                   Introduction of special VAY fares by ASEAN national carriers;

 

b.                  Organization of special promotional activities in all ASEAN countries in connection with the VAY programme;

 

c.                   Implementation of publicity campaigns to generate greater consumer awareness of Asean in priority markets; and

 

d.                  Development of promotional tools such as films, brochures, etc. for this programme.

 

3.         Encourage international chartered flight services to ASEAN region;

 

 

Urges further :

 

1.                  That the ASEAN Governments include the importance of tourism in the framework of the extension of ASEAN economic relations with other regions;

 

2.                  That the ASEAN Governments make more efforts to promote travel of youth, writers and thinkers within the ASEAN region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WC.GA9/88/KL/29/9

 

 

RESOLUTION

OF THE NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON
THE ASEAN EC-ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Ninth General Assembly,

 

Realizing the existence of imbalance in the North-South news and information flow;

 

Recalling the unanimous adoption of the Resolution No. 4.19 at the 1980 UNESCO which give birth to the new concept of a new world information order on the Declaration of the Conference on Ministers of Information on Non-Aligned Countries in Jakarta, 26^th – 30^th January, 1984 and the “Jakarta Appeal to the Mass Media”.

 

Noting that the Third World Countries have taken certain concrete steps to alleviate such imbalance of news and information flow by way of organizing intra-regional news networks, e.g. Non-Aligned News Pool, Asian News Network and the ASEAN News Network;

Recognizing the urgent need to intensify the dissemination of information on the activities of ASEAN countries undertaken collectively as well as individually;

 

Calls upon news organization (print and electronic) in the ASEAN region:

 

1.                  To give full support to those intra-regional News Network so that the imbalance could soon be remedied;

 

2.                  To intensify and expand the dissemination of news and information focussing on history, cultural life and development in ASEAN countries.

 

 

 

WC.GA9/88/KL/29/15

 

 

RESOLUTION

OF THE NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON
TRADE PROTECTIONISM

 

The Ninth General Assembly,

 

Noting that the world economy continues to be in an uncertain and precarious state, characterised by imbalances and slow growth-rates;

 

Aware of the increasing trend towards protectionism practised by developed countries and ASEAN’s need to increase its efficacy in combating protectionism and countering its effects;

 

Further noting that the developing countries continue to face and extremely unfavourable international economic environment, especially with regard to their participation in international trade;

 

Concerned that the values of developing countries exports has further declined in recent years and their share in world exports continues to fall, while protectionist measures against exports from developing countries have been intensified;

 

Realizing that restriction on entry of entry of essential tropical products would gravely affect the livelihood and standard of living of millions in ASEAN;

 

Recalling the commitment by developed countries on standstill and rollback of protectionist measures by affirming the Declaration of Punta del Este by the Contracting Parties of the GATT on 20 September, 1986;

 

 

 

 

 

Further affirming the need for cooperation between the developed marker economies and developing countries so as to alleviate the worsening situation, especially for the developed countries, in international trade;

 

1.                  Calls upon the Parliaments of the developed countries to urge their respective Governments :

 

a.                   To uphold and strengthen the GATT principles of differential and more favourable treatment for developing countries;

 

b.                  To refrain from using the threat of GSP withdrawal as another protectionist measure as well as a tool of political leverage by the industrial countries;

 

2.                  Further call upon the Parliaments of the developed countries to urge their respective Governments to resist domestic protectionist pressures, especially those calling for retaliatory measures and discriminatory trade legislation which would have the effect of restricting entry of tropical products of importance to ASEAN into developed country markets. Instead they should reaffirm their commitment on Multilateral Trade Negotiations currently undertaken in GATT by observing strict compliance with standstill and rollback commitment together with multilateral surveillance as agreed upon in the Declaration of Punta de Este by the contracting parties;

 

3.                  Stresses the belied that trade in agriculture, tropical and industrial products related there to should be liberalised and all barriers and distorting measures to such trade should be brought under more operationally effective GATT rules and disciplines;

 

 

 

4.                  Stresses the importance to all National Parliaments to urge their respective Governments to adopt trade policies that contribute to greater transparency in international trade by dismantling protectionist, discriminatory and restrictive barriers;

 

5.                  Finally calls on ASEAN Parliaments to urge their Governments to adopt joint approaches to solve/overcome common issues affecting ASEAN’s economic and trading interests in international forums.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLUTIONS ON THE ECONOMIC MATTERS 1987

NO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLUTIONS ON THE ECONOMIC MATTERS 1986

NO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

EIGHTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SEPTEMBER 22 – 29, 1985, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

 

 

GA8/SE/PL/Res.06

 

 

RESOLUTION

OF THE EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON THE ASEAN – EC ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

 

 

The Eighth General Assembly:

 

 

Convinced of the mutual benefit of economic cooperation between ASEAN and the European Community;

 

Concerned with the slow pace of the implementation of the activities of the joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) established under the ASEAN – BC Cooperation Agreement (1980).

 

Aware of the fact that despite the increasing sign of economy recovery in the European Community, the protection measures still persist.

Consequently the problem of market access to the EC of products vital to the economies of ASEAN countries, remain a major obstacle to the enhancement of the ASEAN-EC economic cooperation.

 

Recalling the policy contained in the reports on the Development Policy of the BC in the 1980’s, which do not take full account of the ASEAN countries as well as the mutual benefit gained from the increased development cooperation between the two regions. Such policy would result in the continuing existence of trade barriers in the EC, which could ultimately create adverse consequences to the relations between EC and ASEAN.

 

Urges the EC to concretely translate its political will and positive gesture towards ASEAN into tangible results through the acceleration of economic cooperation with ASEAN.

 

Further urges :

 

1.                  The EC to avoid measures aiming at “graduation” whereby some ASEAN member countries would be omitted from having the benefits of EC-GSP.

2.                  The EC to avoid carrying out the EC Council Directive concerning the use of tin containers.

3.                  That the EC-GSP restrictions adversely effecting exports of ASEAN countries be reviewed and removed.

4.                  The EC to take greater account of the needs of ASEAN countries in its Development Policy for the 1980’s.

5.                  The European Investment Bank to extend its activities to the ASEAN region.

 

Appeals to the EC to fully implement the Bonn Economic Declaration, May 1985 particularly with regard to the economic relation with the developing countries.

 

Appeals further to the European Parliament to continue to exercise its influence and to intervene in these matters so as to enable the ASEAN-EC cooperation to be even more beneficial to both regions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

EIGHTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SEPTEMBER 22 – 29, 1985, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

 

 

GA8/SE/PL/Res.07

 

 

RESOLUTION

OF THE EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON ASEAN – TRADE EXPANSION SCHEME

 

 

 

The Eighth General Assembly:

 

 

Considering that there is a need for ASEAN member countries to seek greater unity and affinity in their approaches to trade vis-à-vis developed countries to bring about regional and global economic recovery on a sustained basis;

 

Recognizing that it is imperative for ASEAN to consolidate its efforts to achieve its objectives on certain issues such as trade liberalization and increased access to developed countries’ markets of ASEAN exports;

 

Convinced of the need for strengthening ASEAN through intensified cooperation among member countries in the field of commodities by increasing collaboration and coordination relating to foreign markets and by enhancing economic complementarities;

 

Aware that enhanced cooperation and collaboration would present an improved bargaining strength of ASEAN acting collectively;

 

Invites the ASEAN Governments to consider all possibilities to develop the present economic cooperation among ASEAN countries in such a way that it would increase intra-ASEAN trade, closer towards regional economic integration;

 

 

 

 

Urges in particular :

 

1)            the adoption of deeper tariff cuts on a wider range of products significant to the ASEAN market, a reduction of the number of products under the exclusion list, and increasing the promotional and marketing effort of ASEAN products within ASEAN countries;

 

2)            that ASEAN Governments undertake further effort in promoting ASEAN trade to the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Recommends :

 

1)                  the ASEAN Governments to create a conductive atmosphere for the cooperation and development and development of ASEAN’s young businessman agreed in the First ASEAN Young Businessman’s Meeting held in Jakarta on 12 – 15 August 1985;

 

2)                  ASEAN Governments to conduct an in-depth study on the possibility of establishing an ASEAN Trading House as an instrument to promote its trade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

EIGHTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SEPTEMBER 22 – 29, 1985, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

 

 

GA8/SE/PL/Res.08

 

 

RESOLUTION

OF THE EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF

ASEAN  ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

 

 

The Eighth General Assembly:

 

Noting the vast potential of ASEAN cooperation in terms of economic, political and social development;

 

Noting further that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers had considered and adopted a number of recommendation stipulated in the report of the ASEAN Task Force at their Seventeenth Annual Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta, 9 – 10 July 1984 and of the Sixth Meeting of the ASEAN Standing Committee, 2 – 6 July 1985;

 

Urges the ASEAN Governments and the relevant ASEAN bodies to set priorities and accelerate the implementation of the accepted recommendation relating to ASEAN Economic Cooperation, contained in the Task Force Report, as a matters of urgency;

 

Suggests that wide publicity be given to the follow up action of ASEAN Task Force Report so that various bodies and people of ASEAN may render continuing support of promoting ASEAN Economic Cooperation;

 

Request the ASEAN Governments to improve the coordination of ASEAN activities and to review the efficacy of the ASEAN machinery established for the purpose of promoting economic cooperation among its members.

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

EIGHTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SEPTEMBER 22 – 29, 1985, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

 

 

GA8/SE/PL/Res.09

 

RESOLUTION

OF THE EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON THE ASEAN COOPERATION ON TOURISM

 

 

The Eighth General Assembly:

 

Convinced that intra-ASEAN Cooperation on Tourism is one of the vital means in promoting the region’s economic prosperity and achieving its ultimate goals of unity and solidarity as well as understandings and cooperation among ASEAN countries and beyond;

 

Restating the Resolution GA.7/SOE/RES.9 adopted at the Seventh AIPO General Assembly on the ASEAN Cooperation on Tourism;

 

Restating further the report of the Sixth Meeting of the ASEAN Standing Committee, Kuala Lumpur 2 – 6 July 1985, on Tourism and the enthusiasm that has developed among the people of ASEAN, in particular its youth, to promote tourism in the ASEAN region;

 

Recognizing the vigorous efforts of cooperation among ASEAN private and governmental sectors in promoting Southeast Asia as tourist destination;

 

Endorsing the positive steeps and programmes initiated by the Sub-Committee on Tourism (SCOT);

 

Fully Aware that despite considerable achievements and co-operation, certain areas of problems remain. Direct and active addressed by all concerned are needed to solve these problems. It calls for the minimization of the travel barriers in order to promote inter ASEAN tourism and to promote the ASEAN countries as a common destination for tourist from other countries.

 

Urges the Governments of ASEAN countries to adopt more flexibilities and concerted efforts to:

 

a)                  facilitate intra-ASEAN Travel through lifting or easing restrictions hampering its smooth flow;

 

b)                  creating an ASEAN Circle Trip Fare enabling ASEAN and foreign nationals to visit more ASEAN destinations in one single trip;

 

c)                  encouraging international chartered flight services to ASEAN region with emphasis on the indispensable support from ASEAN airlines;

 

d)                 setting up of a separate and independent ASEAN body on tourism to take effective actions on new and unexpected challenges on tourism;

 

e)                  creating an ASEAN travel film showing the potential tourist attractions of all ASEAN countries to gain world-wide interest;

 

Urges further:

 

1)                  that the ASEAN Governments include the importance of tourism in the framework of the extension of ASEAN economic relations with other regions in general and the EC in particular.

 

2)                  That the ASEAN Governments make more effort to promote travel of youth, writers, and thinkers within the ASEAN region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

EIGHTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SEPTEMBER 22 – 29, 1985, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

 

 

GA8/SE/PL/Res.10

 

 

RESOLUTION

OF THE EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON A NEW INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION ORDER

 

 

 

The Eighth General Assembly:

 

Realizing the existence of imbalance in the North-South news and information flow;

 

Recalling the unanimous adoption of the Resolution no. 4.19 at the 1980 UNESCO which give birth to the new concept of a new world information order on the Declaration of the Conference of Ministers of Information of Non-Aligned Countries in Jakarta, 26^th – 30^th January 1984 and the “Jakarta Appeal to the Mass Media”;

 

Noting that the Third World Countries have taken certain concrete steps to alleviate such imbalance of news and information flow by way of organizing intra-regional news network e.g. Non-Aligned New Pool, Asian News Network and the ASEAN News Network;

 

Recognizing the urgent need to intensify the dissemination and information on the activities of ASEAN countries under-taken collectively as well as individually;

 

Calls upon news organization (print and electronic) in the ASEAN Region:

 

a.             To give full support to those intra-regional News Networks so that the imbalance could soon be reminded.

b.            To intensify and expand the dissemination of news and information focussing on history, cultural life and development in ASEAN countries.

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2 – 6 OCTOBER 1984 BANGKOK, THAILAND

 

GA7/SOE/RES.6

 

RESOLUTION THE SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON ASEAN-EC ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Seventh General Assembly of AIPO:

 

Recognizing the mutual benefit of economic cooperation between ASEAN and the European Community;

 

Welcoming the activities of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) established under the ASEAN-EC Cooperation Agreement (1980);

 

Noting with appreciation the assistance provided by the EC-in various activities within the framework of the ASEAN-EC Cooperation Agreement;

 

Welcoming the regular contact between AIPO and the European Parliament and the valuable contributions that the European Parliamentarians have made towards ASEAN-EC relations;

 

Welcoming Further the increasing sign of economic recovery which is being felt in the European Community and the position of the European Community to resist protectionist pressures;

 

Noting with concern however that the problems of market access to the EC of products of vital interest among ASEAN countries remain a major obstacle to enhance the ASEAN-EC Economic Cooperation;

 

Noting also with concern that the Policy Reports in the EC regarding Development Policy of the EC in the 1980’s do not take full account of the needs of the ASEAN development cooperation between the two regions;

 

Urges the EC to concretely translate its political will and positive gesture towards ASEAN into tangible results through the acceleration of economic cooperation with ASEAN.

 

Further urges in particular

 

j)              That the EC should avoid any attempt at “graduation” whereby some member countries of ASEAN would be omitted from the benefits of EC-GSP, etc;

ii)            That the EC should avoid carrying out the EC Council Directive concerning building liquid container tin;

iii)          That the EC-GSP restrictions adversely affecting exports of ASEAN countries be reviewed and removed;

iv)          That the EC take greater account of the needs of ASEAN Countries in their Development Policy for the 1980’s;

v)            That the European Investment Bank extend its role and activities to the ASEAN region.

 

Hopes that the European Parliament will continue to exercise its influence to intervene in these matters so as to enable the ASEAN-EC cooperation to be even more mutually beneficial to both regions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2 – 6 OCTOBER 1984 BANGKOK, THAILAND

 

GA7/SOE/RES.7

 

RESOLUTION THE SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON ASEAN-TRADE EXPANSION SCHEME

 

The Seventh General Assembly of AIPO:

 

Reaffirming the Resolution 6GA/Res.12/83 of the Sixth AIPO General Assembly urging greater intra-ASEAN trade in raw materials and processed products;

 

Noting with disappointment that despite the recognition of the problem and the promotional efforts by the ASEAN Governments, intra-ASEAN trade at present represents less that 20 percent of total ASEAN trade;

 

Urges in particular the adoption of deeper tariff cuts on a wider range of products of significance in the ASEAN market, genuine reduction of products under the exclusion list as well as greater marketing and promotional efforts of products made in ASEAN within ASEAN Countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2 – 6 OCTOBER 1984 BANGKOK, THAILAND

 

GA7/SOE/RES.8

 

RESOLUTION THE SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON ASEAN-EC ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Seventh General Assembly of AIPO:

 

Noting the vast potentials of ASEAN Economic Cooperation in economic, political and social terms;

 

Noting further that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers has considered and adopted a number of recommendation contained in the Report of the ASEAN Task Force at their seventeenth the Secretary General of the ASEAN Secretariat to monitor the implementation of the accepted recommendations;

 

Urges the ASEAN governments and the relevant ASEAN bodies to give priority and urgency in taking positive steps in implementing the accepted recommendations relating to ASEAN Economic Cooperation as envisaged in the Task Force Report;

 

Suggests that wide publicity be given to the ASEAN Task Force Report so that the various bodies and people pf ASEAN may exercise continuing influence in promoting ASEAN Economic Cooperation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2 – 6 OCTOBER 1984 BANGKOK, THAILAND

 

GA7/SOE/RES.9

 

RESOLUTION THE SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON THE ASEAN COOPERATION ON TOURISM

 

The Seventh General Assembly of AIPO:

 

Recalling the Resolution 6GA/Res. 14/83 adopted at the Sixth AIPO General Assembly on the promotion of Tourism;

 

Noting the report on ASEAN Tourism cooperation by Thailand;

 

Urges ASEAN Governments and Tourism bodies to promote more fully the potential for tourism from within ASEAN and from outside;

 

Stresses the need for ASEAN Governments to eliminate travel barriers in whatever forms in order to promote intra-ASEAN tours and to promote the ASEAN region as the common destination for the tourists coming from other regions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2 – 6 OCTOBER 1984 BANGKOK, THAILAND

 

GA7/SOE/RES.10

 

RESOLUTION THE SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AIPO

ON A NEW INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION ORDER

 

The Seventh General Assembly of AIPO:

 

Realizing that there is an unsatisfactory imbalance of news low between the North and South today;

 

Noting that the Ministers of Information of Non-Aligned Countries at their meeting in Jakarta from 26 – 30 January 1984, have issues a comprehensive Declaration and the “Jakarta Appeal to the Mass Media” in this regard;

 

Noting further that Third World countries have taken certain concrete steps to alleviate this situation in the way of organizing intra-regional news networks c. q. Non-aligned News Pool, Asian News Network and the ASEAN News Network;

 

Call upon news organizations (Print and Electronic) in the ASEAN region to give full support to these intra-regional News Network so that the present imbalance can be improved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

SIXTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SINGAPORE

30 September – 7 October 1983                                     ANNEX  F

RESOLUTION NO. 6GA/RES.11/83

 

RESOLUTION THE SIXTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON ASEAN-EEC ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Sixth General Assembly of AIPO:

 

Recalling the cooperation agreement between the member countries of ASEAN and the European Economic Community signed in Kuala Lumpur in 1980;

 

Emphasising the importance of free and open trading conditions and of promoting economic recovery through expansion in international trade;

 

Recognizing the mutual benefit that ASEAN-EEC economic cooperation affords both to ASEAN and to ASEAN and to the European Economic Community;

 

Recalling Resolution No. GA 13 – 83 on ASEAN-EEC economic cooperation;

 

Concerned that the imposition of restrictive measures on ASEAN exports would have adverse effects on the development efforts of ASEAN member countries;

 

Urges the European Economic Community to refrain from imposing restrictive and unilateral measures that would curb ASEAN exports to European Economic Community, but to use the fullest opportunity for consultations with ASEAN member countries to resolve such trade problems should they arise.

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

SIXTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SINGAPORE

30 September – 7 October 1983                                   ANNEX  G

RESOLUTION NO. 6GA/RES.12/83

 

RESOLUTION THE SIXTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON ASEAN TRADE EXPANSION SCHEME

 

The Sixth General Assembly of AIPO:

 

Mindful that ASEAN member countries are major producers of raw materials;

 

Concerned that external trade of the ASEAN member countries have been seriously affected by the world recession, and that ASEAN exports of primary commodities have deteriorated;

 

Conscious that current ASEAN efforts would be aimed at countering the adverse impact of the recession on their domestic economies;

 

Reaffirms ASEAN resolve to further promote trade expansion among ASEAN member countries, including measures that would promote the processing, manufacturing and marketing of primary commodities and other products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

SIXTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SINGAPORE

30 September – 7 October 1983                                     ANNEX  H

RESOLUTION NO. 6GA/RES.13/83

 

RESOLUTION THE SIXTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON REVIEW OF ASEAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Sixth General Assembly of AIPO:

 

Citing the various projects and activities undertaken by ASEAN in its fifteen years of existence, designed to promote regional economic cooperation;

 

Noting that the present international economic situation demands that the ASEAN member countries foster closer economic cooperation among themselves in order to maintain their high economic growth rates;

 

Emphasizing the need for defining integrated long-term goals, directions and objectives of regional economic cooperation and for exploring the possibilities, ways and means of achieving unity and close collaboration;

 

Resolves that AIPO urge their respective governments to undertake a comprehensive review of the progress of ASEAN economic cooperation at the appropriate levels for the purpose of identifying new way to resolve difficulties and arriving at long-term objectives to enable both the ASEAN public and private sectors to adopt long-term strategies in accordance with the objectives of ASEAN economic cooperation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

SIXTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SINGAPORE

30 September – 7 October 1983                                     ANNEX  I

RESOLUTION NO. 6GA/RES.14/83

 

RESOLUTION THE SIXTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON ASEAN COOPERATION ON TOURISM

 

The Sixth General Assembly of AIPO:

 

Recalling the World Tourism Conference held in Manila, Philippines, from 27 September to 10 October 1980 with the participation of 107 delegation of States and 91 delegations of observes;

 

Noting Resolution No. 36/41 of the General Assembly of the United Nations at its 36^th Session, adopting the Manila Declaration on World Tourism as an integral part of its international policy;

 

Recognizing the new dimension and role of tourism as a positive instrument towards the improvement of the quality of life for all peoples, so as well as a vital force for peace and international understanding; and

 

Realising that world tourism can contribute to the establishment of a new international economic order that will help eliminate the widening gap between developed and developing countries and ensure the steady acceleration of economic and social development and progress, particularly of the developing countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

SIXTH WORKING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SINGAPORE

30 September – 7 October 1983                                     ANNEX  K

RESOLUTION NO. 6GA/RES.16/83

 

RESOLUTION THE SIXTH AIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON REGIONAL COOPERATION IN THE PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE

 

 

The Sixth General Assembly of AIPO:

Recognizing the abundant diversity of wildlife species in the ASEAN region;

 

Concerned over the wanton killing and the indiscriminate use of poisonous chemicals which have effectively reduced the wildlife population;

 

Recognizing further the need to conserve and protect such wildlife to maintain ecological balances;

 

Realizing the significant contributions to this to this objective that regional cooperation can make;

 

Resolves to exchange information on the laws and practices in regard to wildlife in ASEAN countries at the Seventh Working Committee with a view to a fuller discussion on the lines that regional cooperation and national actions may take in the conservation and protection of wildlife within the context of total environmental protection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Metro Manila, Philippines

April 5 – 9,  1983

RESOLUTION NO.  GA 13-83

 

ASEAN-EEC ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Fifth AIPO General Assembly:

Recognising the mutual benefits that the ASEAN-EEC economic cooperation affords both to the ASEAN and the European Economic Community (EEC);

 

Resolves :

 

1)                  That continuing action be taken in the following areas:

 

a)            Non-imposition of countervailing duties on ASEAN exports so as to ensure viability in the investment planning of ASEAN nations, so that the fullest opportunity for consultations be afforded to ASEAN nations before any measures is taken in the imposition of counter veiling duties;

 

b)            Implementation of all the elements of the integrated programme for commodities as soon as possible, to resolve the long standing commodity problems; and implementation of negotiations on the establishment of international commodity agreements;

 

2)                  That the General provide guidelines to the AIPO Delegations visiting the European Parliament on problems and issues affecting ASEAN-EEC economic cooperation.

 

Adopted this 9^th day of April 1983, at Metro Manila, Philippines.

 

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Metro Manila, Philippines

April 5 – 9,  1983

RESOLUTION NO.  GA 14-83

 

ASEAN TRADE EXPANSION SCHEME

 

The Fifth AIPO General Assembly:

 

Recognising that ASEAN Member Countries are the major producers of raw materials and that there exists inequities in the relationship between consumer and producing countries for these primary commodities in the international economic system;

 

Realising that concrete measures should be adopted and implemented by the ASEAN Member countries in the light of the community’s trade promotion programme;

 

Resolves that trade expansion among ASEAN Member Countries be geared towards the processing, manufacturing and marketing of primary commodities and other products.

 

Adopted this 9^th day of April 1983, at Metro Manila, Philippines

 

Certified Correct:

 

 

ANTONIO M. DE GUZMAN

Secretary General, AIPO

 

Attested :

 

QUERUBE C. MAKALINTAL

President, AIPO

 

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Metro Manila, Philippines

April 5 – 9,  1983

RESOLUTION NO.  GA 15-83

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ASEAN

ECONOMIC COOPERATION

 

The Fifth AIPO General Assembly:

 

Citing the various projects and activities undertaken by ASEAN in its fifteen years of existence, designed to promote regional economic cooperation;

 

Noting that the present international economic situation demands that the ASEAN Member-countries foster closer economic cooperation among themselves in order to maintain their high economic growth rates;

 

Emphasizing the need for defining integrated long-term goals, directions and objectives of regional economic cooperation and for exploring the possibilities, ways and means of achieving unity and close collaboration;

 

Resolves that AIPO urge their respective governments to undertake a comprehensive review of the progress of ASEAN economic cooperation at the appropriate levels for the purpose of identifying new ways to resolve difficulties and arriving at long-term objectives to enable both the ASEAN public and private sectors to adopt long-term strategies in accordance with the objectives of ASEAN economic cooperation.

 

Adopted this 9^th day of April 1983, at Metro Manila, Philippines

Certified Correct:

 

ANTONIO M. DE GUZMAN

Secretary General, AIPO

Attested :

QUERUBE C. MAKALINTAL

President, AIPO

ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION

FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Metro Manila, Philippines

April 5 – 9,  1983

RESOLUTION NO.  GA 16-83

 

ADOPTING THE MANILA DECLARATION ON

WORLD TOURISM

 

The Fifth AIPO General Assembly:

 

Recalling the World Tourism Conference held in Manila, Philippines, from 27 September to 10 October 1980 with the participation of 107 delegations of States and 91 delegations of observers;

 

Noting Resolution No. 36/41 of the General Assembly of the United Nations at its 37^th Session, adopting the Manila Declaration on World Tourism as an integral part of its international policy;

 

Recognising the new dimension and role of tourism as a positive instrument towards the improvement of the quality of life for all peoples, as well as a vital force for peace and international under standing; and

 

Realising that world tourism can contribute to the establishment of a new international economic order that will help eliminate the widening gap between developed and developing countries and ensure the steady acceleration of economic and social development and progress, particularly of the developing countries;

 

Resolves :

 

1.                  That all Member parliaments of the AIPO adopt the Manila Declaration on World Tourism as the guidelines for future legislations on tourism of their respective legislatures;

 

2.                  That all ASEAN Member-countries maintain a sustained exchange of information on legislative measures adopted in their respective areas for the improvement of tourism in the ASEAN Region.

 

Adopted this 9^th day of April 1983, at Metro Manila, Philippines

 

Certified Correct:

 

 

ANTONIO M. DE GUZMAN

Secretary General, AIPO

 

Attested :

 

 

QUERUBE C. MAKALINTAL

President, AIPO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GA 4/82/KL/22

 

FOURTH ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION GENERAL ASSEMBLY

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – FEBRUARY 2 – 6, 1982

REPORT OF COMMITTEE II – SOCIO – ECONOMIC

Chairman         :           Hon. Datuk Shahrir bin Abdul Samad                       (Malaysia)

Rapporteur      :           Hon. Dr. Tan Tiong Hong                                           (Malaysia)

Date/Time       :           February 3, 1982 at 09.00 – 12.30

February 4, 1982 at 09.00 – 11.00

15.30 – 16.00

 

Members         :           Hon. M.A. Gani, M.A.                                            (Indonesia)

Hon. A. Latief                                                         (Indonesia)

Hon. Mrs. H.R. Salkon Wigena                               (Indonesia)

Hon. Soekarman                                                      (Indonesia)

Hon. Moehammad Alihanafiah                               (Indonesia)

 

Hon. Edilberto A. Del Valle                                    (Philippines)

Hon. Amadeo G. Alinea                                          (Philippines)

Hon. Cesar A. Villariba                                           (Philippines)

Hon. Julian B. Yballe                                               (Philippines)

 

Hon. Lee Yiok Seng                                                (Singapore)

Hon. Ch’ng Jit Koon                                               (Singapore)

Hon. S. Chandra Das                                               (Singapore)

Hon. Lau Ping Sum                                                 (Singapore)

 

Hon. Senator Prof. Dr. Prasop Ratanakorn             (Thailand)

Hon. Senator Somphob Sussangkarn                       (Thailand)

Hon. Boontium Khamapiraf                                    (Thailand)

 

Hon. Dr. Ling Liong Sik                                          (Malaysia)

Hon. Datuk Mansor bin Otman                               (Malaysia)

Hon. Lee Lam Thye                                                 (Malaysia)

Hon. Datuk Haji Abu Bakar bin Umar                    (Malaysia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Socio-Economic Committee discussed the following subjects:

1.                  Study Group Report on a Common Legislative Programme on Narcotics, Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation.

2.                  The Establishment of an ASEAN Arbitration Board.

3.                  ASEAN Programme on Youth and Young Political Leaders.

4.                  ASEAN Co-operation on Culture and the Care for the Aged.

5.                  (i)         Adoption of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Resources, Population and Development;

(ii)               Formation of Study Group on Resources, Population and Development.

 

6.                  ASEAN-EEC Economic Co-operation.

7.                  ASEAN Trade Expansion Scheme.

 

1.                  Study Group Report on a Common Legislative Programme on Narcotics, Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation.

The report of the AIPO Study Group on the Common Legislative Programme on Narcotics, Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation was presented. The recommendations made by the Study Group was adopted for submission to the Final Plenary Session. The recommendations are as follows:

Recommendation I     -           ASEAN member countries are encouraged to introduce legislation to forfeit the assets and properties of persons involved in illicit drug operations.

 

Recommendation II    -           ASEAN member countries are encouraged to initiate legislation which provide for preventive detention of illicit drug traffickers, manufactures and financiers.

 

Recommendation III  -           ASEAN member countries are encouraged to deny the issuance of travel documents to persons involved in drug trafficking and related illicit drug activities.

Recommendation IV  -           ASEAN member countries as encouraged to introduce legislation which provide for a programme of compulsory treatment and rehabilitation to drug dependent persons.

Recommendation V    -           Existing training facilities of ASEAN Member countries be made available where appropriate to train personnel involved in drug rehabilitation and drug rehabilitation and drug control activities. Where possible international and other forms of aid should be sought to assist in the training programme.

Recommendation VI  -           The AIPO Study Group on the Common Legislative Programme on Narcotics, Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation supports the establishment of the ASEAN Narcotics Desk and the appointment of an ASEAN Narcotics Officer and further recommends that the establishment of an ASEAN Narcotics Desk and the appointment of an ASEAN Narcotics Officer be carried out without further delay.

Recommendation VII -           The Study Group recommend that there be further meetings to look into the other areas of common legislative and related programme on narcotics, drug abuse and rehabilitation as spelled out in the Fourth Working Committee Report. The are as follows:

(a)          that the respective ASEAN governments to increase greater coordination and cooperation among ASEAN member countries, for a more effective common programme to combat narcotics and the abuse of drugs and its rehabilitation;

 

 

(b)         that the respective governments encourage the formation of a committee within the ASEAN framework, so as to achieve more coordinated and effective results in regard to the common programme efforts and purposes;

(c)          that the said committee undertake to study the existing legislation and practice in the ASEAN countries, make recommendations on a set of  important features, make recommendation for necessary legislative drafts, formulate practical guide-lines for the implementation of control measures and rehabilitation programme, and coordinate actions to combat narcotics and the abuse of drugs.

 

The Socio-Economic Committee also take note of the need for more effective action to be taken against syndicates operating in the purchase and sales of narcotics. We note with satisfaction and appreciation the positive action taken by the Thai Government recently in suppressing the flow of narcotics from the Golden Triangle to the ASEAN countries and the rest of the world.

 

2.                  The Establishment of the ASEAN Arbitration Board

The Socio-Economic Committee  was briefed by the Malaysian Delegation on the Findings of  the study regarding the establishment of an ASEAN Arbitration Board. As there is already in existence an Inter-Governmental Organization know as the Asian African Legal Consultative Committee (AALCC), with a regional centre for arbitration established in 1978 this committee feels that the members of the legal profession and government agencies avail themselves of the facilities provided by this centre, We appreciate that the establishment and eventual success of regional independent arbitration centre with vide acceptance is a tedious process. Nevertheless, it is our view that the AALCC’s Regional Centre for Arbitration in Kuala Lumpur should serve ASEAN Pacific regions and given our full support and an opportunity to prove itself. Therefore, this committee recommend that the 4^th General Assembly of AIPO:

 

(i)                 take note of the establishment in 1978 the AALCC’s Regional Centre for Arbitration in Kuala Lumpur and its activities;

(ii)               decide that the proposal to establish an ASEAN Arbitration Board be deferred for the time being; and

(iii)             Call upon members of the legal profession and others concerned in ASEAN countries to familiarise themselves with the workings of Regional Centre for Arbitration in Kuala Lumpur so that they advise their governments and clients to avail themselves of the facilities provided by the Centre.

3.         ASEAN Programme on Youth and Young Political Leaders.

 

The Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs,

Recognising that :

(i)                 the Demographic patterns in ASEAN countries are very much weighted in favour of Youth;

(ii)               they will form the future leadership of ASEAN Nations; and

(iii)             there is a great need for interecation to promote greater understanding and co-operation amongst Youth in ASEAN, and also between ASEAN Youth and Youth of countries outside ASEAN.

 

Recommends that :

(i)                 their development should be planned systematically;

(ii)               in respect of young political leaders, it be recommend to the AIPO to convene a meeting of young parliamentarians;

(iii)             that the definition and age in regard to the term “young parliamentarians” be left with the respective countries to decide;

(iv)             that the AIPO endorses the proposal by the Malaysian Delegation that the existence and active involvement of the Committee for ASEAN Youth Cooperation (CAYC) should be welcomed by ASEAN Secretariat and that be given moral material and monetary support form all ASEAN governments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.         ASEAN Co-operation on Culture and the Care for the Aged

 

The Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs.

Appreciating that there is a consensus among ASEAN governments as to the need for having a programme of cultural exchange among ASEAN countries;

Recognizing that the ASEAN cultural exchange programmes will contribute towards greater under standing amongst peoples of ASEAN;

Recognising that respect for elders is a fundamental value of ASEAN cultures;

Realising that we are living in an area of cultural imperialism where our traditional value system are in danger of being eroded;

Noting that the United Nations will convene a World Assembly on Aging in Vienna in 1982 and that World Health Organization has declared 1982 as the “Year for Health Care of the Elderly”,

Recommends that :

(i)                 a Study Group be established (comprising Parliamentarians and resources persons) to study the cultural value systems and the problem of aging that exists in ASEAN countries with the objectives:

-                to identify and document values which are COMMON for intensive dissemination to all ASEAN countries;

-                to document BASIC values and practices among ASEAN people for wide dissemination so that greater understanding and tolerance is promotes in the region;

-                to vigorously research, document, preserve and strengthen the culture of the ASEAN peoples so as to resist the erosion of our cultural heritage as a result of western influences.

(ii)               A report must be submitted by the Study Group before the next General Assembly and that Malaysia be requested to co-ordinate this activity.

(iii)             Cultural cooperation and exchange programmes be given the fullest ASEAN governmental support and that other forms of ASEAN culture such as art, literature, poetry and museum exhibitions be also incorporates in these programmes.

(iv)             A Museum Exhibition be staged in the next AIPO General Assembly.

(v)               ASEAN governments support the activities of the United Nations and World Health Organisation in programmes for the Aged in order that there will be a greater awareness of the socio-economic consequences of this problem and that ASEAN governments undertake national and regional programmes in this area in accordance with their ………

 

5.         (i) Adoption of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Resources; Population and Development

(ii)     Creation of Study Group on Resources, Population and Development

 

The Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs,

Noting that the Convention of ASEAN Parliamentarians on Resources, Population  and Development was held in Kuala Lumpur in September 10 – 13, 1980,

(a)                Recommends that the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Resources, Population and Development be presented to the Fourth General Assembly of AIPO in Kuala Lumpur, 1981 for consideration and adoption;

(b)               Recommends  that the Fourth General Assembly of AIPO forms a Study Committee on Population, Resources and Development in order to realise the aims and objectives of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration.

 

(c)                Recommend  that this said Committee includes in this scope of work a study on Non-Petroleum Energy Resources.

6.                  ASEAN-EEC Economic Co-operation

The Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs,

Recognising the growing inter-dependence and need for greater economic co-operation between ASEAN and the E.E.C.;

Recognizing that access to markets as foreign investment are crucial for the continued development of ASEAN nations;

Taking cognizance that there is a need for economic restructuring of the EEC and that such restructuring will be to the mutual benefit of ASEAN and the E.E.C.;

Taking cognizance that economic dominance by any one major economic power is undesirable in the healthy growth and development of ASEAN countries;

Reiterating that ASEAN countries attach vital importance to their economic relations with the European Community and have great interest in expanding the existing bilateral economic relations;

Noting that relations between AIPO and the European Parliament have been enhanced by the Special Session of AIPO for the Dialogue with the European Parliament held in Jakarta in April, 1981;

Recommends that the dialogue between ASEAN and EEC be continued at all possible levels so as to achieve the fullest cooperation in -

(a)        trade relations through continuing action in the following areas:

(i)         the establishment of a consultation system so as to reduce any disruption of ASEAN exports to the EEC;

(ii)        improvements in the EEC-GSP offers as embodies in the three ASEAN Memoranda on GSP submitted to the EEC in 1980

(iii)             removal of Non-tariff barriers so as to encourage expansion of exports of several products of importance to ASEAN and that the consultative mechanism be established to review existing non-tariff barriers with the intention to remove such barriers immediately or over a period of time;

(iv)             non-imposition of countervailing duties on ASEAN exports so as to ensure viability in the investment planning of ASEAN nations and that the fullest opportunity for consultations be afforded before any measure is taken to the imposition of countervailing duties;

(v)               in the context of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) existing restrictive measures be liberalised so as to accommodate ASEAN’s growing exports of these items, and that the so-called “reasonable departures” be eliminated together with such concepts as cumulative market disruption, stabilisation of imports penetration, globalization, etc;

(vi)             that all the elements of the Integrated Programme for Commodities be implemented as soon as possible to resolve the long-standing commodity problems and that negotiations on the establishment of international commodity agreements be concluded and implemented as soon as possible;

(vii)           that continuing discussions be maintained so as to overcome certain specific trade issues where recent action by the EEC restrict ASEAN exports;

(viii)         that E.E.C. assistance to ASEAN under the Community’s trade Promotion Programme be continued and be extended to also cover the related functions of investment and tourism promotion/

 

(b)               encouragement of private investment by investors from the European Community in ASEAN member countries with special emphasis given to the transfer of technology whilst ensuring that moral values and social environment of the recipient countries are not being eroded in the progress.

 

 

 

(c)                the enhancement of trade and investment between the European Community and ASEAN nations through active governmental support an incentives for private in investors and businesses to further strengthen the existing economic relations between two these two regional economic entities.

 

7.                  ASEAN Trade Expansion Scheme

The Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs,

Recognising that ASEAN member countries are the major producers of primary commodities and that there exists inequities in the relationship between consumer and producing countries for these primary commodities in the international economic system,

 

Noting that ASEAN countries fully support the aims and objectives of the formation of a New International Economic Order and its earliest possible realisation,

Recommends :

(a)          that there be greater technical exchanges between ASEAN member countries with a view to standardization of the quality of the major products of the ASEAN countries so as to enable more equitable returns, to the primary producers;

 

Nations, the Non-aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic Conference which, inter alia, call for the immediate, unconditional and total withdrawal of Soviet troops form Afghanistan so as to enable Afghanistan to return to its hitherto independent and non-aligned status, free from any form of outside interference or coercion and for the people of Afghanistan to exercise their right to self-determination.

 

 

 

 

(21)         The General Assembly appeals to all states and people to provide assistance in order to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan refuges, the perceptibly increased to over 2.5 million, creating a serious socio-economic burden to the neighbouring countries.

(22)         The General Assembly strongly urges that conditions be created in Afghanistan that will enable the Afghan refuges to return to their homeland in safety and honour.

(23)         The General Assembly also calls for increasing all efforts to ensure that Afghanistan remains an independent and non-aligned state and to enable its people to exercise in total freedom their right to express their will as regards the system of government of their own choosing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOURTH WORKING COMMITTEE OF ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION GENERAL ASSEMBLY

KUANTAN, MALAYSIA 24 – 28 AUGUST 1981

NOTE : NO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

1.                  Study Group on a Common Legislative Programme on Narcotics, Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation

 

The Sub-Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs,

 

Noting that the Third AIPO General Assembly has set up a Study Group on the Common Legislative Programme on Narcotics, Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation,

Recommends:

(a)                that the AIPO Secretariat take all possible steps to facilitate a meeting of the Study Group in Kuala Lumpur before the Fourth AIPO General Assembly;

(b)               that the respective ASEAN governments to increase greater coordination and cooperation among ASEAN member countries, for a more effective common programme to combat narcotics and the abuse of drugs and its rehabilitation;

(c)                That the respective Government encourage the formation of a committee within the ASEAN framework, so as to achieve more coordinated and effective results in regard to the common programme efforts and purposes;

(d)               That the said committee undertake to study the existing legislation and practice in the ASEAN countries, make recommendations on a set of important features, make recommendation for necessary legislative drafts, formulate practical guidelines for the implementation of control measures and rehabilitation programmes and coordinate actions to combat narcotics and the abuse of drugs.

 

2.                  The Establishment of an ASEAN Arbitration Board

 

The Sub-Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs,

 

Noting that the Third General Assembly o AIPO has recommended and investigation into the possibility of setting up an ASEAN Arbitration Board;

Recommends that the Malaysian Delegation make a report on the progress and effectiveness of the Regional Arbitration Centre in Kuala Lumpur together with its recommendations as to the feasibility of setting up an ASEAN Arbitration Board to the Fourth General Assembly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.                  ASEAN-EEC Commercial Co-operation

The Sub-Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs,

Recognizing the growing inter-dependence and need for greater economic cooperation between ASEAN and the E.E.C.;

Recognising that access to markets and foreign investment are crucial for the continued development of ASEAN nations;

Taking cognizance that there is a need for economic restructuring of the EEC and that such restructuring will be to the mutual benefit of ASEAN and the E.E.C.;

Taking cognizance that economic dominance by any one major economic power is undesirable in the healthy growth and development of ASEAN countries;

Reiterating that ASEAN countries attach vital importance to their economic relations with the European Community and have great interest in expanding the existing bilateral economic relations;

Noting that relations between AIPO and the European Parliament have been enhanced by the Special Session of AIPO for the Dialogue with the European Parliament held in Jakarta in April, 1981,

Recommends that the dialogue between ASEAN and EEC be continued at all possible levels so as to achieve  the fullest cooperation in -

(a)                trade relations through continuing action in the following areas:

(i)                 the establishment of a consultation system so as to reduce any disruption of ASEAN exports to the EEC;

(ii)               improvements in the EEC – GSP offers as embodies in the three ASEAN Memoranda on GSP submitted to the EEC in 1980;

(iii)             removal of Non-tariff barriers so as to encourage expansion of exports of several products of importance to ASEAN and that consultative mechanism be established to review existing non-tariff barriers with the intention to remove such barriers immediately or over a period of time;

(iv)             non-imposition of countervailing duties on ASEAN exports so as to ensure viability in the investment planning of ASEAN nations and that the fullest opportunity for consultations be afforded before any measure in taken to the imposition of countervailing duties;

(v)               in the context of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) existing restrictive measures be liberalised so as to accommodate ASEAN’s growing exports of these items, and that the so-called “reasonable departures” be eliminated together with such concepts as cumulative market disruption, stabilisation of imports penetration, globalization, etc;

(vi)             that all the elements of the Integrated Programme for Commodities be implemented as soon as possible to resolve the long-standing commodity problems and that negotiations on the establishment of international commodity agreements be concluded and implemented as soon as possible;

(vii)           that continuing discussion be maintained so as to overcome certain specific trade issues where recent action by the EEC restrict ASEAN exports;

(viii)         that E.E.C. assistance to ASEAN under the Community’s Trade Promotion Programme be continued and be extended to also cover the related functions of investment and tourism promotion.

(b)               encouragement of private investment by investors form the European Community in ASEAN member countries with special emphasis given to the transfer of technology;

(c)                the enhancement of trade and investment between the European Community and ASEAN nations through active governmental support and incentives for private investor and businesses to further strengthen the existing economic relations between these two regional economic entities.

 

4.                  ASEAN Programme on Youth and Young Political Leaders

 

The Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs,

 

Recognising that :

(i)                 the demographic patterns in ASEAN countries are very much weighted in favour of Youth;

(ii)               they will form the future leadership of ASEAN nations; and

(iii)             there is a great need for interaction to promote greater understanding and co-operation amongst Youth in ASEAN, and also between ASEAN Youth and Youth of countries outside ASEAN.

 

Recommends that :

 

(i)                 their development should be planned systematically;

(ii)               a programme for such interaction to promote understanding and cooperation be organised amongst youth leaders and also young political leaders;

(iii)             the Malaysian Delegation be entrusted with the task of submitting a proposal for the planning and implementation of a programme for the consideration at the Fourth General Assembly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.         ASEAN Cultural Co-operation

 

The Sub-Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs

 

Appreciating that there is a consensus among ASEAN governments as to the need for having a programme of cultural exchange among ASEAN countries,

 

Recognizing that the ASEAN cultural exchange programmes will contribute towards greater understanding amongst peoples of ASEAN,

 

Recommends that cultural co-operation and exchange programmes be given the fullest ASEAN governmental support and that other forms of ASEAN culture such as art, literature, poetry and museum exhibitions be also incorporated in these programmes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.         (i)         Adoption of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Resources, Population and Development

(ii)        Creation of  a Study Group on Resources, Population and Development

The Sub-Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs,

 

Noting that the Convention of ASEAN Parliamentarians on Resources, Population and Development was held in Kuala Lumpur in September 10 – 13, 1980

(a)                Recommend that the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Resources, Population and Development be presented to the Fourth General Assembly of AIPO in Kuala Lumpur, 1981 for consideration and adoption;

(b)               Recommends that the Fourth General Assembly of AIPO forms a Study Committee on Population, Resources and Development in order to realise the aims and objectives of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration.

(c)                Recommends that this said committee includes in its scope of work a study on Non-Petroleum Energy Resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7                    ASEAN Trade Expansion Scheme

 

The Sub-Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs,

 

Recognising that ASEAN member countries are the major producers of primary commodities and that there exists inequities in the relationship between consumer and producing countries for these primary commodities in the international economic system,

Noting that ASEAN countries fully support the aims and objectives of the formation of a New International Economic Order and its earliest possible realisation,

Recommends:

(a)                that there be greater technical exchanges between ASEAN member countries with a view to standardization of the quality of the products of the ASEAN countries so as to enable more equitable returns to the primary producers;

(b)               to explore the possibility of adopting common marketing strategies to avoid any exploitation by foreign marketing intermediaries so as to realise the fullest possible economic benefit to the producers of the ASEAN member countries;

(c)                to further explore the possibility for the establishment of a system of collective buying by consumers in ASEAN nations of goods and services which are not available from within the region so as to enhance the bargaining power of the consumers in the ASEAN member countries vis-à-vis the suppliers of these good and services.

 

 

 

 

 

8. The Problems of Aging

 

The Sub-Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs,

 

Recognising that respect for elders is a fundamental value of ASEAN cultures;

Realising that we are living in an era of cultural imperialism where our traditional value systems are in danger of being eroded;

Noting that the United Nations will convene a World Assembly on Aging in Vienna in 1982 and that World Health Organization has declared 1982 as the “Year for Health Care of the Elderly”,

Recommends that ASEAN governments support the activities of the United Nations and World Health Organisation in this area in order that there will be a greater awareness of the socio-economic consequences of  this problem and that ASEAN governments undertake national programmes in this area in accordance with their national priorities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIRD ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2 – 6 SEPTEMBER 1980, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

ANNE I

RESOLUTION ON

AIPO-EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CO-OPERATION

(Committee II, Item 1)

The Third General Assembly of AIPO :

 

Noting the decisive and catalytic role and the significant achievement of the AIPO visit to the European Parliament in October, 1979 in speeding up the signing of EEC-ASEAN Co-operation Agreement.

 

Welcomes the forthcoming visit of the European Parliamentary Delegation to ASEAN early in 1981.

 

Recommends that the AIPO through its Secretariat should maintain regular contacts and dialogues with the European Parliaments as a means of increasing understanding and support of the spirit of EEC – ASEAN Co-operation Agreement signed in Kuala Lumpur in March, 1980 and ensuring its successful implementation.

 

Recommends that AIPO should take advantage of this visit to hold a dialogue with European Parliamentary Delegation in Jakarta, particularly of the need for speedy implementation of the ASEAN-EEC Cooperation Agreement; and that effective preparations be made by AIPO for this dialogue by having a meeting of the Working Committee preceding the special session of the AIPO planned for this purpose.

 

Recommends that the current AIPO President, in consultation with the Speakers of the National Parliaments of ASEAN, undertake the preparations for and organization of these meetings.

 

ANNEX IV

RESOLUTION ON REVIEW OF EEC-GSP MARK II

(Committee II, Item 4)

The ASEAN Members of Parliament

Recalling the ASEAN Declaration of 8 August 1967 which established the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) aimed at accelerating the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region,

 

Noting the Joint Declaration of the 2^nd ASEAN-EEC Ministerial Meeting of 7 March 1980, which inter-alia stated that the European Community reaffirmed its attachment to the basic objectives of the Generalized Scheme of Preferences and stated that it would continue with the implementation of this scheme after 1980 in a way which will take fully into account the economic development needs of ASEAN,

 

Welcoming the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between ASEAN and the EEC,

 

Stressing the importance of the EEC-GSP Mark II to the manufactured and semi-manufactured products and agricultural commodities of the ASEAN countries.

 

Concerned with the increasing spread of concepts and schemes, non-tariff barriers and other forms of protectionism in the advanced countries, which impede free trade and hinder the economic development of developing countries, including the ASEAN member countries,

 

 

 

Reaffirming their commitment to efforts designed to strengthen economic and commercial links between the two regional groupings:

 

(i)                       Express appreciation that the EEC-GSP Mark II will be extended from 30 June 1981 to 2000 AD and that all developing countries, including ASEAN, will be beneficiaries of this scheme.

 

(ii)                     Request the EEC to liberalize the classification of items under the non-sensitive category as this would promote the purpose of the GSP.

 

(iii)                   Reiterate ASEAN’s request for full cumulation and introduction of “donor country” content as this would be mutually beneficial to both sides.

 

(iv)                   Reiterate ASEAN’s request for inclusion of more products of exports interest to ASEAN countries.

 

(v)                     Request for the removal of or increase in the level of butoirs and ceilings so that ASEAN industries may benefit from economies of scale.

 

 

ANNEX V

RESOLUTION ON ASEAN COLLECTIVE

APPROACH IN FOREIGN TRADE,

ESPECIALLY WITH JAPAN

(Committee II, Item 5)

The Third General Assembly of AIPO:

NOTING growth and strengthening of ASEAN Solidarity

RECOGNIZING that ASEAN as a group has a large market and is an important exporter of fuel, raw materials, and semi-processed and manufactured products.

 

URGES ASEAN Economics Ministers to ensure that ASEAN is not disadvantaged in its trade with third countries.

 

URGES that this approach be urgently undertaken with countries with which there are outstanding problems in foreign trade in order to promote mutually beneficial trade and co-operation.

 

URGES in particularly the ASEAN-JAPAN Forum be taken advantage of to resolve expeditiously the still outstanding issues in ASEAN foreign trade with Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX VI

 

RESOLUTION ON ASEAN JOINT VENTURES

IN AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENTS AND SUITABLE

AGRI-BUSINESS AND AGRO-INDUSTRIES OF THE BLOC

(Committee II, Item 6)

 

 

The Third General Assembly of AIPO:

Noting :

(i)                 The importance of agriculture and its contribution to the national development of agri-business and agro-industries of ASEAN countries;

 

(ii)               Its role in providing employment to the largest sector of the work force in four of the five ASEAN countries;

 

(iii)             Its potentialities for further development and increasing role in alleviating unemployment and poverty among the peoples of ASEAN countries.

 

Noting further that the respective ASEAN countries individually are in possession of various technologies such as management and financial capabilities, and research technologies and information;

 

Recommends that AIPO member countries, acting nationally and regionally, should encourage greater co-operation among ASEAN countries in all fields of agricultural development and research as means of optimising the exploitation of agricultural resources for national development.

 

Recommends further that agricultural co-operation among ASEAN countries should also aim for the development of agri-business and agro-industries with private sector participation as a means of providing increasing employment opportunities and better income for those involved in agriculture.

 

 

2^nd ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANIZATION GENERAL ASSEMBLY

27 SEPTEMBER – 3 OCTOBER 1979, BANGKOK – THAILAND

ASEAN PREFERENTIAL TRADING ARRANGEMENTS AND DIALOGUE WITH THIRD COUNTRIES

Resolution No. 2

 

The Sub-committee recommends that the 2^nd General Assembly of AIPO adopt the following Resolution :

 

“Recalling,  the ASEAN Declaration of 8 August 1967 which established the Association of the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) aimed at accelerating the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region;

 

Recalling,  the decisions of the Bali Summit of 23 – 25 February, 1976, particularly the emphasis on the vital importance of accelerating regional economic cooperation;

 

Recalling,  also the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation which outlines ASEAN’s desire to co-exist in the spirit of mutual trust and respect;

 

Recalling further,   the Declaration of ASEAN Concord adopted on 24 February 1976 which provides for the adoption of a programme of action as a framework for ASEAN cooperation in the fields of basic commodities, industry and trade;

 

Noting,   the progress so far made in the negotiation and exchange of trade preferences among ASEAN countries under the  Agreement on ASEAN Preferential Trading Arrangements;

 

Concerned,  at the Increasing proliferation of non-tariff barriers in industrial countries;

 

Reaffirming,   their commitment to forge closer regional peace and stability and accelerating intra-ASEAN trade cooperation;

1.                  Agree to further foster the spirit of cooperation and solidarity among ASEAN Member States;

2.                  Agree on the importance of collective self-reliance in promoting regional growth and development;

3.                  Reaffirm their determination to continue to work greater liberalization  of intra-ASEAN trade so as to realize attest potential in the economic development of Member States.

4.                  Agree on the important role of the private sector

5.                  …

6.                  Agree  on the need to strengthen cooperation with countries with which ASEAN has established dialogue;

7.                  Agree further    on the need and to intensify fruitful ………..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROMOTION OF THE ROLES OF COMMERCIAL AND

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OF ASEAN COUNTRIES

IN REGIONAL AND WORLD-WIDE FEDERATIONS

 

………………………………

 

 

Resolution No. 3

 

The Sub-Committee considered the proposal of the Delegation of Thailand and noted that a number of commercial and professional bodies have already confederated on an ASEAN basis. It feels that such associations could play a useful role within the ASEAN region as well as on the large regional and world-wide framework, in promoting the objectives of ASEAN.

 

The Sub-Committee therefore submits the following Resolution to the 2^nd General for adoption:

 

Noting the useful role of commercial and professional associations in ASEAN in promoting the objectives of ASEAN;

 

Noting further that a number of such associations have confederated  on an ASEAN basis;

 

Recognizing the impact that such confederations can have on regional and world-wide federations of commerce and the professions in furthering the objectives of ASEAN;

 

Calls upon other such associations in ASEAN countries which have not already done so to establish ASEAN level confederations and ASEAN Governments to actively support and assists such confederations.

 

 

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