The 10th ASEAN Summit was held in Vientiane, Laos on 28 – 30 November 2004.  With the theme “Advancing a Secure and Dynamic ASEAN Family through Greater Solidarity, Economic Integration and Social Progress”, the Summit achieved these objectives with full cooperation from all member countries and Dialogue partners.

In support of the vision to achieve an ASEAN Community by 2020, the ASEAN Leaders signed and adopted a number of documents and agreements, namely the Plans of Action of the ASEAN Security Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (a Philippine initiative), the Vientiane Action Programme, the ASEAN Framework Agreement for the Integration of Priority Sectors and the ASEAN Declaration Against Trafficking in Persons, Particularly Women and Children.

The Summit’s economic milestone is contained in the “Agreement for the Integration of Priority Sectors” and its related 11 Sectoral Integration Protocols on electronics, e-ASEAN, healthcare, wood-based products, automotives, rubber-based products, textiles and apparels, agro-based products, fisheries, air travel, and tourism. These agreements provide for the elimination of import duties by 2007 for the original ASEAN-6 and by 2012 for the new ASEAN members – or three years earlier than the original target under the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo noted that not only would the early realization of the AFTA through the acceleration of the integration of these priority sectors mean “more jobs, huge business opportunities, especially for small and medium enterprises, more export, and an enlarged tourism market,” but the other agreements adopted also ensure a balanced approach to development – “Because beyond the economic issues, there is a challenge to our hearts and consciences to build a more caring and more compassionate world where decent men and women work together not only in a quest for profit but also for the benefit of the poor.”
Another Philippine economic breakthrough was achieved during the Summit when the President and Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi met bilaterally and reached a firm consensus on key items of the Japan – Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement.

“We agreed to promote a freer trans-border flow of goods, persons, services and capital between Japan and the Philippines.  This is a formidable step forward towards liberal, fair trade and for the fight against poverty in our country.

Japan will allow entry of Filipino candidates for qualified nurses and certified careworkers, and will allow them to work, after completing training of Japanese language and others, as preparation for obtaining national licenses.  The duration of stay shall be up to three years for nurses, and four years for certified careworkers,” the President disclosed.

The ASEAN Leaders also cited the importance of sub-regional growth areas, such as the BIMP-EAGA in the ASEAN integration process.  They discussed ways to accelerate the pace of development of the growth areas and welcomed the contribution of other sub-regional frameworks in the region to help close the development gap within ASEAN.

In this regard, the Philippines pushed for and obtained agreement among BIMP-EAGA Leaders to come up with a work program and hold a 2nd BIMP-EAGA Summit in 2005.  The President also sought support for the BIMP-EAGA sub-region with all Plus Three countries and it appears that they are immediately willing to refocus attention to this area.

Consensus was also reached on the convening of a number of Summits in 2005, namely the East Asia Summit, the details of which will be worked out by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, the ASEAN-Russia Summit and the 2nd ASEAN-UN Summit which will be held in New York during the 60th session of the UN General Assembly.

In support of the quest for global peace, the Leaders strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks and reaffirmed to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts.  They also called for a peaceful and comprehensive solution to the nuclear problems in the Korean Peninsula, expressed concern over the situation in the Middle East and Iraq, and called on the United Nations to continue playing a central role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq.

The President also thanked the ASEAN members of APEC for their endorsement of the Philippines as head of the APEC Counter-Terrorism Task Force, as well as, all ASEAN members for their support for the Philippine sponsored UN General Assembly Resolution on Inter-Faith Dialogue.  Her proposal to work with Japan and Indonesia as lead in the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action on a counter-terrorism program was also agreed upon. These Philippine successes illustrate our commitment to establishing a secure environment for unhampered development.

On the global economy, the Leaders expressed the need to work together on alternative energy resources and the establishment of Outbreak Response Teams to address the problem of infectious diseases.

An important feature of the ASEAN Summit, are the accompanying Summits with ASEAN Dialogue Partners – this year involving China, Japan, South Korea, (including a separate Plus Three meeting) India, Australia and New Zealand.

The highlights of these summits were as follows:
 

• ASEAN Plus Three – Recognition of financial and economic cooperation through the Chiang Mai and Asian Bond Markets initiatives.  Convening in 2005 of an East Asia Summit in Malaysia was welcomed.
• ASEAN + China – Signing of the ASEAN-China Plan of Action to implement the 2003 Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership. Chinese contribution of US $ 5 million to the ASEAN-China Cooperation fund and their continued support for BIMP-EAGA and other areas of cooperation with ASEAN.
• ASEAN + Japan – Adoption of the ASEAN-Japan Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism, and decision that ASEAN-Japan CEP Agreement Negotiations should begin in 2005.  ASEAN + ROK – Signing of the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Economic Partnership laying down basis for future cooperation and start of Free Trade Area negotiations.
• ASEAN + India – Signing of the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity, and the Plan of Action.  The President welcomed the “Look East Policy” of India and bilateral cooperation on health and pharmaceuticals, and hoped that India would help development in BIMP-EAGA and Mindanao.
• ASEAN – Australia – New Zealand Commemorative Summit – Signing of the Joint Declaration of the Commemorative Summit reflecting commitment to enhance all areas of cooperation. END

/jay