3 July 2004 - The Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and the Plus Three countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea met at the annual ASEAN + 3 Post Ministerial Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia on 1 July to review joint cooperation activities within the framework of the ASEAN Plus Three process. Special Envoy, Ambassador Rodolfo C. Severino, Jr. led the Philippine delegation composed of Foreign Affairs, DND and NSC officials.

The ASEAN Ministers discussed the future of the ASEAN+3 process, including progress on the implementation of the 17 short-term measures recommended by the East Asia Study Group (EASG) to strengthen East Asian cooperation and endorsed by the ASEAN Plus Three Summit in 2002.

The ASEAN Ministers said that the establishment of an East Asian community is a long-term objective for East Asia cooperation that has to be developed through the existing ASEAN+3 mechanism.  They also supported  the convening an East Asian Summit at an appropriate time. The Ministers agreed to complete the implementation of short-term measures by 2006 to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Plus Three process.

The Ministers also welcomed the accession of Japan to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.  Severino said the Philippines has much to benefit from ASEAN+3 cooperation, specifically in the area of economic and financial cooperation where there is significant progress on regional bond market development. He said that strengthening linkages with our Northeast Asian neighbors is in line with ASEAN’s outward looking stance and reflects ASEAN’s continued relevance and value to its international partners.

Severino also said that events to further strengthen the Plus 3 cooperation include the forthcoming East Asia Congress to be held in Kuala Lumpur, the 2nd Meeting of the Network of East Asia Think-Tanksin Bangkok in August, and the 2nd East Asia Forum in  Kuala Lumpur in December this year.  The Philippines actively participates in these regional conferences.   END.