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	PGMA's Departure Statement for the 7th ASEAN Summit in Brunei
	PGMA's Statement on her Arrival in Manila from the 7th ASEAN Summit

TODAY I AM LEAVING FOR BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN TO ATTEND THE 7^TH ASEAN SUMMIT. IF YOU ASK ME, WHAT IS THE MEASURE BY WHICH WE VALUE ASEAN, WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMITMENT TO ASEAN? THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE. OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS ARE BOUND MORE AND MORE CLOSELY WITH THOSE OF THE REGION OF SOUTHEAST ASIA OR ASEAN.

THE FOUNDATIONS OF ASEAN REGIONALISM ARE VALID. SOUTHEAST ASIA IS IMMENSELY DIVERSE IN ITS HISTORY, CULTURE, LANGUAGE, RELIGION, POLITICAL SYSTEM AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION, BUT GOD AND HISTORY HAVE PLACED US TOGETHER IN THE SAME CORNER OF THE WORLD. WE SOUTHEAST ASIANS THEREFORE, HAVE TO TRANSCEND OUR DIFFERENCES AND VIEW OURSELVES INCREASINGLY AS ONE, IN A WORLD OF UNCERTAIN SECURITY AND ECONOMIC FLUX. THE INDIVIDUAL NATIONS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA CANNOT HAVE PEACE, CANNOT THRIVE, CANNOT HOPE TO PROSPER, CANNOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE UNLESS THEY WORK TOGETHER, STAND TOGETHER, POOL THEIR RESOURCES, SHARE MORE AND MORE OF THEIR INTERESTS, TRUST ONE ANOTHER, AND INCREASINGLY SPEAK AS ONE IN THE COUNCILS OF THE WORLD.

TO THE PROMISE AND CHALLENGE OF GLOBALIZATION, TO THE EBB AND FLOW OF ECONOMIC ADVERSITY AND OPPORTUNITY, ASEANS’ RESPONSE IS DOMESTIC REFORM, THE INTEGRATION OF THE REGION AND STRONG LINKAGES WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.

WE AS A REGION MUST WORK TOGETHER TO FACE THE EXPANDING NUMBER AND SCOPE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT TRANSCEND OUR NATIONAL BOUNDARIES AND REQUIRE REGIONAL ACTION: THE THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, DRUG TRAFFICKING, TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS, HUMAN RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AND THEN THERE IS TERRORISM.

THE SUMMIT WILL BE A WORKING NO-FRILLS AND NO- CEREMONIES EVENT. THE LEADERS WILL STRIVE TO PUT OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TOGETHER TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF THE GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY AND INSTABILITY, ECONOMIC RECESSION AND SUSTAINED POVERTY ALLEVIATION WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SUMMIT WILL BE CAPPED BY MEETINGS WITH CHINA ,JAPAN AND KOREA. THERE WILL BE AN EARNEST EFFORT TO DOVETAIL ASEAN CONCERNS WITH THE LARGER SPHERE OF EAST ASIA AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO A LARGER COMMUNITY OF NATIONS AND INTEREST IN THE FUTURE.

THE PHILIPPINE AGENDA IN ASEAN IS QUITE CLEAR AND STRAIGHTFORWARD. THE COMMITMENT TO ASEAN REMAINS A CORNERSTONE OF PHILIPPINE FOREIGN POLICY. THIS GOVERNMENT WILL DO ITS UTMOST TO HELP BUILD A COMMUNITY OF PEACE IN ASEAN.

THE PHILIPPINES WILL REMAIN FIRM IN IMPLEMENTING ITS COMMITMENTS IN ASEAN AS A STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS TOWARD ATTAINING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. SPECIFICALLY, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENT THE CEPT-AFTA WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO SENSITIVE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND OTHER PRODUCTS NEEDING TIME TO ADJUST FOR A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.

THE PHILIPPINES WILL CONTINUE TO ATTACH GREAT VALUE TO THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM, OR ARF, AS THE MULTILATERAL SECURITY FORUM IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION, WHERE ASEAN CAN ENGAGE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS ON POLITICAL AND SECURITY ISSUES.

IN THE LIGHT OF TODAY’S UNCERTAINTIES, THE PHILIPPINE AGENDA IS TO CONSOLIDATE REGIONAL VIGILANCE AGAINST THE THREAT OF GLOBAL TERRORISM, TO INTEGRATE THE ASEAN POSITION IN THE RUN UP TO THE NEXT ROUND OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, AND TO MAXIMIZE ASEAN PROGRAMS THAT WOULD HEW CLOSELY TO OUR OWN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PRIORITIES.

IN THIS AGENDA, OUR UNDERLYING INTERESTS ARE TRANSPARENT AND SELF-EVIDENT. THIS SHALL BE LOGICALLY REFLECTED IN OUR INITIATIVES IN THE SUMMIT.

FIRST, I HAVE PROPOSED AN ASEAN DECLARATION AGAINST TERRORISM.

THIS INITIATIVE HAS BEEN AT THE WORKS AT THE MINISTERIAL LEVEL FOR SOMETIME NOW. THE UNDERLYING LOGIC IS THAT WE CANNOT FURTHER INTEGRATE AND CONSOLIDATE ASEAN AS AN ECONOMIC BLOCK IF WE DO NOT SECURE THE RAMPARTS OF OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. ONCE APPROVED, THE DECLARATION COULD LEAD TO A MORE CONCRETE AGREEMENT OR CONVENTION ON SPECIFIC MEASURES TO BE UNDERTAKEN INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY. OR MAY BE THESE TWO EFFORTS CAN GO PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER.

THE ELEMENTS OF THIS CONVENTION WOULD INCLUDE EFFECTIVE RESTRAINTS ON TERRORIST FUNDS, TRANSPORTATION , ENERGY AND HEALTH SECURITY , CUSTOMS AND BORDER CONTROLS, AND ENSURING A STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR TRADE INVESTMENT TRAVEL AND TOURISM.

THE MAIN IDEA IS TO MAP OUT A STRATEGY OF CONSTRICTION AGAINST TERRORISTS AND THEIR RESOURCES WHILE KEEPING OPEN SAFE AVENUES FOR LEGITIMATE INVESTMENT, TRADE, AND LABOR MIGRATION.

WHILE KEEPING A KEEN EYE ON THE TERRORIST FRONT, ASEAN MUST ALSO NOW PREPARE FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF WTO IN THE LIGHT OF TWO IMPORTANT IMPERATIVES.

FIRST, IS THE NEED TO PREPARE FOR CHINA’S ENTRY INTO THE WORLD BODY, WHICH WILL OPEN FRESH REALIGNMENTS IN TRADE AND COULD CAUSE TRANSIENT DISLOCATIONS AND DISFUNCTIONS IN REGIONAL PRODUCTION AND MARKETS.

THE SECOND IS THE NEED TO MAKE THE NEXT ROUND A TRULY DEVELOPMENT ROUND WHICH WOULD MAINSTREAM GLOBAL TRADE INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA AND ACCORD THE POORER NATIONS GREATER CAPACITY BUILDING AND FLEXIBILITY TO PURSUE SOCIAL REFORM PROGRAMS AS WELL AS TO ADJUST TO THE DIFFICULTIES OF LIBERALIZATION.

ECONOMIC SECURITY AND STABILITY WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HOWEVER, WILL CONTINUE TO REST ON SPECIFIC COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS.

THE PHILIPPINES IS INTERESTED IN SEVERAL AREAS:

ONE IS A REVITALIZATION OF THE BRUNEI-INDONESIA- MALAYSIA- PHILIPPINES EAST ASIAN GROWTH AREA, STARTING WITH A SPURT OF CONFIDENCE BUILDING BASED ON TRANSNATIONAL SECURITY MEASURES FOLLOWED BY THE VIGOROUS PURSUIT OF ECONOMIC LINKAGES SUCH AS THE RESUMPTION OF SUSPENDED AIR AND SEA TRANSPORT SERVICES, AND OTHER PROJECTS SUCH AS THOSE IN FISHERIES, POWER AND OIL. WE ARE ALSO KEENLY FOCUSED ON ACCELERATING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS WITHIN ASEAN.

THE NEED FOR STRONGER POLITICAL WILL TO REALIZE THE E-ASIAN INITIATIVE IS CLEARLY INDICATED. E-ASIAN MUST BE DOVETAILED WITH EACH MEMBER-COUNTRY’S NATIONAL POLICIES AND PLANS WHICH MUST INCLUDE FIRM BUDGETARY COMMITMENTS.

ANOTHER AREA IS TOURISM DEVELOPMENT.

AS A MEANS OF COUNTERING THE DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF THE SEPTEMBER 11 EVENTS, ASEAN AND ITS THREE NORTH EAST ASIAN PARTNERS COULD PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN RESTORING NORMALCY IN THE AREA OF TOURISM. NEXT YEAR BODES WELL WITH THE HOSTING OF THE WORLD CUP BY JAPAN AND KOREA. WE SHALL ENCOURAGE SIDE TRIPS TO ASEAN BY TOURISTS VISITING CHINA, JAPAN AND KOREA THROUGH JOINT TRAVEL PACKAGES. I MIGHT MENTION THAT THE YEAR 2003 HAS ALSO BEEN BILLED BY THE WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION AS VISIT THE PHILIPPINES YEAR. LET’S ALL PREPARE FOR THAT.

FINALLY, I AM FIRMLY PUSHING THE COLLECTVE VISION OF AN EAST ASIA COMMUNITY ENCOMPASSING ASEAN, PLUS CHINA, JAPAN AND KOREA.

THE INITIATIVES I SHALL CARRY TO ASEAN ARE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH THE FOREIGN POLICY IMPERATIVES GOVERNING MY TRIP TO THE APEC SUMMIT AND TO HONGKONG AND CHINA OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

I SHALL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHALL OPTIMIZE OUR INTERESTS IN ALL MULTILATERAL AND BILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS THAT ARE FORMING IN THE MIDST OF THE GLOBAL CRISIS. WE SHALL PURSUE EVERY ADVANTAGE WE CAN FROM EVERY MEETING AND COVENANT, FROM EVERY PERSONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CONTACT, TO KEEP OUR NATION SECURE AND RESILIENT TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY NETS OUR PEOPLE NEED AT THIS TIME OF DIFFICULTY IN CRISIS.

ONCE MORE, I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FAITH IN MY LEADERSHIP. I ASK FOR GREATER UNITY, VIGOR AND COURAGE IN PUSHING THE NATIONAL ENTERPRISE FORWARD. THANK YOU.

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.

VICE-PRESIDENT GUINGONA

MEMBERS OF MY CABINET

EXCELLENCIES,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I AM GLAD TO BE BACK IN MANILA AFTER ATTENDING A SERIES OF SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS IN BRUNEI WITH MY FELLOW ASEAN LEADERS AND OUR COUNTERPARTS FROM CHINA, JAPAN AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA.

AS EXPECTED, THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM DOMINATED OUR DISCUSSIONS DURING THE 7^TH ASEAN SUMMIT.

WE ISSUED AN ASEAN DECLARATION ON JOINT ACTION TO COUNTER TERRORISM TO PROJECT ASEAN'S RESOLVE IN ADDRESSING THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. THE PHILIPPINES CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE DRAFTING OF THE DECLARATION AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO NOTE THAT SUCH A DECLARATON HAS BEEN ISSUED.

IN THE DECLARATION, WE CONDEMNED THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE ALSO CALLED UPON ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES TO STRENGHTHEN COOPERATION IN COUNTERING, PREVENTING AND SUPPRESSING ALL FORMS OF TERRORIST ACTS. WE PAID ATTENTIN TO FINDING WAYS TO COMBAT TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, THEIR SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND FUNDING AND BRING THE PERPETRATIONS TO JUSTICE.

I PROPOSED THAT ASEAN WORK ON A REGIONAL OPERATIONAL CONVENTION OR AGREEMENT TO COMBAT TERRORISM AND HOLD A MULTILATERAL SEMINAR/GAME ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO TERRORIST THREATS. WE INSTRUCTED THE ASEAN SPECIAL MINISTERIAL MEETING ON TRANSNATIONAL CRIME, WHICH WILL MEET NEXT APRIL. TO STUDY THESE OTHER PROPOSALS.

AS THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS AFFECTED AND WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE WORLD ECONOMY, WE EXCHANGED VIEWS ON POSSIBLE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL MEASURES TO ADOPT TO ENSURE THAT ASEAN IS ABLE TO OVERCOME THIS CRISIS.

IN THE ECONOMIC FRONT, I CALLED ON OUR FELLOW ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES TO ENSURE THAT THEIR MACRO-ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS REMAIN SOUND IN THE FACE OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN.

I EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE CONDUCT OF A COMPETITIVENESS STUDY FOR THE REGION, WHICH WOULD IDENTIFY THE COMPARATIVE AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF CERTAIN INDUSTRIES VIS-À-VIS OTHER REGIONS. WE LIKEWISE AGREED TO SPEED UP NEGOTIATIONS ON LIBERALIZING INTRA-ASEAN TRADE IN SERVICES AND TO START NEGOTIATIONS ON MUTUAL RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

OTHER PROPOSALS TO BOOST ASEAN'S ECONOMIC STANDING INCLUDE THE CONVENING OF REGULAR ASEAN BUSINESS SUMMITS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ASEAN SUMMITS, THE SETTING UP OF AN ASEAN BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THE CONDUCT OF TRADE FAIRS.

I EMPHASIZED THE NEED FO GREATER POLITICAL WILL AND FULL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO REALIZE THE E-ASEAN INITIATIVE.

I ALSO UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING SUB-REGIONAL GROWTH AREAS, PARTICULARLY THE BIMP-EAGA, AS AN IMPORTANT AND APPROPRIATE STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING OUR CURRENT ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

I PROPOSED MEASURES TO REVITALIZE THE BIMP-EAGA INCLUDING, AS A PRIORITY, STREGTHENING SECURITY COOPERATION IN THE SUB-REGION TO RESTORE INVESTOR CONFIDENCE. IT IS IN THIS CONTENTXT THAT I STRESSED THE NEED TO FAST-TRACK AN OPERATIONAL AGREEMENT ON TERRORISM AMONG NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES SUCH AS INDONESIA, MALAYSIA AND PHILIPPINES. THIS COULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES WITH COMMON CONCERNS.

OTHER MEASURES WHICH I RAISED INCLUDE THE RESUMPTION OF AIR AND SEA TRANSPORT SERVICES AND OTHER PROJECTS SUCH AS THOSE PERTAINING TO FISHERIES, POWER, OIL, I CALLED FOR THE ACCELERATION OF EFFORTS TO HARMONIZE CUSTOMS, IMMIGRATION, QUARANTINE AND SECURITY (CIQS) PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THE FREER FLOW OF GOODS AND SERVICES AND PROMOTE TOURISM. MID-TO LONG-TERM PROJETS INCLUDE POWER AND GAS INTERCONNECTIONS AMONG MEMBER COUNTRIES, PROMOTION OF AN EAGA FOOD SUPPLY NETWORK FOR CHINA AND NORTH ASIA, JOINT TOURISM MARKETING AND ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EAGA VENTURE CAPITAL FUND.

I ALSO RAISED THE NEED FOR A MORE FOCUSED GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN THE SUB-REGION. THIS WILL HOPEFULLY PROVIDE THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT TO ATTRACT PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

AS SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES COMPRISE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE SUB-REGION, I ALLED ON THE BIMP COUNTRIES TO FOCUS ATTENTION AND DEVELOPING THE SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES.

I STRESSED THE NEED FOR BIMP-EAGA MEMBER COUNTRIES TO EXERT GREATER POLITICAL WILL ADOPT A MORE PROACTIVE STANCE AND UNDERTAKE SOME PUMP-PRIMING ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE SUB-REGION.

FINALLY, I UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF GREATER PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT OF RELEVANT AGENCIES AND LOCAL ENTITIES IN THE SUB-REGION.

WE CONVENED A SESSION ON HIV/AIDS AND ADOPTED THE 7^TH ASEAN DECLARATION ON HIV/AIDS TO SHOW OUR RESOLVE IN COMBATING THIS SCOURGE. WE LIKEWISE ENDORSED THE SECOND PHASE OF AN ASEAN WORK PROGRAM ON HIV/AIDS FOR THE PERIOD 2001-2004.

THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM ALSO OMINATED OUR DISCUSSIONS DURING OUR ASEAN+3 SUMMIT MEETING. WE, THE EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES, CONDEMNED THE RECENT ATTACKS IN THE UNITED STATES. WE COMMITTED TO STRENGHTEN OUR COOPERATION AGAINST THIS MENACE. SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL ENHANCE CONSULTATION, COORDINATION AND COOPERATION AMONG OUR RELEVANT AUTHORITIES TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

THE LEADERS AGREED THAT OUR ECONOMIC AND FINANCE OFFICIALS SHOULD COOPERATE CLOSELY IN ADDRESSING THE IMPACT OF THE TERRORIST ASSAULTS ON THE EAST ASIAN ECONOMY.

WE CONSIDERED THE EAST ASIAN VISION GROUP (EAVG) REPORT WHICH CONTAINS MEASURES THAT WOULD HELP CRYSTALIZE THE VISION OF AN EAST ASIAN COMMUNITY. WE DISCUSSED POSSIBLE INITIATIVES TO FURTHER STRENGHTEN EAST ASIAN COOPERATION SUCH AS THE CONVENING OF AN EAST ASIAN SUMMIT AND THE EAST ASIAN FORUM.

ONE OF THE EAVG'S INTERESTING RECOMMENDATIONS IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EAST ASIAN FREE TRADE AREA. THE EAST ASIA STUDY GROUP WILL BE REPORTING TO US IN CAMBODIA NEXT YEAR ON THE FEASIBILITY AND PRACTICABILITY OF IMPLEMENTING THE EAVG'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT THESE INITIATIVES WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE REALIZATION OF AN EAST ASIAN COMMUNITY IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

AT THE ASEAN + CHINA SUMIT, I POINTED OUT THAT SICNE THE UNITED STATES IS UNLIKELY TO BE A SOURCE OF GROWTH IN THE SHORT-TERM, ASEAN WOULD NEED TO EXPLORE OTHER MARKETS AND STRENGTHEN TRADE AND INVESTMENT RELATIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, NOTABLY CHINA.

IN THIS REGARD, I EMPHASIZED THAT THE STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE ASEAN-CHINA EXPERT GROUP ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION ENTITLED "FORGING CLOSER ECONOMIC RELATIONS IN THE 21^ST CENTURY", WHICH RECOMMENDS MEASURES ON FORGING CLOSER ASEAN-CHINA ECONOMIC RELATIONS, OFFERS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR DEEPENING LINKS TO A STRONG AND DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP.

I PROPOSE THAT CHINA CONSIDER THE BIMP-EAGA SUB-REGION AS A LONG-TERM SUPPLIER OF FISHERIES PRODUCTS, COCONUT AND FARM, OIL, TROPICAL FRUITS AND OTHER FOOD PRODUCTS. INVITE ROK TO CONSIDER INVESTMENTS IN THIS SECTOR IN THE BIMP-EAGA SUB-REGION.

DURING ASEAN'S SUMMIT MEETING WITH JAPAN, I WELCOMED JAPAN'S VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION IN ANTI-PIRACY EFFORTS, JAPAN HAS ASSISTED AND COLLABORATED WITH ASEAN IN COMBATING PIRACY, WHICH HAS INCREASING BECOME A SERIOUS CONCERN THAT REQUIRES COOPERATION AMONG THE COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.

I SUGGESTED THAT OUR REGION'S RESPONSE AGAINST PIRACY SHOULD MOVE FROM THE THEORETICAL TO THE PRACTICAL. IN PARTICULAR, THERE IS A NEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN NATIONAL AND REGIONAL ANTI-PIRACY EFFORTS. ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES SHOULD HAVE IN PLACE THEIR RESPECTIVE NATIONAL ACTION PLANS TO COMBAT PIRACY. BUT BEYOND THAT, ASEAN SHOULD CONSIDER A REGIONAL COOPERATION SCHEME TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE MORE EFFECTIVELY.

I ALSO THANKED JAPAN FOR ITS CONTINUED EFFORTS IN ASSISTING AND COLLABORATING WITH ASEAN TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES OF ASEAN-JAPAN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION.

FINALLY, I SOUGHT JAPAN'S ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING THE BIMP-EAGA. IN PARTICULAR, I CALLED ON JAPAN TO SUPPORT A JOINT TUNA STOCK ASSESSMENT IN THE SULU-SULAWESI PROJECT AS JAPAN IS THE MAIN MARKET FOR YELLOW FIN SASHIMI GRADE TUNA FROM THIS AREA.

DURING THE ASEAN+KOREA SUMMIT, I CALLED FOR STRONGER ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND KOREA.

TWO CONCREE MEASURES THAT I RAISED IN THIS REGARD INCLUDE THE POSSIBLE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ASEAN-ROK PROMOTION CENTER FOR TRADE, INVESTMENT, TOURISM AND I.T., AS WELL AS THE REVIVAL OF THE ASEAN-KOREA BUSINESS COUNCIL (AKBC).

SINCE THE PHILIPPINES IS THE COORDINATOR OF ASEAN - KOREA DIALOGUE RELATIONS. I EXPRESSED OUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE ASEAN SECRETARIAT AND KOREA TO LOOK INTO THE DETAILS AND FEASIBILITY OF THESE PROPOSALS.

I ALSO EXPRESSED APPRECIATION TO KOREA FOR ITS ICT INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE ASEAN SECRETARIAT INTRANET APPLICATIONS PROJECT AND THE ASEAN+3 ICT - SPECIFIC BUSINESS FORUM.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE MAJOR DECISIONS OF THE SUMMIT WILL BODE WELL FOR THE CONOMIC, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE OF ASEAN AS AN ORGANIZATION AND ITS INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES. I SHOULD EMPHASIZE THAT ASEAN REMAINS AS RELEVANT AS EVER SINCE CERTAIN REGIONAL ISSUES ARE EFFECTIVELY DEALT WITH COLECTIVELY RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL.

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