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| Backgrounder: 13th ASEAN Summit Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| High on the
agenda of the 13th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Singapore, 18-22
November 2007, is the ASEAN Charter. It has been nearly two years since the
Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Charter. After
actively consulting various ASEAN sectors and stakeholders, including civil
society organisations, businessmen, academics and parliamentarians, the
ASEAN Charter is ready to be signed by ASEAN Leaders at the forthcoming
summit. The historic document comes as ASEAN celebrates its founding 40
years ago. The ASEAN Charter is expected to serve as a legal and
institutional framework, as well as an inspiration for ASEAN to meet future
challenges and opportunities. ASEAN is committed to narrowing the
development gap and to advance a ASEAN integration through building an ASEAN
Community to further peace, progress and prosperity of its peoples. Another important document to be signed at the Summit is the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint. This is a master plan that identifies the priority measures and actions to be undertaken to transform ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour and freer flow of capital by 2015. The blueprint is meant to ensure the full and effective functioning of the ASEAN Economic Community to generate more growth and create more jobs. The key theme of discussions at the 13th ASEAN Summit and related meetings will be energy, the environment, climate change and sustainable development. In line with this, ASEAN Leaders will sign a declaration on environmental sustainability to protect and manage the environment, respond to climate change and conserve the region’s natural resources. The Leaders also will declare their support for a successful outcome of the negotiation at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bali next month, which seeks to pave the way for a climate change roadmap beyond 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol expires. This year marks the 10th anniversary of ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation. Building on the foundation of this cooperation, the Leaders of ASEAN and China, Japan and ROK will adopt the Second Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation and the Work Plan to guide ASEAN Plus Three cooperation over the next ten years. ASEAN also is working towards issuing a declaration on climate change, energy and the environment at the Third East Asia Summit, which brings together the Leaders of ASEAN and Australia, China, India, Japan, ROK and New Zealand. Other documents that will be signed at the 13th ASEAN Summit and related meetings include: a. by ASEAN Ministers: • The ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement on Architectural Services • The ASEAN Framework Arrangement for the Mutual Recognition of Surveying Qualifications • The Protocol to Implement the Sixth Package Commitments under the ASEAN framework Agreement and Services b. with ASEAN Dialogue Partners: a number of agreements on trade and areas of cooperation (negotiations ongoing) Source: http:/www.aseansec.org/Bulletin-Nov-07.htm#article1 (Posted on 12 November 2007) |
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| The 13th ASEAN Summit Theme | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At the 39th
ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in July 2006 in Kuala Lumpur, the ASEAN
Foreign Ministers agreed that the theme for the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN
and for ASEAN Summit held in 2007 in Singapore would be, “One ASEAN at the
Heart of Dynamic Asia”. The theme contains key elements of ASEAN’s common aspirations, First, “One ASEAN” captures the idea of the ASEAN’s goal towards closer integration and one ASEAN Community. Second “at the heart” contains the idea of ASEAN’s centrality and ASEAN being in the driver’s seat of the evolving regional architecture. Third, “Dynamic Asia” describes the economic renaissance that is taking place in Asia. On the whole, the theme provides a fresh, optimistic and forward looking view of ASEAN as an organisation. This overarching theme will be reflected in the initiatives which will be undertaken by the Singapore Chairmanship of ASEAN. At the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in July 2007 in Manila, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers also welcomed Singapore’s proposal, as the Chair of ASEAN to focus on “Energy, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development as a key theme of discussions at the upcoming 13th ASEAN Summit and its related meetings in Singapore held in November 2007. In line with this theme, we look forward to the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Environmental Sustainability to be signed at the 13th ASEAN Summit and a proposal to work on a Singapore Declaration on the Environment to be issued at the 3rd East Asia Summit. Source: http//www.13thaseansummit.org.sg/asean/index.php/web/layout/set/print/content/view/ retrieved on 14 November 2007 |
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| ASEAN, A key partner for Europe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) encompasses 10th South East Asian countries. Its key position in the Asia-Pacific region, its dedication to peace and stability in the region and its important economic weight have made ASEAN an essential partner for the European Union in Asia. ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signature of the Bangkok declaration by the five original member nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand). The Member countries that make up ASEAN have a combined GDP of 656 billion € (2002), but there are large economic disparities between the ASEAN members. With a population of some 503 million people, they make up one of the largest regional markets in the world. A significant development for ASEAN took place at the Bali Summit of October 2003: the ASEAN leaders projected the created of ASEAN Economic, Security and a Socio-cultural Community. The EU greatly supports this development, considering its first hand experience of the benefits of closer regional integration. The EU is a longstanding dialogue Partner of ASEAN, Co-operation between the EU and ASEAN is based on a Co-operation Agreement (1980) between the EC and member countries of ASEAN: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Protocols for the accession of Laos and Cambodia to the Agreement were signed in July 2000 but the EU has indicated that it cannot agree to negotiate an extension of the agreement to Burma/Myanmar as long as the situation as regards democracy and human rights in the country does not improve significantly. Burma/Mynmar, may participate in EC-ASEAN co-operation actions provided they are in line with the Council Common Position to restrictive measures against this country. In September 2001, the European Commission’s presented its Communication “Europe and Asia: A Strategic Framework for Enhanced Partnerships”, which identified ASEAN as a key economic and political partner of the EC and emphasised its importance as a locomotive for overall relations between Europe and Asia. The Commission Communication ‘A New Partnership with South East Asia’, presented in July 2003, reaffirms the importance of the EC-ASEAN partnership. Political DialoguePolitical dialogue between the EU and ASEAN firstly takes place at regular Ministerial Meetings. The foreign ministers of both the EU and ASEAN have met for political dialogue every second year since 1978. The 16th EU-ASEAN Ministerial meeting took place in Nuremberg on 14-15 March 2007. All 27 member states of the EU and the 10 member countries of ASEAN participated, while Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner represented the Commission. There was a shared perception that the EU and ASEAN, together representing around 1 billion people and committed to the same principles of regional and multilateral cooperation, had a very great potential to work together to address global challenges. Both sides welcomed the progress made in strengthening bilateral relations since formal relations were established 30 years ago. It was agreed by all that EU/ASEAN cooperation in the ACEH Monitoring Mission had given the relationship a new political vigour. The meeting discussed the progress made in the EC-ASEAN cooperation programmes, the negotiations of Partnership and Cooperation Agreements, the various sector dialogues between the two regions, and the strengthening of the economic relations. The ministerial discussed regional developments in the EU and ASEAN and a range of international issues. The meeting marked a step change in EU/ASEAN relations, reflecting a wish by both sides to increase engagement at a time when ASEAN accelerates the pace of its own integration and EU seeks an enhanced role in South East Asia. A Nuremberg Declaration was adopted setting out a shared aspiration to boost cooperation further. This will be followed up by drafting a detailed Plan of shared aspiration to boost cooperation further. Trade relationsIn 2005, the EU was ASEAN’s second largest export market and the third largest trading partner after the United States and Japan. EU exports to ASEAN were estimated at 45 billion Euro while EU imports from ASEAN were valued at 71 billion Euro. The main exports from ASEAN to the EU are machinery, agricultural products, chemical and textiles and clothing. In general, both EU imports and exports of goods to ASEAN between 2000 and 2003 have decreased, largely reflecting global trends, although at a slightly higher rate. In contrast, trade in services during the same period has increased for both EU imports and exports of services with ASEAN. EU FDI flows to ASEAN are recovering after the fall due to the financial crisis of 97-98. Singapore attracts more FDI that all the other ASEAN countries taken together and was the 4th largest destination for EU direct investment in 2003, after Russia and ahead of China. The EC-ASEAN Joint Co-operation Committee (JCC) promotes and keeps under review the various co-operation activities envisaged in the Co-operation Agreement. An official-level Committee usually meets every 18 months. Sub-committees have been established for Trade and Investment, Economic and Industrial Co-operation, Science and Technology, Forestry, Environment, and Narcotics. The Commission’s Regional Indicative Programme for co-operation with ASEAN covering budget years 2005-2006 to the amount of 15-20 million reflects the new agenda with ASEAN following the ‘New Partnership’ communication. The programme was endorsed at the JCC of 26 February 2005 in Indonesia. Source: http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/asean/intro/index.htm |
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| 4th BIMP-EAGA Summit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 4th BIMP-EAGA (Brunei
Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines/East Asean Growth Area) Summit
will be held in the Jurong Ballroom of the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore on 19
November 2007. It will be chaired by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal
Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah in Brunei Darussalam’s capacity as current
Chair of the BIMP-EAGA. |
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| 11th ASEAN-CHINA SUMMIT (20 Nov 2007, Singapore) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The ASEAN-China Summit is
an annual meeting among the Leaders of ASEAN Member Countries and the
People’s Republic of China, where the Summit Leaders review and set future
directions of ASEAN-China dialogue relations and exchange views on regional
and international issues. |
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| Information Paper on the 11th ASEAN Plus Three Summit (20 Nov 2007, Singapore) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The ASEAN Plus Three Summit
is an annual meeting between the Heads of State/Government of the ASEAN
member countries and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. H.E. Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in the capacity of Singapore as the current ASEAN
Chair and coordinator of ASEAN Plus Three relations, will co-chair the
meeting with H.E. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda of Japan. |
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Chairperson’s Statement of the 12th ASEAN Summit
H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. |
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2. We exchanged views on regional and international developments, focusing on how we may deepen ASEAN integration to better foster the region’s sustainable development, stability, security and prosperity for the benefit of all our peoples. 3. We resolved to uphold the centrality of ASEAN and to enhance its standing as an effective driving force for regional initiatives and collective responses to the challenges and opportunities facing our region, countries and peoples. We stressed that the ASEAN community we are building shall be a community of peoples caring for and sharing their human, natural and cultural resources and strengths for their common good and mutual benefit. Cebu Declaration on the Blueprint of the ASEAN Charter 4. We recognized that ASEAN must manage the
key challenges of regional integration, globalization, economic growth and
new technologies. In doing so, we acknowledged that ASEAN must remain
cohesive with strong institutions and responsive policies for regional
community building. To help realize this vision, we signed the Cebu
Declaration on the Blueprint of the ASEAN Charter to endorse the Report of
the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on the ASEAN Charter as one of the basis of
the drafting of the ASEAN Charter together with our views and directives
given at the 11th and 12th ASEAN Summit. We also directed the High Level
Task Force to complete the drafting of the ASEAN Charter in time for the
13th Summit in Singapore in 2007. 5. We recognized ASEAN’s progress in creating a caring environment that prioritizes the quality of life of its peoples. We agreed to address the special needs of the vulnerable and disadvantaged, through people-centered integration. To reinforce this environment in the context of building a stronger regional identity, we agreed to hold ASEAN Day commemorative activities in each our countries. 6. We agreed to strengthen the protection and promotion of the rights and welfare of women and children within and between our countries. Towards this end, we will mainstream their concerns in our national and regional plans. 7. We recognized the contributions of our migrant workers to the development and prosperity of our region. We, therefore, issued the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers as a concrete manifestation of our collective commitment to attain this objective. We directed our officials to implement the Declaration and to develop, in accordance with its provisions, effective mechanisms to safeguard our migrant workers, including an ASEAN instrument to protect and promote the rights of migrant workers, consistent with our vision of building a just, humane and democratic ASEAN Community. We also instructed the Secretary General to report annually on the progress of these directives. 8. We convened the Second Special Session on HIV and AIDS to stem and reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS in the region. We agreed to strengthen national AIDS policies and programs to protect persons living with HIV and AIDS, as well as other affected groups, from social stigma. We agreed to remove obstacles in the access of quality products and medicines for HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment. We adopted the Third ASEAN Work Program on HIV and AIDS (AWP III) for 2006-2010. We expressed support for the work of the ASEAN Task Force on AIDS (ATFOA) in strengthening regional responses to HIV and AIDS through multi-sectoral participation. We expressed appreciation for the assistance extended by UNAIDS to ASEAN in implementing regional HIV and AIDS initiatives. 9. We agreed to strengthen our efforts to achieve our common goals of eradicating poverty and hunger in ASEAN, as determined by the World Food Summit, the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the VAP. We undertook to support further resource mobilization for agriculture and rural development in the ASEAN. We adopted the ASEAN Statement calling upon the Paris Club to seriously consider the Philippine proposal, raised at the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, for debt-equity arrangements to fund MDG projects. 10. We agreed to support the operations of the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, based in the Philippines to actively promote biodiversity conservation in the region. We also agreed to pursue marine biodiversity projects in the region. 11. We discussed the transboundary haze pollution in the region and noted the work of the ASEAN Environment Ministers in developing effective strategies to address this problem and in mobilizing resources to implement the Plans of Action in dealing with Transboundary Haze Pollution. We stressed the importance of bringing the Haze issue to the attention of other countries and international organizations. We noted that the ASEAN Environment Ministers had adopted the Cebu Resolution on Sustainable Development to address critical and persistent environmental problems that generate economic and social dislocations. We also agreed to work on an ASEAN Leaders Declaration on Environmental Sustainability to be issued at our next Summit in Singapore. 12. We welcomed the progress in implementing the VAP and decisions from previous ASEAN and Related Summits. We urged Member Countries and Dialogue Partners to continue contributing to the ASEAN Development Fund to support ASEAN’s integration. We tasked our Ministers to take steps to fully implement the VAP and other ASEAN action plans and decisions, and we directed the Secretary-General to update us on these matters at our next Summit. An ASEAN Community by 2015 13. We affirmed our strong commitment to accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015 as envisioned in the ASEAN Vision 2020 and the ASEAN Concord II and agreed to sign the Cebu Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015. ASEAN Security Community 14. We welcomed the steady progress made in implementing ASEAN Security Community (ASC) – related activities through the VAP and the ASC Plan of Action, including the convening of the First ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting, as well as advances in the work of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN-China Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. 15. We signed the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism to enhance the region’s capacity to confront terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation among our law enforcement and other relevant authorities. We also recognized the importance of inter-faith dialogue in fostering greater understanding among our peoples and pledged to increase cooperation in this area. ASEAN Economic Community 16. We agreed to hasten the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015 and to transform ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour, and freer flow of capital. 17. We expressed serious concern over the negative impact that prolonged high oil prices have on economic growth and development in the region. To address this problem in a strategic manner, we agreed to deepen ASEAN energy cooperation, especially for key ASEAN infrastructure projects, including the ASEAN power grid and Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline. Our ultimate aim is to create an open energy market. We`also stressed that ASEAN must improve energy use efficiency, and must diversify its energy supply by developing such alternative energy sources as biofuels and civilian nuclear power. In this regard, we agreed to pay close attention to the security, environmental, health and safety dimensions of the energy sector and we tasked our officials to look into a regional nuclear safety regime. Narrowing Development Gap 18. We noted that the Mid-term Review of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan has recommended new project areas to benefit the ASEAN New Members, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. We recognized that the IAI needs more resources to meet their urgent needs and those of the ASEAN sub-regions. We also called for developing a coherent and integrated approach to infrastructure development, particularly transport linkages, in order to narrow development gaps. 19. We agreed to promote greater education cooperation among our countries and to strengthen education within them, in order to narrow our region’s development gaps, to prepare our youth for regional leadership, and to increase the competitiveness of our peoples. We commended the contribution of the ASEAN University Network (AUN) towards this effort and called for the strengthening of the Network to facilitate educational access. Myanmar 20. We took note of the briefing by Myanmar on the latest developments in the implementation of its Roadmap to Democracy. We encouraged Myanmar to make greater progress towards national reconciliation. In this regard, we called for the release of those placed under detention and for effective dialogue with all parties concerned. Furthermore, we agreed on the need to preserve ASEAN’s credibility as an effective regional organization by demonstrating a capacity to manage important issues within the region. ASEAN’s External Relations 21. We appreciated the dynamism and diversity of our cooperation with each of our Dialogue Partners, particularly for integration and the narrowing of development gaps. We looked forward to their continued engagement with ASEAN. 22. We welcomed the accession of France and Timor Leste to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia during our Summit. Their accession enhances the Treaty as our principal regional instrument governing peaceful inter-state relations, and should be followed by closer peace and security cooperation with ASEAN in the region and in the United Nations and other international fora 23. We welcomed the progress of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. We underscored the importance of FTA’s in strengthening ASEAN’s global competitiveness and its cooperation with its Dialogue Partners. We encouraged all Dialogue Partners to work with ASEAN on the early conclusion of their respective FTA’s. These FTA’s, taken together, will deepen East Asian economic integration, which will benefit the peoples of the region. East Asia Summit 24. We looked forward in convening the Second East Asia Summit (EAS) on 15 January 2007. Reaffirming that ASEAN should consolidate its leading and central role in the evolving regional architecture; we are committed to ensuring that our meeting will build on the success of the First EAS. We looked forward to signing the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security which would help shape a common regional policy for energy issues, including the development and use of alternative and renewable forms of energy, promotion of energy efficiency and resource and infrastructure development through greater private sector involvement. We tasked our officials to continue working with our EAS partners in coming up with concrete projects to enhance our energy security. 25. We exchanged views on the future of
East Asian cooperation. We agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation with
other EAS partners and reaffirmed that the ASEAN Plus Three process would be
the main vehicle towards achieving an East Asian community. 26. We welcomed the Philippine initiative
to forge closer cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO),
which is ASEAN’s immediate neighbor and a potential partner in promoting
peace, security and prosperity in the region. We tasked our officials to
identify means of strengthening our linkages with the SCO, in addition to
the existing arrangement between our Secretariats. 27. We agreed to continue our cooperation to maintain security, stability and peace in our region. Towards this end, we will continue collective action to address the challenges posed by such serious threats as terrorism and transnational crime, avian influenza and other major infectious diseases, environmental degradation, natural disasters, destabilizing increases in oil prices, and the negative impact of rapid globalization and growth. 28. We reaffirmed that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is an international priority. We, therefore, urged the DPRK to desist from conducting further nuclear tests, to take concrete and effective steps to implement the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement, and to rejoin, at an early date, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We emphasized that DPRK must effectively address the humanitarian concerns of the international community. 29. We fully support the Six-Party Talks and other diplomatic efforts to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue. At the same time, we agreed that the international community must convey in clear terms to the DPRK that the latter must denuclearize in a verifiable manner. We, therefore, reaffirmed our commitment to the full implementation of UNSC Resolutions 1695 and 1718 for this purpose, 30. We expressed our continuing concern over instability in Iraq and the Middle East. We called for dialogue between all contending sides, to secure national reconciliation in Iraq, and a durable and equitable settlement between Israel and Palestine, consistent with the relevant United Nations resolutions. 31. We reaffirmed our commitment to the United Nations and our support for its comprehensive reform, including the enhancement of the voice and role of developing countries in its structure and processes. We welcomed the message to ASEAN of the new United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, and expressed our pride that he is from our own region and our best wishes for his success in his important tasks. WTO 32. We took note of the message from WTO Director General Pascal Lamy on the status of the negotiations on the WTO talks and the Doha Development Round. We adopted the ASEAN Statement on the WTO to express support for the resumption of the Doha Round. 33. We welcomed Viet Nam’s accession to the
WTO and reiterated our support for early accession of Lao PDR into the WTO.
34. We noted the Proposal by the Prime Minister of Malaysia for Pakistan to be accorded the status of full Dialogue Partner of ASEAN as per the latter’s request. We agreed that the request be given due consideration. Other Matters 36. We welcomed the report of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and expressed our continuing support for its role in enhancing private sector engagement in ASEAN economic policy discussions. We also underscored the need for closer coordination and regular engagement between the private sector and relevant public agencies in the implementation of the ABAC recommendations and ASEAN’s economic initiatives and programmes. 37. We were pleased with the innovative
proposals made by the President of the 27th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary
Organization (AIPO) Assembly on making ASEAN more effective and meaningful
for Asia and the world, and on enhancing ASEAN-AIPO interaction. |
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| Private overview of Philippines-Singapore Bilateral Relations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Establishment of Diplomatic RelationsThe Philippines opened a consulate in Singapore in 1966, the year after Singapore achieved independence. Full diplomatic relations were established in August 1969 with the upgrade of the consulate to an embassy. Bilateral relations have been cultivated through frequent exchanges of visits by high-ranking officials. Bilateral meetings have been held at the sidelines of annual meetings such as the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the United Nations General Assembly, and the ASEAN Summit, among others. II. Highlights of Philippines-Singapore Bilateral Relations President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Attendance in the World Economic Forum on East Asia and State Visit to Singapore, 23-26 June 2007 World Economic Forum
The President delivered the
opening speech in the World Economic Forum on East Asia on 24 June 2007. Her
speech argued that the region has a number of able leaders of strong nations
as well as institutions like ASEAN to provide individual, regional and
multilateral global leadership in dealing with rapid economic growth amid
swings in the global order, greater income disparity, the challenge of
global warming and the quest for lasting peace and stability. State Visit
The President met with President S R Nathan
on 25 June 2007. They discussed the positive economic developments in the
Philippines, the country’s interest to attract more Singaporean businesses,
the success of the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN, and other ASEAN related
matters. Meeting between Secretary Alberto G. Romulo and Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo at the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Summit, 8 December 2006 Secretary Romulo met with FM Yeo at the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu and discussed particularly the EPG report and ASEAN Community by 2015 among others.President’s Working Visit to Singapore, 19-20 November 2006
President Arroyo met with members of Singapore’s business community. She met
21 company representatives during the luncheon hosted by Temasek Holdings
and the Philippines-Singapore Business Council. The lunch gave the
opportunity for the businessmen to ask questions directly to the President
regarding the economic situation of and business environment in the
Philippines. Separate Meetings between Secretary Alberto G. Romulo; Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien-Loong, 18 August 2006; SFA and Singapore President S.R. Nathan; and SFA and Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo, 19 August 2006 Meeting between Secretary Alberto G. Romulo and Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo at the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, 27 July 2006 Foreign Minister Yeo met with Secretary Romulo at the sidelines of the 39th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They shared their views on the entry of Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships (ReCAAP) and hosting of the ASEAN Summit in December as well as that of the East Asia Summit (EAS). Meeting between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo, 15 February 2006 Foreign Minister Yeo discussed with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the possible participation of Singapore’s SingPower in the bidding of Transco and the holding of bilateral talks on the air services agreement for tourism promotion. They also discussed ASEAN matters like the drafting of the ASEAN Charter and the East Asia Summit (EAS) membership. Meeting between Secretary Alberto G. Romulo and Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo, 15 February 2006 Foreign Minister Yeo met with Secretary Romulo to discuss ASEAN issues like Myanmar, ASEAN integration, membership in EAS as in the case of Russia, the ASEAN Charter as a statement of ASEAN’s political will, and the possible creation of an ASEAN Maritime Forum. Official Visit to the Philippines of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 9-10 December 2004 Prime Minister Lee met with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr., and Senator Richard Gordon. He and his delegation also had an expanded bilateral meeting with President Arroyo and representatives of key government agencies. The bilateral meeting discussed initiatives to enhance Philippines-Singapore bilateral relations. Among the initiatives discussed were the expansion of air linkages, the entry of budget airlines, tourism, counter-terrorism, defense, Philippine domestic reforms, and the peace process in Mindanao. The expanded bilateral meeting covered trade, investments, tourism, air services, information technology, defense cooperation, ASEAN integration, counter-terrorism, and Filipinos in Singapore. The meeting with the legislative officials focused on Singapore investing more in the Philippines, addressing the security situation of the Philippines, the proposals of establishing an Asian parliament, the establishment of a fund that will finance reforestation projects in the Philippines, housing programs, and the Asian Anti-Poverty Fund. 1st Informal Consultations on the Philippines-Singapore Action Plan (PSAP), 27-28 October 2004 Discussions during the 1st Consultations on the PSAP covered the following: a) strengthening ASEAN to make it more responsive in engaging the powers in the region; b) the relocation of the Bayanihan Center in Singapore, and c) the direct communication of agencies implementing bilateral initiatives such as those on culture, people-to-people exchanges, education, information technology, tourism, capital market development, economic cooperation, and military cooperation. Visit to Singapore of Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, 21 October 2004 Secretary Romulo and Foreign Minister George Yeo discussed the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in December 2004, the improvement of trade and commercial ties, the possibility of Singapore establishing more industrial parks in the Philippines similar to that of the Carmelray Industrial Park II, Philippine support for Singapore’s bid to host the Information Sharing Center for Anti-Piracy in Asia and the Pacific, President Arroyo’s ten-point agenda and eight-point realities, the importance of ASEAN, and the progress of peace and development efforts in Mindanao.Official Visit to Singapore of Secretary Delia D. Albert, 7 February 2004 Former Secretary Albert met with then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and then Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar. In her meeting with Foreign Minister Jayakumar, they discussed the healthy economic and political relationship of the two countries, the fight against terrorism, the early convening of the informal consultations on the PSAP, and the construction of a new MRT line that will affect the Bayanihan Center in Singapore, among others. III. Philippines-Singapore Bilateral Trade and Investment Philippine-Singapore Bilateral Trade 2000- 2007, In US$ FOB
Source: DTI-Tradeline Philippines
Singapore remains the Philippines’ largest trading partner in Southeast Asia
and the fourth in the world. As of December 2006, bilateral trade with
Singapore grew to US$7.80B, accounting for 7.92% of Philippines’ total trade
with the world. Exports to Singapore reached US$3.44B or 7.34% of total
Philippine exports to the world. On the other hand, the Philippines imported
from Singapore about US$4.35B or 8.45% of total Philippine imports from the
world. Electronic products continued to dominate bilateral trade, accounting
for about 67% of trade volume. This is due to complementary collaboration
between both countries in the electronics manufacturing chain. Investments
Foreign Direct
Investments of Singapore to the Philippines
Source: Foreign Direct Investments National Statistical Coordination Board
According to DTI, Singapore continues to be the Philippines’ largest direct
investment source from ASEAN for the period 2000-2006. The year 2001 saw the
huge inflow of investments from Singapore, amounting to Php 15,863.9 million
(US$311.18 million) representing ¼ share to the total FDI approved by BOI,
PEZA, SBMA, and CDA from the world. While this amount has yet to be
surpassed or repeated, Singapore investors nonetheless continue to show
confidence in the Philippine economy. Examples of Singapore companies that are present in the Philippines:
1.Singapore Computer
Systems Ltd. joined Telus International Inc. of Canada to set-up a joint
venture company called TISCS Pte. Ltd. to invest in a 70% interest in
Ambergris Solutions Inc, a Philippine homegrown call center in February
2006.
The Philippines-Singapore Business Council (PSBC)
was formed in 1994 as a platform for senior business executives from both
countries to promote greater business cooperation. It continues to be one of
the most active business councils in the Philippines. Apart from meeting
annually, the Council also actively supports and organizes activities to
foster closer interactions between the private sectors of both countries. IV. Filipinos in Singapore Estimated number of overseas Filipinos in Singapore as of December 2006
Distribution of Filipinos according to profession as of December 2006
Singapore Laws Affecting Foreign Workers in Singapore
Beginning 2005, the Singapore Ministry of
Manpower (MoM) introduced the following changes in the city-state’s labor
laws and regulations affecting foreign workers: 1. Entry test requirements for FDWs to ensure that they understand basic safety instructions, numeracy, and English literacy skills; and 2. Ensuring payment of salaries of foreign manpower within seven days after the month for which work was done.
Source: Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs |
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| Matrix of Philippine-Singapore Bilateral Agreements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Office of
Asia and Pacific Affairs |
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| Country Profile: Republic of Singapore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Official Name: |
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| Country Profile: Philippines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LOCATION The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. It is bounded by the South China Sea in the West, the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Sulu and Celebes Sea in the south, and the Bashi Channel in the north. The northernmost tip of the country is 241 kilometers south of Taiwan while the southernmost tip is only 14.4 kilometers north of Borneo. AREA The total land area of the archipelago is approximately 300,000 square kilometers. The three largest island groups are Luzon with an area of 141,395 square kilometers, Visayas with 56,606 kilometers, and Mindanao with 101,999 square kilometers. The archipelago is further subdivided into regions, provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays. There are 16 regions, including the National Capital Region (NCR), the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), CARAGA and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Metropolitan Manila has been designated as the National Capital Region and is composed of the cities of Manila, Quezon, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Caloocan, Makati, Pasig, Muntinlupa, Las Pinas, Marikina, Valenzuela, Paranaque and Malabon, and the municipalities of Navotas, Pateros, San Juan, and Taguig. There are 79 provinces, 117 cities, 1,500 municipalities and 41,945 barangays. CAPITAL Manila CLIMATE The climate is tropical. The rainy season is from June to October; the cool dry season is from November to February; and the hot dry season is from March to May. Temperature ranges from 21°C to 32°C, with the average at 27°C. Average humidity year round is 77%. All regions are exposed to typhoons, which are prevalent during the rainy season. POPULATION The Philippines has a total population of 76.5M as of May 2000. Population density is 255 persons per square kilometer. LANGUAGE The national language is Filipino, derived mostly from Tagalog. There are about 70 other local languages and dialects spoken. The major ones are Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bicol, Waray, Pangasinense, Pampango and Maranao. English is widely spoken and understood. The Spanish and Chinese languages are still spoken by a minority. BRIEF HISTORY Filipino society and culture were fairly well developed prior to contacts with other countries as documented from archeological artifacts recovered. Some 500 years before Ferdinand Magellan set foot in the Philippines, the Filipinos had commercial relations with China, Indo-China, Malaysia, India and Arabian countries. Chinese silk, porcelain, jars, gold, ivory, and beads were traded for wax, bird’s nest, teakwood, rattan, pearls, precious stones and other marine and forest products. On March 16, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for the Spanish crown and brought great changes in the political, social and cultural life of the people. Christianity was introduced and a centralized government was established. By the beginning of the 17th century, Spain’s sovereignty over the Philippines had been fully established. Spain’s rule for over three centuries was marked by sporadic revolts. The first Filipino revolt was led by Lakandula, the last King of Manila, in 1574 to castigate the Spaniards because of their reneged promise to exempt the Filipinos from tribute and forced labor. The revolt was terminated when the Filipinos were promised better treatment. Many of the revolts were caused by the people’s desire to win back their freedom and others were prompted by Spanish oppression. The bloody climax of Filipino struggle for freedom was the Revolution of 1896, which was also the culmination of revolts against Spanish rule. The national hero Dr. Jose Rizal led a reform movement in the 1880s, which eventually led to the 1896 revolution. Dr. Rizal was tried in Manila and was sentenced to die by musketry. His death fuelled the fires of revolution and on June 12, 1898, leaders of the revolution declared the country a sovereign state and proclaimed the first Republic of the Philippines. While the revolution embroiled the country, Spain declared war against the United States because of the latter’s intervention over Cuba’s fight for independence. Cuba was then a colony of Spain. Spain was defeated and on December 10, 1898, the Philippines was formally ceded to the United States by virtue of the Treaty of Paris. The occupation of the American was resented by the Filipinos and the outcome was the Filipino-American War which lasted for three years. After several attempts of Filipino patriots to secure an act to grant independence from the United States, the Philippines was able to obtain the approval of the Tydings-McDuffie Independence Act, which provided for the establishment of a Commonwealth government to end after a ten-year period, and the adoption of a Constitution. A Constitutional Convention drafted the Constitution which was ratified on May 14, 1935. The election of Commonwealth officials followed, with Manuel L. Quezon as President, and Sergio Osmena as Vice President. On November 15, 1935, the new officials assumed office and thus began the ten-year period of self-government. This was interrupted when the Philippines was drawn into a war in the Pacific as an ally of the Americans against the Japanese. Japanese troops occupied Manila in 1942 and for three years, the Filipinos suffered the ravages of war. The liberation of the country was fully attained in February 1945, marking the start of the country’s massive rehabilitation and rebuilding out of the devastation brought about by the war. On July 4, 1946, a year after the end of the war, the American flag was lowered and the Philippine flag was hoisted, signaling the recognition of Philippine Independence from the U.S. GOVERNMENT The Republic of the Philippines, a democratic and republican state, has a presidential form of government under a new Constitution promulgated in 1986 and ratified by the people on February 2, 1987 The 1986 Constitution provided for a tripartite system: the Executive, represented by a President elected by direct vote of the people for a six-year term; the Legislative, represented by a bicameral Congress, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and a Judiciary, with the power of judicial review. Executive power is vested in the President, who is assisted by the Cabinet. The President is the head of the Cabinet, which is responsible for formulating key policies and carrying out executive functions. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The Congress has exclusive lawmaking powers. The Senate has 24 Senators elected at large and the House of Representatives has 226 Congressmen elected by district and by party list. The Judiciary is composed of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and other inferior courts. The Supreme Court has a Chief Justice and 14 Associate Justices appointed by the President. RELIGION The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholics make up nearly 85 percent of the population. The other religions are Protestantism and Islam. ECONOMY During the first quarter of 2004, the robust expansion in gross domestic product (GDP) by 6.4 percent and gross national product (GNP) by 6.2 percent indicated that the economy’s engines of growth remain generally healthy, with all economic sectors - agriculture (7.7%) , industry (5.5%) , and services (6.4%) – expanding. Underpinning the strong growth were factors whose impact countered the adverse effects from developments such as the rising price of oil and the uncertainty arising from the election. Domestic demand, led by consumer spending, has held up well. Personal consumer spending grew a robust 5.9 percent, helped by a combination of the strong growth in agriculture, election-related spending, and overseas remittances. The strong growth in agriculture is not only due to favorable weather but also to the vigorous support of the government which led to an expansion in irrigated areas and the use of hybrid seeds and other essential farm inputs. Manufacturing has also benefited from the expansion in exports (10%) to main trading partners such as the US, Japan, Southeast Asian economies, and the increasing trade with China. Boosting this was the 15.8 percent growth in exports of non-factor services which includes earnings from call centers and business process outsourcing centers. Meanwhile, notwithstanding the uncertainty arising from elections, investments in construction and durable equipment rose 4.8 percent. Investments in durables were mostly investments in agriculture, telecommunications, office and data processing, and in industries that are investing to improve competitiveness such as textiles, sugar milling, and pulp and paper. The increase in the price of oil presents a downside risk in the coming quarters. However, the economy has enough bright spots to mitigate the increase in oil prices and possible hike in interest rates. These include support for agriculture, the continued expansion of the telecommunications and IT-related businesses, public sector spending for key infrastructure projects of government owned and controlled corporations--the North Luzon Expressway, LRT Line 2, port development, and inflow from overseas workers. Currency: Philippine Peso Exchange rate: P43.200 = US$1 (November 14, 2007) |
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| Profile of His Excellency SR Nathan (President of Republic of Singapore) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S R Nathan was
born in Singapore on 3 July 1924. Mr. Nathan received his early education in several schools – Anglo-Chinese Primary and Middle School, Rangoon Road Afternoon School and Victoria School. Mr. Nathan started working before completing his studies. After the war, whilst working, he completed his secondary education through self-study and entered the University of Malaya (then in Singapore) where he graduated in 1954 with a Diploma in Social Studies (Distinction). Mr. Nathan began his career in the Singapore Civil Service as a medical social worker in 1955. He was appointed Seamen’s Welfare Officer the following year. In 1962, he was seconded to the Labour Research Unit of the Labour Movement, first as Assistant Director and later Director of the Labour Research Unit until January 1966. He continued as a Member of its Board of Trustees until April 1988. In February 1966, he was transferred to the Foreign Ministry. He served as Assistant Secretary and rose to be Deputy Secretary before being appointed Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs in January 1971. In August of the same year, Mr. Nathan moved to the Ministry of Defence where he was a Director with the rank of Permanent Secretary. In February 1979, he returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and became its First Permanent Secretary until February 1982 when he left to become the Executive Chairman of the Straits Times Press (1975) Ltd., the Singapore newspaper company. At various times from 1982 to 1988, Mr. Nathan also held directorship of several other companies including the Singapore Mint Pte Ltd., The Straits Times Press (London) Ltd., Singapore Press Holdings Ltd., and Marshall Cavendish Ltd. He was Chairman of Mitsubishi Singapore Heavy Industries – a ship-repairing and engineering joint-venture with the Mitsubishi Group of Japan, from 1973 to 1986. From 1983 to April 1988, Mr. Nathan was Chairman of the Hindu Endowments Board. He was a founding member of SINDA – the Singapore Indian Development Association – and its Term Trustee until August 1999. In April 1988, Mr. Nathan was appointed Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia and in July 1990, became Ambassador to the United States of America where he served until June 1996. On his return, Mr. Nathan was made Ambassador-at-Large and was concurrently Director of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at the Nanyang Technological University. He held a directorship in the Singapore International Media Pte Ltd between September 1996 and August 1999. He resigned as Ambassador-at-Large and Director of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies on 17 August 1999 and was elected President of the Republic of Singapore on 18 August 1999. He began his 6-year term on 1 September 1999. On 17 August 2005, Mr. Nathan was re-elected and he was sworn-in for his second term of office on 1 September 2005. Mr. Nathan was conferred the Public Service Star in 1964, the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1967, and the Meritorious Service Medal in 1974. Mr. Nathan, a Hindu, is married to Urmila (Umi) Nandey and has a daughter, a son and three grandchildren. Source: Office of Asian & Pacific Affairs Department of Foreign Affairs |
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| Profile of His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong (Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Republic of Singapore) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lee Hsien
Loong was born on 10 February 1952. He was educated in Nanyang Primary School, Catholic High School and National Junior College. He studied at the University of Cambridge on a President's Scholarship and a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Scholarship. He graduated in 1974 with First Class Honours in Mathematics and a Diploma in Computer Science (with distinction). In 1979, he became a Mason Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, graduating in 1980 with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. He joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1971. He held various staff and command posts, and attended the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, USA, in 1978. He was the first Director of the Joint Operations and Plans Directorate, and Chief of Staff of the General Staff, when he left the SAF in 1984 as Brigadier-General to enter politics. He was elected Member of Parliament in 1984, as a candidate of the People’s Action Party, and was re-elected in 1988, 1991, 1997 and 2001. In 1986, Mr. Lee was elected to the Central Executive Committee of the PAP. He was elected Second Assistant Secretary-General in 1989, and First Assistant Secretary-General in 1992. He took over as Secretary-General of the party in December 2004. Mr. Lee was appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence in 1984. He was promoted to Acting Minister for Trade and Industry in 1986, and confirmed as full minister in 1987, when he became concurrently Second Minister for Defence. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in November 1990. His responsibilities include economic and civil service matters. He also continued as Minister for Trade and Industry until 1992. Mr. Lee was concurrently appointed Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore in 1998, and Minister for Finance in 2001. On 12 August 2004, he was sworn in as Prime Minister. He remains the Minister for Finance but has handed the chairmanship of the Monetary Authority of Singapore to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. He was re-elected as one of the six MPs for Ang MO kio GRC in the May 2006 General Elections and re-appointed as Prime Minister. He was widowed in 1982, and remarried Ho Ching in 1985. They have one daughter and three sons. Mr. Lee enjoys reading, walking, listening to classical music and tinkering with computers. Source: Office of Asian & Pacific Affairs Department of Foreign Affairs |
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