- The Thirteenth Forum was held in Singapore from 17 to 18 May 1990.
- The Forum was opened by Mr. Peter Sung, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Acting Minister reviewed the past priority areas of the Forum’s relationship including trade and investment and also listed the new areas of cooperative endeavour such as Environment, Telecommunications and Education upon which the two sides were now poised to embark to give greater substance to their relationship. He welcomed the trend towards greater private sector involvement in the Forum.
- The participation of the ASEAN-Australia Business Council (AABC) for the second year running helped to contribute to the further consolidation of the ASEAN-Australia relationship. The ASEAN and the Australian Sections of the AABC presented papers containing proposals on the expansion of trade and investment prospects. ASEAN and Australia undertook to study the proposals made by the private sector.
- The Forum exchanged views on international and regional developments and their potential implications for the ASEAN-Australia relationship. Issues such as the need for a successful outcome of the Uruguay Round, information technology and the rapid growth of trade flows within the Asia-Pacific region were highlighted.
- On trade matters, the Forum welcomed the growth in the two-way trade between ASEAN and Australia and the prospects for more substantial trade links and the increase in complementarities.
- In the area of investment, the Forum noted that in the last few years there had been a drop in Australia’s direct investment in ASEAN. The Forum agreed on the need for measures to intensify efforts to promote a greater flow of such investments.
- The Forum endorsed the report of the ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Programme (AAECP) Joint Planning Committee (JPC), held in Singapore from 14-15 May 1990, which reviewed the progress of AAECP 11 and identified new projects or extensions of current projects for consideration and implementation. Under the AAECP, Australia is contributing A$35 million over a period of five years from. 1989 to 1994 to finance projects in various areas such as trade and investment, micro electronics, energy, biotechnology and marine science.
- The Forum welcomed the introduction of environmental cooperation as a new dimension in ASEAN-Australia relations. The Forum explored possible areas of cooperation which would be developed by experts from ASEAN and Australia.
- The Forum noted the key role being played by telecommunications in the economic relationship between ASEAN and Australia and the rapid pace of both technological and policy development in this field., The Forum was of the view that it would be mutually beneficial if experts from both sides could exchange information regarding telecommunications issues.
- The Forum recognised the key role that education, research and training plays in economic and social development and welcomed several proposals advanced by Australia to promote regional interaction.
- The Meeting noted the launching of the ASEAN Science Fund and the holding of the Third ASEAN Science and Technology Week in Singapore in 1992. Australia agreed to consider its contribution and participation in these two areas.
- Australia will host the 14th Forum in 1991.
- ABOUT ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984, followed by Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.Menu - WHAT WE DO
ASEAN organs always strive to achieve ASEAN’s goals and objectives, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat shall be functioned as coordinating Secretariat to help facilitate effective decision-making withing and amongst ASEAN bodies. In addition, each Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to liaise with Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat
Menu - WHO WE WORK WITH
ASEAN shall develop friendly relations and mutually beneficial dialogues, cooperation and partnerships with countries and sub-regional, regional and international organisations and institutions. This includes external partners, ASEAN entities, human rights bodies, non-ASEAN Member States Ambassadors to ASEAN, ASEAN committees in third countries and international organisations, as well as international / regional organisations.
Menu - OUR COMMUNITIES
The rodmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015) was declared by the leaders in 2009. The ASEAN Community, anchored on three community pillars: Political-Security Community, Economic Community, Socio-Cultural Community was launched in 2015. The ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together was introduced in 2015 as a Post-2015 Vision. It comprises the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025, the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025
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