[Kabar-indonesia] 2 of 2: Text of Joint Communique of 39th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting

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Text of Joint Communique... continues...

Disaster management

56. We expressed our deepest condolences to the Governments and the
peoples of the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of
Indonesia over the tremendous loss of lives and property as a result
of the mudslide disaster which struck Guinsaugon St Bernard, Southern
Leyte, Philippines on 17 February 2006; the earthquake which struck
Yogyakarta and Central Java, Indonesia, on 27 May 2006; and the
tsunami which struck Western and Central Java, Indonesia, on 17 July
2006 respectively. We expressed our appreciation for the expeditious
relief efforts of ASEAN Member Countries, friendly countries,
international organizations and other relief organizations and called
upon them to continue to provide their support for rehabilitation and
reconstruction activities to enable speedy recovery of those affected.

57. We recalled the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and
Emergency Response (AADMER), which was signed on 26 July 2005 in
Vientiane, Lao PDR. We welcomed the ratification of the Agreement by
Member Countries and further called upon Member Countries that have
yet to ratify the Agreement to do so in order to ensure effective
regional cooperation in this area. In this regard, we noted the offer
by Indonesia to host the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian
Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre).

58. We emphasized the importance of developing effective multi-nodal
and multi-hazard early warning systems to save lives and minimise
damages. We recognized the existing efforts such as the establishment
of the UNESCAP Multi-Donor Voluntary Trust Fund for Tsunami Early
Warning Arrangements in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, with
Thailand and Sweden contributed a total of US$12.5 million. In this
regard, we encouraged the contribution and utilisation of the fund to
enhance the capacity of the early warning systems. In addition, those
efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness of local communities
should be promoted.

59. We reaffirmed our commitment to strengthen ASEAN standby
arrangements for disaster relief and emergency response and to enhance
linkages with other regional and global standby arrangements through
the sharing of earmarked assets, joint exercises in search and rescue
and expediting the establishment of common guidelines and standard
operating procedures as well as regional disaster early warning and
monitoring capacities through real time information sharing in order
to ensure rapid responses to emergencies.

Health

60. We recalled our Leaders' decision at the 11th ASEAN Summit to
strengthen regional institutional linkages and partnership among all
stakeholders in ASEAN Member Countries to control and eradicate the
spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the region. In
this regard, we expressed our deep concern over the negative effects
of the avian influenza on economy and society and called for greater
cooperation among Member Countries and others, through information
exchange and best practices, to prevent and control the spread of the
disease. We noted the progress in stockpiling vaccines and antiviral
drugs to meet the immediate needs of affected countries and underlined
the importance to prepare for containment when human cases occur; and
meet pandemic preparedness needs.

61. We commended the work of the ASEAN HPAI Taskforce and the ASEAN+3
Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Programme to conduct and coordinate
effective and comprehensive plans to combat emerging and re-emerging
diseases. We also welcomed endeavours from donor countries and
international organizations to help keep ASEAN free from emerging
diseases. In particular, we appreciated the funding support of Japan
and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to assist ASEAN in combating the
avian influenza in the region.

62. We commended the efforts made by the ASEAN Health Ministers to
ensure regional cooperation and unity in health emergencies, and in
providing the necessary guidance for development of an operation plan
for the Third ASEAN Work Programme on HIV and AIDS (2006-2010). We
welcomed their preparations to convene a Second Special Session on HIV
and AIDS for ASEAN Leaders in December 2006 alongside the 12th ASEAN
Summit. We also underlined the need for a higher profile of ASEAN
cooperation on the issue to be highlighted to the international
community, such as through the convening of ASEAN panels at the
International Conferences on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP)
since 2001. We noted that ASEAN's commitment to address the issue
together with like-minded partners has also resulted in a cooperation
agreement with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS).

Education

63. We welcomed the convening of the First ASEAN Education Ministers
Meeting (ASED) held in Singapore on 21 March 2006 and its Joint
Statement. As education is an important tool in engendering the ASEAN
identity and promoting the development of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community, we welcomed the initiative by ASED to lay a strategic
framework for education collaboration in the region which among
others, highlighted the importance of education, particularly in
primary and basic education, in developing a regional identity. This
is relevant to the emphasis placed by ASEAN Leaders to establish an
ASEAN Community imbued with a sense of awareness and belonging.

Culture and information

64. We reaffirmed our support to the ASEAN Committee on Culture and
Information (COCI) to continue undertaking activities that promote
mutual understanding and solidarity among Member Countries through
people-to-people exchanges, cultural performances and exhibitions,
information exchange, skills development, and the promotion of
awareness and appreciation of customs and traditions among the younger
generation. We recognised that these activities have played a vital
role in the efforts towards building an ASEAN Community. In this
respect, we were pleased that the people-centred agenda advocated by
the 39th ASC Chair has contributed to the awareness of ASEAN, mutual
respect and cooperation amongst ASEAN and its peoples. We commended
the efforts of the COCI in forging friendship with the international
community as part of its effort to promote ASEAN through arts and
culture.

Labour

65. We were pleased with the expansion of ASEAN Labour cooperation
through the ASEAN Labour Ministers' Work Programme. We welcomed the
addition of a new priority area on occupational safety and health
(OSH) under the Labour Ministers' Work Programme at the 19th ASEAN
Labour Ministers Meeting on 5 May 2006 in Singapore and the continued
progress of the ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network
(ASEAN-OSHNET). We look forward to the continued contribution of the
Labour Ministers to a sustained economic growth in ASEAN through their
Policy Dialogue on National OSH Framework and Management Systems, and
the discussions on progressive labour practices to enhance
competitiveness of ASEAN.

Women

66. We welcomed the operationalisation of the Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence Against Women in ASEAN, which we had signed at
our 37th Meeting in 2004. We congratulated the ASEAN Committee on
Women (ACW) for their efforts in developing an operational work plan
with focused activities to ensure that ASEAN's women are protected and
empowered and in reducing women's vulnerability to exploitation and
paving the way for their continued advancement. We also welcomed the
partnership forged with the United Nations Development Fund for Women
(UNIFEM) in support of the ACW's work.

Youth

67. We reiterated the need to involve ASEAN youth in our various
mainstream and sectoral programmes and activities as part of the
regional effort to empower and shape our youth into useful citizens
with strong national and regional identity, features that are
essential as we strive towards realising the ASEAN Community. We
welcomed the initiative taken to establish a youth development fund in
ASEAN, to address the VAP's call for increased participation of youth
in the productive workforce, and encourage their entrepreneurship and
employability, leadership and regional awareness. We further called
upon the different ASEAN sectoral bodies to link their respective
efforts in addressing priorities for the youth.

Science and technology

68. We reaffirmed that human resource and technology developments have
played a vital role in sustaining economic growth and enhancing
community well-being in ASEAN. We welcomed the initiative of the 11th
ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (S&T) held on
11-12 August 2005 in Jakarta to focus the regional science and
technology cooperation on human resource and development and research
in emerging fields and enabling technologies such as renewable and
alternative energy, development of information technology application
particularly on open source systems, biotechnology and food science,
materials science and nanotechnology and disaster management. In this
regard, we look forward to the convening of the 4th Informal ASEAN
Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology on 28-29 August 2006 in
Kuala Lumpur.

69. We welcomed the continued efforts by ASEAN Member Countries to
implement new activities under the ASEAN-help-ASEAN Programme to
promote S&T development in ASEAN. We were pleased to note that since
its launching by the ASEAN S&T Ministers in 2002, joint activities
implemented under the Programme have benefited ASEAN Member Countries
and also contributed in narrowing the development gap.

External relations

70. We expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved in ASEAN's
relations with the Dialogue Partners, namely, Australia, Canada,
China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of
Korea, the Russian Federation, the United States of America, the
United Nations Development Programme and the increasing interest of
Sectoral Dialogue Partner Pakistan to engage more with ASEAN. We also
expressed our commitment to intensify cooperation in various fields
with ASEAN Dialogue Partners for the mutual benefit of our peoples and
region. We further expressed our appreciation to our Dialogue Partners
for their continued support in ASEAN's efforts towards establishing
the ASEAN Community by 2020.

71. In this regard, we look forward to the signing of the Framework
Document for the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-US Enhanced
Partnership on 27 July 2006. We also look forward to the signing of
the ASEAN-Canada Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat
International Terrorism on 28 July 2006 in Kuala Lumpur and the
implementation of the activities identified therein.

72. On ASEAN-Russia relations, we are pleased to note the successful
convening of the First ASEAN-Russian Federation Summit held in Kuala
Lumpur on 13 December 2005, and the endorsement of the ASEAN-Russia
Joint Declaration on Progressive and Comprehensive Partnership.

73. We believed that these developments will contribute to further
enhance ASEAN-Russia relations. We also noted that 2006 is the 10th
anniversary of ASEAN-Russia relations, which we are marking with a few
commemorative activities, among which are the Russian Food Festival
and the publication of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Magazine. These
two activities will be launched at the sidelines of the 39th ASEAN
Ministerial Meeting/Post Ministerial Conferences, in conjunction with
the ASEAN PMC+1 session with the Russian Federation on 27 July 2006 in
Kuala Lumpur. We further noted that the ASEAN Food Festival will be
organized in the Russian Federation later this year.

74. We underscored the need to maintain ASEAN centrality and unity in
all dialogue and cooperation processes initiated by ASEAN. In this
regard, we reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN acting and be recognised
as the driving force in all facets of our relations with our Dialogue
Partners and other external parties as well as ASEAN playing a central
role in the evolving regional architectures.

75. We welcomed the interest expressed by several non-regional
countries and international institutions to extend technical
assistance and financial support for the implementation of ASEAN's
development agenda. As an outward-looking organization, ASEAN
recognised the need to establish other forms of formal relations with
other non-regional countries and international institutions to assist
its development agenda. In this context, we tasked the ASEAN
Directors-General and the ASEAN Secretariat to develop new categories
of partnership with non-regional countries and international
institutions while maintaining the moratorium on new Dialogue
Partnership. We also welcomed the offer of the Philippines to work
with the ASEAN Secretariat in identifying ways to strengthen
cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

76. We renewed our commitment to the ASEAN Plus Three (ASEAN+3)
cooperation and reiterated our long-term goal of developing an East
Asian community. We agreed that the ASEAN Plus Three process would
remain as the main vehicle with ASEAN as the driving force for East
Asian community building. Pursuant to the signing of the Kuala Lumpur
Declaration on the ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 12
December 2005, we noted that the ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials and
the Directors-General, in their meetings on 18 May 2006 in Karambunai,
Sabah and 8 June 2006 in Seoul, ROK, respectively, had had initial
discussions in preparation of the drafting of the Second Joint
Statement on East Asia Cooperation, and the accompanying Work Plan, to
be issued by our Leaders in 2007 to commemorate the 10th anniversary
of the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation.

77. We recalled the successful convening of the First East Asia Summit
(EAS) in Kuala Lumpur on 14 December 2005 attended by all Leaders of
ASEAN Member Countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of
Korea and New Zealand. While emphasising ASEAN as the driving force,
we reaffirmed that the EAS, as an open, inclusive, transparent and
outward-looking forum, would serve as a platform for dialogue on broad
strategic, political and economic issues of common interest to promote
peace and economic prosperity in East Asia. We reaffirmed the efforts
of the East Asia Summit to promote community building in this region
and its integral part of the evolving regional architecture. We viewed
this 'Leaders-led' Summit as an important event of historical
significance to ASEAN and agreed to cooperate using existing
mechanisms to implement the decisions of the Summit and the 17 areas
of cooperation mentioned by the Leaders.

78. We recalled the successful holding of the Second ASEAN-UN Summit
on 13 September 2005 in New York wherein it was agreed that ASEAN-UN
cooperation needs to be further broadened with the involvement of the
various UN specialised agencies to encompass all areas related to
community building, including key issues related to development, in
particular, poverty eradication and the Millennium Development Goals,
prevention and control of infectious diseases, disaster management,
transnational issues, trade and investment as well as peace and
security. We noted that the Summit also agreed to convene future
ASEAN-UN Summits on a regular basis. In this context, the Philippines
proposed to explore the possibility of having an ASEAN-UN Summit in
2007.

Developments in Myanmar

79. We took note of the briefing by Myanmar on the recent developments
in the country and the complex challenges faced by Myanmar in dealing
with the process of national reconciliation and peaceful transition to
democracy as contained in the Roadmap. We expressed concern on the
pace of the national reconciliation process and hope to see tangible
progress that would lead to peaceful transition to democracy in the
near future. We reiterated our calls for the early release of those
placed under detention and for effective dialogue with all parties
concerned. We expressed our support for the constructive role taken by
the Chairman of the 39th ASEAN Standing Committee and further
discussed the outcome of his visit to Myanmar on 23-24 March 2006. We
also noted the initiative taken by the United Nations Undersecretary
General for Political Affairs, who visited Myanmar on 18-20 May 2006
and Myanmar's readiness to receive another visit by him.

80. We recognized that Myanmar needs both time and political space to
deal with its many and complex challenges. We hope that Myanmar's
efforts to deal with those challenges will progress so that Myanmar
can effectively engage the international community, and in this regard
ASEAN would remain constructively engaged as required.

Regional and international issues

81. We exchanged views on the following issues:

Timor Leste

82. We took note of the recent positive developments in Timor Leste
and welcomed the immediate assistance from Malaysia, Australia, New
Zealand and Portugal to deploy defence and security forces in Timor
Leste. We welcomed the appointment of the new Prime Minister and
Cabinet. We congratulated H. E. Jose Luis Guterres, Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor Leste, on his recent
appointment.

83. We agreed to Timor Leste's participation, where appropriate, in
functional areas of ASEAN activities. We also welcomed Timor Leste's
decision to accede to the TAC.

Iraq

84. We were encouraged by the determination of the Iraqis in taking
important steps in the political process towards reconciliation and
shaping the democratic and independent future of Iraq. We welcomed the
election that took place in Iraq on 15 December 2005 to elect 275
members of the Iraqi Parliament and subsequent establishment of the
Iraqi Government of national unity on 20 May 2006 that could bring
about political and economic reconstruction. However, we expressed
deep concern over the deteriorating security condition in Iraq,
including the continued attacks on civilians and places of worship. We
urged the Iraqi authorities and others to improve the security
situation in Iraq and to engage with all parties in resolving the
political differences through peaceful democratic means. We also
earnestly hoped that the new Iraqi Government would act with utmost
urgency towards the restoration of national unity and political
stability that would contribute to durable peace, security and
prosperity in the country.

Middle East

85. We were gravely concerned over the deteriorating situation and the
escalation of violence in the Middle East, particularly the
disproportionate, indiscriminate and excessive use of force by Israel
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Lebanon, triggered by the
capture of the two Israeli soldiers. It would threaten efforts towards
reviving the Peace Process.

86. We condemned all acts of terror, violence and destruction. We also
condemned attacks that have resulted in injury and death of innocent
civilians and the destruction of civilian property and infrastructure.
We further condemned the abduction and detention of Cabinet Ministers,
government officials, and other individuals and we called for their
immediate and unconditional release.

87. We urged all parties to exercise utmost restraint, in particular
to avoid additional casualties among innocent civilians and damage to
civilian property and infrastructure and to refrain from acts that
could further exacerbate the situation and worsen the humanitarian
crisis.

88. We called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the international
community and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to get all
parties in the conflicts to adhere to the ceasefire under UN
supervision with the participation of countries that are able to do
so, and ultimately to work towards a just, durable and comprehensive
peace in the region.

89. We reaffirmed the call for the strict respect of the sovereignty,
territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon
under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon as
stipulated in UNSC Resolutions 1664 and 1680.

90. We also urged Israel and Palestine to return to the peace process
and implementation of the Quartet Performance-Based Roadmap to a
Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict as
outlined in UNSC Resolution 1515.

91. We welcomed all efforts taken to address the situation, including
the visits to the region by the Special Adviser of the UN
Secretary-General to the Middle East and the UN Under-Secretary
General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, as
well as the efforts undertaken by the Foreign Minister of France in
that country's capacity as current President of the United Nations
Security Council. We viewed the visit by the US Secretary of State to
the region and Italy's intention to host an international conference
on 26 July 2006 as encouraging steps and hope that these would bring
about the immediate cessation of hostilities, opening the way for the
unimpeded flow of humanitarian relief and assistance to the civilians
affected by the conflict, the early return of displaced persons and
providing the conditions for a durable and lasting solution to the
problems in the region. We also emphasised the need for speedy
restoration of essential infrastructure facilities in Palestine and
Lebanon to avoid further deterioration of humanitarian condition of
the Palestine and Lebanese people.

Korean Peninsula

92. We expressed our concern over the latest developments in the
Korean Peninsula including the test-firing by DPRK of its Taepodong-2
missiles on 5 July 2006 which could affect peace and stability in the
region. We noted the unanimous adoption of the UNSC resolution 1695.
We also expressed our desire for the realisation of a nuclear-free
Korean Peninsula and our continued support for the early resumption of
the Six Party Talks. We also expressed our hope that the on-going
inter-Korean exchanges would continue to provide conditions which
would be conducive to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. We
also believed that the ARF can contribute to promoting peace and
stability in the Korean Peninsula and expressed the hope that members
of the Six Party Talks can utilise their presence during the ARF to
promote the resumption of the Talks.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

93. We reemphasised the importance of a rule-based multilateral
trading system. We expressed regret on the failure to agree to the
negotiating modalities on agriculture and non-agriculture market
access (NAMA) at the Informal Ministerial Meeting held on 29 June -1
July 2006 in Geneva. We called on all WTO Members, especially the
major ones, to redouble their efforts in line with their commitment to
the objectives of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and to ensure that
the negotiations would come to a successful conclusion by the end of
2006. We reiterated that the Doha Round must achieve an ambitious and
balanced outcome that is development-oriented with particular emphasis
on ensuring real, effective and operational development benefits to
developing countries.

94. We reiterated our support to the early accession of the Lao PDR
and Viet Nam to the WTO. In this connection, we congratulated Viet Nam
on her conclusion of all her bilateral negotiations and supported the
earliest completion of the multilateral negotiation process to enable
Viet Nam to join the WTO before November 2006.

Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED)

95. We recognised that now is the opportune time to strengthen ties
and forge cooperation between Asia and the Middle East that would
allow the two regions to take advantage of their resurgence in the
global economy. The AMED was conceived to achieve this objective by
fostering dialogue and mutual understanding through three Working
Groups on Political and Security issues, on Social, Educational,
Cultural, Scientific and Media issues, and on Economic issues.

Asia-Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)

96. We also welcomed the outcome of the 5th ACD Ministerial Meeting on
23-24 May 2006 in Doha, Qatar. We commended the progress that has been
made with respect to the promotion of closer cooperation in the area
of energy, which is to put priority on such areas as energy security,
research and assessment on energy, energy infrastructure and
development and exploring the possibility of reinvesting revenues that
accrue from the energy in the ACD countries to enhance sustainable
growth and development in Asia. We look forward to the 2nd ACD Energy
Forum to be hosted by Pakistan in November 2006 to further discuss
this and other important energy issues. We also commended the progress
that has been made in the area of financial cooperation, especially
with regard to making productive use of Asia's substantial savings,
including revenues that accrue from the energy trade, and invest these
through the Asian Bond Market mechanism for the benefit of the region.

Asia-Africa Cooperation

97. We noted the progress on the follow up of the outcome of the
Asia-Africa Summit towards the realisation of the New Asia-Africa
Strategic Partnership (NAASP) and look forward for the development of
concrete programme and project cooperation by the Senior Officials'
Meeting to be held in Durban on 1-3 September 2006.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

98. We welcomed the progress achieved by APEC member economies towards
facilitating and liberalizing trade and investment as well as towards
economic and technical cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. We
believed ASEAN and APEC share a common vision of promoting regional
sustainable growth and shared prosperity. We also believed that
greater collaboration between ASEAN and APEC through the exchange and
sharing of information, expertise and best practices and capacity
building programmes would contribute towards this vision and that the
ASEAN-APEC partnership would also benefit the business sector and
other sectors through the various trade facilitation initiatives to
address business concerns and impediments to cross border trade,
investment and cooperation. In this regard, we expressed our full
support for Viet Nam to successfully hold the 14th APEC Economic
Leaders' Meeting in November 2006 with a view to contributing to the
building of a dynamic community for sustainable development and
prosperity. We also supported Cambodia's intention to seek membership
in APEC.

Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)

99. We stressed the need for ASEM to provide a foundation and
framework for fostering the Asia-Europe comprehensive partnership in
the 21st century. We look forward to a successful convening of the 6th
ASEM Summit on 10-11 September 2006 in Helsinki, Finland and the
commemoration of the 10th anniversary of ASEM as an important
benchmark of a ten-year process linking Asia and Europe. We hoped that
the 6th ASEM Summit would further strengthen a mutually beneficial and
forward looking Asia-Europe partnership. We hoped further it would
reflect in its vision on the future directions of ASEM cooperation in
areas of mutual concern and interest such as strengthening
multilateralism; addressing security threats; sustainable development;
dialogue among cultures and civilisations; and globalization and
competitiveness.

100. We welcomed the initiative to establish the ASEM Virtual
Secretariat (AVS) at the ASEAN Secretariat as an information-sharing
device to facilitate coordination and cooperation among its partners.
In this context, we look forward to contributions to the ASEAN
Secretariat by all ASEM partners to ensure the effective operation of
the AVS.

United Nations (UN)

101. We reaffirmed our support for multilateralism and international
law as embodied in the UN Charter. In reviewing the status of the
implementation of the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document, adopted at
the conclusion of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General
Assembly held from 14 to 16 September 2005, we supported a
comprehensive reform of the United Nations and underlined the need to
enhance the voice and the role of the developing countries within the
UN system. We believed that to ensure that the UN remains relevant and
effective, it is imperative that it be democratized efficient,
transparent, accountable, and truly reflective of the will and
interest of all Member States. We also welcomed the establishment of
the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

102. We reaffirmed ASEAN's support for Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand,
Cambodia and Malaysia's candidature to become non-permanent members of
the UN Security Council for the year 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2011-2012,
2013-2014, 2015-2016 respectively. In this context, we also reaffirmed
our collective endeavour to support Indonesia's bid for the
non-permanent seat for the UNSC for 2007-2008, in the election to be
held at the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly and requested
Indonesia to coordinate this endeavour with the Permanent
Representatives of ASEAN Member Countries in New York.

ASEAN Candidature for the UNSG

103. We reaffirmed our endorsement of Dr Surakiart Sathirathai, Deputy
Prime Minister of Thailand as the ASEAN Candidate for the post of
Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG). We agreed to continue
to pursue a coordinated strategy in support of the campaign for the
ASEAN Candidate. We called on all Member States of the United Nations
to support the ASEAN Candidate.

Cooperation with Regional Organizations

104. We recalled the outcomes of the ASEAN-South Asia Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC), ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and
ASEAN-Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Foreign Ministers
Meetings in September 2005 in New York where several areas were
identified for cooperation between ASEAN and these organizations. We
recognized the potential of these cooperation arrangements to generate
mutual benefits.

40th AMM

105. We elected the Philippines as the In-coming Chair of the 40th
ASEAN Standing Committee and Singapore as the Vice-Chair. We look
forward to the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting / Post Ministerial
Conferences / 14th ASEAN Regional Forum to be held on 30 July to 2
August 2007 in the Philippines.

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