Joint media release
14 September 2002, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
The Seventh Consultation Between the ASEAN Economic Ministers and
Ministers of the CER
1. The ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and the Ministers
from Australia and New Zealand (Closer Economic Relations - CER) held their Seventh Consultations on 14 September 2002 in Bandar Seri
Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. The Consultations was co-chaired by H.E.
Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources
of Brunei Darussalam; the Hon. Mr. Mark Vaile, Minister for Trade
of Australia; and the Hon. Mr. Jim Sutton, Minister for Trade Negotiations
of New Zealand.
ASEAN-CER Trade and Investment Relations
2. The Ministers exchanged views on recent international
economic developments, including the prospects for global recovery
and issues affecting ASEAN and CER. They noted the trade between
ASEAN and CER was valued at US$ 20.3 billion in 2001. They also noted
the potential of increasing trade and investment in the future. In
this regard, the Ministers underlined the importance of continuing
regional economic integration as a means to promote trade and investment
flows.
3. The Ministers noted that 2003 would mark the 20th
anniversary of CER, signifying the ongoing economic integration of
Australia and New Zealand. The annual average growth of around 9
per cent in trans-Tasman trade over the past decade highlights the
benefits to business and the wider communities of this successful
agreement.
Closer Economic Partnership (CEP)
4. The Ministers signed the Joint Ministerial Declaration
on the AFTA-CER CEP, which introduced a formal and structured approach
to promoting trade, investment and regional economic integration between
ASEAN and CER.
5. The Ministers agreed to set a target of doubling trade
and investment by 2010 to ensure that the CEP was ambitious and results-oriented,
with a practical focus on increasing trade and investment for the
benefit of business and the wider communities in all ASEAN and CER
countries. Reduced impediments to trade and lower business costs
in the region would stimulate higher economic and employment growth.
6. The Ministers noted the progress made in the implementation
of the CEP Initial Work Programme. They encouraged ASEAN and CER sectoral
bodies to increase their collaboration and accelerate work on finalizing
work plans, complete with targets and timeframes, to implement the
CEP Work Programme. The Ministers recalled that, under the CEP Initial
Work Programme, priority has been given to elimination of technical
barriers to trade and non-tariff barriers, customs cooperation, capacity
building, trade and investment promotion and facilitation, standards
and conformity assessment, electronic commerce and small and medium
enterprises.
7. The Ministers agreed to establish the AFTA-CER CEP Implementation
and Coordination Group (ACCICG), which would be responsible for: i)
coordinating and directing the work programme under the CEP; ii) providing
for the exchange of views on regional and multilateral economic and
trade issues; and iii) identifying new areas of cooperation; and endorsed
its terms of reference.
AFTA-CER Business Council
8.
The Ministers welcomed the opportunity to meet with the newly-established
AFTA-CER Business Council (ACBC), and congratulated the ACBC on its
successful inaugural meeting at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 8 July
this year. The Ministers welcomed the ACBC's views on issues and
priorities for further developing the CEP.
9. The Ministers acknowledged the ACBC's proposals to enhance business
linkages between ASEAN and CER closely related to the CEP work programme,
in the areas of small and medium enterprises, human resource development,
and information and communications technology and e-commerce. The
Ministers noted that the ACBC had identified non-tariff barriers as
a major impediment to increasing ASEAN-CER trade flows and concurred
with the ACBC that this should be one area of primary focus over the
next year.
10. The Ministers tasked the ACCICG to take into account the
comments and views of the ACBC in the implementation of the CEP Work
Programme, in particular on the efforts to double trade and investments
by 2010.
World Trade Organisation
11. The Ministers welcomed the launch of the WTO Doha Development
Agenda (DDA) and renewed their commitment to the strengthening of
the rules-based multilateral trading system. They particularly welcomed
the development focus of the DDA, especially the provision of trade-related
technical assistance and capacity building, and expressed strong determination
to continue to work in placing the needs and interests of developing
countries at the heart of the WTO work program.
12. The Ministers recognised the important role trade liberalisation
can play in promoting economic growth and reducing poverty and called
on WTO members to continue to work to improve market access and eliminate
trade distorting subsidies, particularly in sectors of interest to
developing countries. The Ministers undertook to work together to
ensure a successful Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun, Mexico
on 10-14 September 2003. The Ministers committed their personal involvement
to ensure the completion of the DDA negotiations by the agreed deadline
of 1 January 2005.
13. The Ministers expressed continuing support for the early
accession of Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam to the WTO.
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
14. The Ministers reiterated their strong support for work being
undertaken in APEC to free and open trade and investment in the region.
They stressed the need to make progress in implementing the Shanghai
Accord and to implement fully the APEC Leaders' statement on counter-terrorism.
LIST OF MINISTERS
The Meeting was attended by:
(i) H.E. Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib, Minister of Industry
and Primary Resources, Brunei Darussalam;
(ii) Hon. Mr. Mark Vaile, Minister of Trade, Australia;
(iii) H.E. Mr. Cham Prasidh, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia;
(iv) H.E. Mr. Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Coordinating Minister
for Economy, Indonesia;
(v) H.E. Mr. Soulivong Daravong, Minister of Industry and
Handicrafts, Lao PDR;
(vi) H.E. Dato' Seri Rafidah Aziz, Minister of International
Trade and Industry, Malaysia;
(vii) H.E. Brigadier General David O. Abel, Minister at the
Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council,
Myanmar;
(viii) Hon. Mr. Jim Sutton, Minister for Trade Negotiations,
New Zealand;
(ix) H.E. Mr. MAR Roxas, Secretary of Trade and Industry, the
Philippines;
(x) H.E. B.G. (NS) George Yeo, Minister for Trade and Industry,
Singapore;
(xi) H.E. Mr. Adisai Bodharamik, Minister of Commerce, Thailand;
(xii) H.E. Mr. Luong Van Tu, Vice Minister of Trade, Viet Nam;
and
(xiii) H.E. Mr. Rodolfo C. Severino, Jr., Secretary-General
of ASEAN.
Media Contact: Mark Croxford +61 02 6277 7420
Local Date:
Friday, 05-Dec-2008 14:03:40 EST
