FACTSHEET ON ASEAN

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Dear Netters,
                      Here's the factsheet on ASEAN
Peace.

Sincerely,

Julien Moe
----
 

29 October 1998 

FACT SHEET: ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) 

(Released by Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs) (730)

Washington -- The following fact sheet was released by the Bureau of
East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, October 26:

(begin text)

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Fact Sheet released by
the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs U.S. Department of State,
October 26, 1998 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
was formed in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore
and Thailand to promote political and economic cooperation and
regional stability. The ASEAN Declaration, signed in 1976 by ASEAN
leaders in Bali, Indonesia, and considered ASEAN's foundation
document, formalized the principles of peace and cooperation to which
ASEAN is dedicated. Brunei joined in 1984, shortly after its
independence from the United Kingdom, and Vietnam joined ASEAN as its
seventh member in 1995. Laos and Burma were admitted into full
membership in July 1997 as ASEAN celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Although Cambodia was also scheduled to join at that time, its
admittance was postponed due to turmoil in that country. The
Association commands far greater influence on Asia-Pacific trade,
political, and security issues than its members could achieve
individually. ASEAN's success has been based largely on its use of
consultation, consensus, and cooperation. Its role in organizing
international efforts to end conflict in Cambodia in the late 1970's
led eventually to the 1993 democratic elections in Cambodia. In
January 1993, ASEAN took the first steps toward an ASEAN Free Trade
Area (AFTA) by agreeing to eliminate most tariffs on manufactured
goods between its member countries over the following decade. ASEAN
Regional Forum (ARF) and Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) Since 1977,
ASEAN has established dialogue-partner relationships with other
countries with interests in the region, including the United States.
ASEAN ministers meet every year with dialogue partners at the
Post-Ministerial Conference, held after the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting,
usually in July. In 1993, ASEAN took the lead in proposing the
formation of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), to include the dialogue
partners and some others. The inaugural ARF Ministerial Meeting --
held July 25, 1994, in Bangkok, Thailand -- established the ARF as the
first region-wide multilateral forum for official consultations on
Asia-Pacific security issues. The Chairman's Statement issued after
the 1998 Fifth ARF Ministerial Meeting confirmed that the ARF would
continue to make significant contributions toward confidence building
and preventative diplomacy in the region. In November 1998, the U.S.
and Thailand will co-host an ARF intersessional meeting on Confidence
Building Measures. ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) Members
ASEAN: Brunei, Burma, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam ASEAN Dialogue Partners: Australia,
Canada, China, European Union, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New
Zealand, Russia, United States ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Members
Australia, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, China, European Union,
India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia,
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Singapore,
Thailand, United States, Vietnam. Economics and Trade The ASEAN
countries plus Cambodia have a combined population of more than 450
million. Covering more than 2.4 million square miles, these countries
straddle strategic sea routes linking the Pacific Ocean with the
Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Rich in natural resources and with
skilled work forces and market-oriented development policies, the
ASEAN countries' economies grew rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s. In
1996, growth rates ranged from 6% for the Philippines to more than 9%
for Vietnam, ranking ASEAN among the fastest-growing markets in the
world. As a result of the financial crisis of 1997 and 1998, however,
many ASEAN countries face reduced or negative growth and trade.
U.S.-ASEAN Trade U.S.-ASEAN two-way trade reached nearly $120 billion
in 1997, an increase of more than 150% from 1990. Based on 1997 trade
figures, ASEAN was the United States' fifth-largest trading partner.
Recently, U.S. exports to the region have fallen significantly, while
shipments to the U.S. have increased markedly in volume. Leading U.S.
exports include aircraft and parts, data processing equipment,
electronic components, parts for office machinery, and
telecommunications equipment. American companies located in ASEAN
countries increasingly manufacture higher technology products,
particularly electronics, for re-export to the U.S. and to
third-country markets. (end text)