FACTSHEET RELEASED BY THE BUREAU OF

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Dear Netters,
                      The following document is something you should know
about US/ASEAN relations.The document reflects US policy toward ASEAN and
the cooperations to be conducted in the future.I hope the document is of use
to you.

Peace

Julien Moe
------------------
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Fact Sheet released by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
U.S. Department of State, July 21, 1998


The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed in 1967 by 
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and 
then-South Vietnam to promote political and economic cooperation. The 
Bali Treaty, signed in 1976 by ASEAN heads of state 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 state 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 and 
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 1978 led eventually 
to the 1993 democratic elections in Cambodia. In January 1993, ASEAN 
established the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) to eliminate most tariffs 
on manufactured goods between its member countries over the next 15 
years. 

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. 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, which was held July 25, 
1994, in Bangkok, Thailand, successfully brought together foreign 
ministers from all the ASEAN countries, plus Australia, Canada, China, 
Japan, Laos, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia, South Korea, the 
United States, Vietnam, and 18 representatives from the European Union 
(EU), to discuss regional security concerns. 

The Bangkok meeting established the ARF as the first region-wide 
multilateral forum for consultations at the government level on 
Asia-Pacific security issues. The 1994 Chairman's Statement, issued by 
consensus following the meeting, described the ARF as a useful 
instrument for contributing to regional security by easing tensions, 
reducing suspicions, and cultivating consultation habits. 

Since the Bangkok meeting, the United States has encouraged an active 
ARF work program, focusing on confidence-building measures, defense 
transparency, and improved cooperation in other areas such as 
peacekeeping, search and rescue, and disaster relief. The U.S. sees the 
ARF as a useful forum for developing habits of consultation and dialogue 
to prevent future conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region. 

ASEAN foreign ministers meet annually, usually in July, at the ASEAN 
ministerial meeting (AMM). The annual meeting of the ASEAN Regional 
Forum (ARF) foreign ministers follows the AMM. ASEAN then meets with its 
dialogue partners for a post-ministerial conference (PMC). Secretary 
Albright will lead the U.S. delegation to this year's meetings in 
Manila, the Philippines. The AMM is July 24-25, with the ARF on July 27 
and the PMC July 28. 

The ARF is an opportunity for members to address political and security 
issues in the region and internal ARF-related issues, as well as to 
approve recommendations made during the specific working groups of the 
past year. Initially, the PMC agenda focused on economic issues, but it 
now also includes political and security topics. With the advent of the 
ARF, the PMC has also begun to discuss extra-regional, transnational, 
and global issues, such as the terrorism, narcotics, and the 
environment. 

In addition to the large annual meetings, ASEAN holds more than 260 
other sub-dialogue and committee meetings during the year, as well as 
regular bilateral meetings with each of its dialogue partners. 
Intersessional ARF meetings on limited topics are also held throughout 
the year. 

United States participation in the ARF and PMC offers an opportunity for 
regular and comprehensive review of matters of U.S. interest in the 
Asia-Pacific. It also provides a chance to underscore the importance of 
the region in U.S. foreign policy, while reaffirming our commitment to 
remain engaged. 

At the 1998 ARF, the ministers are expected to approve a wide-ranging 
work plan for 1998-99. The plan calls for two working-level groups 
(official meetings involving government representatives): 

-- Confidence-Building Measures; and
-- Disaster Relief Coordination. 

Two former working groups are expected to continue at the technical 
expert level: 

-- Search and Rescue; and
-- Peacekeeping Operations. 

U.S. and the ARF 

The United States is fully committed to remaining engaged in the 
Asia-Pacific region politically, economically, and strategically. The 
bedrock of U.S. engagement will continue to be its bilateral alliances 
and network of defense relationships and access arrangements. The U.S. 
seeks to complement its bilateral security ties and active engagement in 
resolving real threats with support for enhanced regional security 
dialogues. The ARF is the principal multilateral regional security 
dialogue in Asia, and the U.S. views it as complementary to U.S. 
bilateral ties. 

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. 

The financial crisis of 1997 and 1998 has significantly affected ASEAN 
countries' growth, with several countries facing negative growth in 
1998. The immediate challenges for the ASEAN countries are to restore 
macroeconomic stability, rebuild investor confidence, and strengthen 
their financial systems. In the long term, the economic fundamentals in 
the region offer promise for recovery and a return to sound economic 
growth. 

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. ASEAN is the 
second-fastest growing Asian market for U.S. exports. 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. 

ASEAN and the U.S. have established several consultative groups to 
increase cooperation as economic integration increases. Regular meetings 
include the U.S.-ASEAN Dialogue, the U.S. Trade Representative-ASEAN 
economic ministers meeting, the annual Trade Investment Coordinating 
Committee (TICC), and monthly Economic Cooperation Committee (ECC) 
meetings in Washington, DC. The U.S.-ASEAN Business Council has also 
been established to foster business relationships between the U.S. and 
the countries of ASEAN. 

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, New Zealand, 
Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, United 
States, Vietnam, Mongolia (expected in August 1998) 

[end of document]