- H.E. Hassan Wirajuda, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia,

- H.E. Rodolfo Severino, ASEAN Secretary General

- Excellencies,

- Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.     At the outset, I wish to take this opportunity to thank H.E. Rodolfo Severino, ASEAN Secretary General, for inviting me to speak at the opening of this important IAI Development Cooperation Forum (IDCF). It is indeed a great honor and a great pleasure for me to be here at the launching of the IDCF, which I believe is a significant gathering in advancing the implementation of the IAI Work Plan, programs and projects that surely will contribute to ASEAN integration.

2.     The IAI Work Plan, which is a key development framework for the new ASEAN members in the next six years, is vital for achieving ASEAN integration. As a top priority, IAI focuses on four strategic areas, namely infrastructure, HRD, ICT, and regional economic integration. The realization of the IAI programs and projects would require sufficient resources and active support.

3.     On this occasion, I wish to inform you that at the Initiative for Development of East Asia (IDEA) Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo a few days ago, the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers discussed extensively the East Asiacooperation and they unanimously supported the IAI Work Plan and projects. I believe that the support of the Work Plan by China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) is an important step forward toward the success of IAI. In this context, I think that our meeting here in Jakarta is very timely as we attempt to seek the support of all our partners and friends represented here. Their support, in my view, would be an important guarantee for the achievement of the IAI programs and projects which have also been approved by all the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Brunei last month. The ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners also supported these projects in Brunei.

4.     Nowadays, we are in the process of three important initiatives for strengthening East Asia partnership, namely the Initiative for Development of East Asia of Japan, the East Asia Study Group (EASG) proposed by ROK, and the Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation between ASEAN and China which will be agreed by the ASEAN-China leaders at the upcoming summit in Phnom Penh in November this year. I believe that these initiatives and the IDEA meeting in Tokyo recently demonstrate a strong will of all the thirteen countries in East Asia to move ahead with the broadening of East Asia cooperation as well as in advancing East Asian integration in a long-term perspective.

5.     However, to realize this cooperation policy and the vision of East Asian integration, there is an urgent need to eliminate the current two-tier ASEAN, because an ASEAN divide is a serious handicap not only for ASEAN as a whole but also for East Asia as well. Therefore, I believe that ASEAN must have a strong determination to narrow the development gap within our region. Although they need foreign assistance, I believe that the new members would have to do their utmost in enhancing the self-help first to promote development so that they can benefit from the support of other ASEAN members, as well as our partners and friends.

6.     In my view, we have no other viable alternative to realize ASEAN integration and effectively addressing the imbalance of development in the region on the one hand, and move ahead in our way to enhancing and deepening East Asia cooperation, on the other hand. The disparity in ASEAN today constitutes our real major challenge, which we must overcome it at any cost. In this context, I wish to thank those original members of ASEAN for having provided assistance and support in capacity building, training and human resource development to the new members in recent years, specifically after the IAI was launched by our leaders in Singapore in November 2000.   

7.     While recognizing that much more can be done to reduce the development gap within ASEAN, I hope that the positive outcome of this Forum would be an important contributing factor to realize this goal. In this regard, external support is utterly necessary to assist the CLMV countries to accelerate the economic growth, poverty reduction, sustainable development and integration. I expect that this Forum will demonstrate the rationale of the Work Plan, programs and projects, as well as the impact of such projects on CLMV’s development. I wish to convey our message to our friends and partners present here that we need your support and assistance to help us realize the ASEAN integration first and East Asian integration in the long-term. I believe that both ASEAN integration and the broader East Asia cooperation are very much linked to one another, as we now agreed in Tokyo to “act together and advance together,” to borrow the words from Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi.

8.     Although we are fully aware of the budgetary constraints of our friends and partners as well as the international organizations due to global economic slowdown and the competing needs in other parts of the world, I still hope that you all understand the necessity and importance of ASEAN integration.

9.     In recognition of their generous support and assistance over the years, I wish to take this opportunity to thank all ASEAN’s friends and partners for having accepted to attend this important forum. In particular, the commitment of China, Japan and ROK to support IAI which was made in Tokyo a few days ago constitutes an important factor of the success of IAI.

10.    While understanding the need for greater accountability and effectiveness of using the resources provided by our friends and partners, we will work closely with everyone to ensure the effectiveness of the assistance. I also believe that the CLMV countries will play their part in ensuring the realization of the Work Plan and projects in the framework of their national plans of development. In this regard, I believe that CLMV have been and will continue strengthening the legal framework, creating an enabling environment for attracting investment, and enhancing transparency.

11.    Finally, I believe that a fully integrated ASEAN will sustain its relevance, boost its competitiveness in the face of increasing challenges of globalization and regionalization, as well as be a catalyst for strengthening East Asia. Moreover, an economically strong ASEAN will not only benefit ASEAN alone but also its partners. Therefore, the integration of ASEAN, in my view, remains a critical factor which will be of significant benefits to East Asia as a whole as well as to other partners of ASEAN.

12.    Once again, on behalf of ASEAN, in particular the new members, may I take this opportunity to thank you very much for your presence here. Your participation in this Forum has already indicated your support of ASEAN as well as IAI. I also wish to extend my best wishes for a successful IDCF.

Thank you very much.