JAKARTA, 16 Aug. – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations concluded today a two-day forum involving its dialogue partners, international agencies, representatives of the private sector, and other countries aimed at forming partnerships to close the development gap between its older and newer members and facilitate greater regional integration to enhance the region’s economic competitiveness.
In his opening statement on Thursday, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda described the plan as “a set of opportunities for putting into practice a concept of development cooperation that is not between donor and recipient but between equals in a mutually beneficial partnership.” Expressions of strong support for the IAI came from Australia, China, Germany, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, the United Nations Development Fund and the Asian Development Bank.
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV) joined ASEAN in the period from 1995 to 1999 – that is, 28 to 32 years after ASEAN’s founding in 1967.
Responding to misgiving about a “two-tier” ASEAN when the newer members were admitted, ASEAN Secretary-General Rodolfo Severino reaffirmed that “Southeast Asian solidarity is a strategic imperative.” He added that the enlargement’s collateral effects would just have to be dealt with. He said that “ASEAN’s response to the ‘two-tier’ problem is not to keep out the weaker economies of Southeast Asia but to bring them in, seek to integrate them in ASEAN, and help close the development gap between them and the older members.”
Speaking on behalf of the newer member countries, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong assured the members of the donor community of their “understanding of the need for greater accountability and effectiveness in using the resources provided by them.” He added that “CLMV have been and will continue to strengthen the legal framework, create an enabling environment for attracting investment, and enhance transparency.”
The IAI was conceived by the ASEAN leaders at their summit in November 2000 in Singapore. This initiative is guided by the principle “prosper thy neighbour to prosper thyself.” Subsequently, ASEAN adopted the “Ha Noi Declaration on Narrowing the Development Gap for Closer ASEAN Integration” to implement the IAI.
The IAI Work Plan focuses on the four areas of infrastructure development, human resource development, information and communication technology, and regional economic integration.
Proposed projects under the infrastructure sector include studies for the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link Project in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV); the Integrated Strategic Regional Development Plans for the Development of the ASEAN Highway Network in the CLMV countries; and Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building for CLMV Energy sector.
Under human resource development, projects include capacity building for the civil service sector; developing policy framework and programmes in the labour and employment sectors; and improving higher education systems.
In the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, planned activities focus on narrowing the digital divide within ASEAN by implementing the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement.
Regional economic integration will be promoted through building institutional capacity and human resources in such areas as customs, national standards, quality and metrology, and investment.
The eleven Dialogue Partners of ASEAN are Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the Russian Federation, the United States, and the United Nations Development Programme.
ASEAN members include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
