The Seventh ASEAN Ministerial Meeting was held in Jakarta from 7 to 9 May 1974. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Adam Malik, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia. H.E. Datuk Hussein Onn, Deputy Prime Minister Of Malaysia, was elected Vice-Chairman.

The Meeting was attended by H.E. Datuk Hussein Onn, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; H.E. Carlos P.Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines; H.E. S. Rajaratnam, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore; H.E. Charunphan Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; and H.E. Adam Malik, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, as Leaders of their respective delegations.

The Opening Session was held at Istana Negara. The Temporary Chairman, H.E. Charunphan Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, invited H.E. President Soeharto of the Republic of Indonesia to deliver his Opening Address.

In his Opening Address, H.E. President Soeharto reiterated that ASEAN was a genuine grouping which did not serve the interest nor execute the policy of whatever outside power. The President said that ASEAN was an indigenous organisation to guard regional interests to strive for peace, stability and welfare in the region and was not directed against any power or group of powers.

The President was further pleased to note that ASEAN member countries had been successfully directing their efforts to the establishment of economic stabilization and the furtherance of development in their respective countries which would both give substance to the national independence of each member country and contribute to the joint efforts of strengthening the regional resilience so much needed to put ASEAN in a better position and increasingly gain the recognition and respect of the major powers.

The Opening Session as also attended by the Vice- President of Indonesia, H.E. Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX, important dignitaries and guest of the Indonesian Government including representatives from the Governments of the Khmer Republic and the Kingdom of Laos.

The Minister, reaffirmed their decision in the Sixth Ministerial Meeting that the establishment of an ASEAN Secretariat as necessary. In this connection the Ministers noted the report of the Special Committee of the ASEAN Secretaries General to Consider the, Establishment of the ASEAN Secretariat, and agreed that the report be submitted to ASEAN member governments for consideration.

on the subject concerning the site of the ASEAN Secretariat, H.E. Secretary Romulo informed the Meeting that in deference to the wishes of Indonesia and in the interest of regional unity and harmony, the Philippines was with drawing its offer of facilities for the Secretariat in Manila in favour of Indonesia. The Ministers considered the offer by the Philippine Government to have the ASEAN Secretariat located in Manila as a Manifestation of the importance and significance the Philippine, attaches to ASEAN. Accordingly the Ministers unanimously agreed that the ASEAN Secretariat be located in Jakarta.

The Ministers noted the proposal of the Philippines for the adoption of a Charter for ASEAN as part of the current efforts to institutionalize the function and structure of ASEAN. The Ministers agreed to refer this proposal to the Standing Committee and member governments were requested to submit their comments.

The Ministers agreed that ASEAN, having completed its first stage and presently entering its second stage of cooperation should now embark on a more substantial and meaningful economic collaboration. In this regard the Ministers were of the view that the three techniques of cooperation among others, trade liberalization, complementary agreements and package deal arrangements, might be useful techniques for ASEAN cooperation. The Ministers noted in particular that good progress had been made in liberalizing trade in selected food products. The Ministers welcomed the establishment of the ASEAN Products Display Centre in Bangkok which would open in June 1974 in order to promote further interest in ASEAN intra-regional trade. The Ministers also agreed that the ASEAN Ministers responsible for National Planning should convene to formulate sidelines for ASEAN in the area of industrial cooperation. In this connection, the Ministers also endorsed the creation of a group of experts to study possible complementation schemes.

The Ministers also noted several projects launched by the various committees which would bring direct benefits to the peoples of ASEAN. Notable among these projects are the ASEAN Consumers' Protection Agency to ensure against misrepresentations and sub-standard quality of goods imported into the ASEAN region; cooperation in the control and prevention of drug trafficking and addiction, cooperation in solving human settlements and environmental problems; cooperation on assistance to victims of natural disasters, ship and aircraft disaster and studies to improve soya bean processing techniques in order to overcome the problem of protein deficiencies in the region; the handling and transportation of gains, livestock and perishable goods; the promotion of ASEAN exports and other projects.

The Ministers acknowledged the success of the Association in obtaining from the EEC the recognition of ASEAN as one region and the preferential access of certain commodities into EEC markets and welcomed this as an important development in the ASEAN-EEC relationship.

The Minister, expressed their satisfaction that the ASEAN joint approach to Japan on the indiscriminate production and accelerated exports of synthetic rubber had resulted in obtaining the Japanese Government's agreement to exercise a restraining influence on the Japanese synthetic rubber industry, so that it will not jeopardize the economies of ASEAN countries. The Ministers welcomed the cooperation and understanding of the Japanese Government in this matter.

The Ministers welcomed the out come of the ASEAN- Australia dialogue on economic cooperation, and expressed the hope for the early implementation of the agreed projects.

The Ministers noted with satisfaction the joint and collective approach that ASEAN has taken in regional and international forums. The Ministers agreed that a common ASEAN stand in such forums would contribute to the promotion of ASEAN unity and solidarity, and that such practice be continued.

Expressing their serious concern over the worldwide problems of spiraling inflation, critical shortages and the high costs of food, fuel, fertilizers, and raw materials, among others, the Ministers agreed that these problems could no longer be solved by individual nations acting alone. The Ministers took note of the Sixth Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly, which was convoked recently to consider these crucial economic problem. Recognizing that concerted efforts are needed to ameliorate these problems, the Ministers urged that ASEAN member countries undertake early positive cooperative action and extend prompt and adequate assistance, whenever possible, among themselves for their mutual benefit.

The Ministers also agreed to hold the next ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Malaysia, and consequently the seat of the Standing Committee for 1974-1975 would move from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur.

The Ministers expressed their sincere appreciation to the Government and People of Indonesia for the warm and generous hospitality accorded to them and to the ASEAN National Secretariat of Indonesia for the excellent facilities provided and efficient arrangements made for the Meeting.

The Ministerial Meeting was held in the traditional ASEAN spirit and cordiality imbued with increased confidence in the future of the Association.