The Directors-General of the ASEAN regulatory authorities for telecommunications, during their third meeting in Singapore from 6-8 August 1997, recalled the spirit of cooperation and action in which the ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators' Council was established in 1994. They also recognised the dynamic global telecommunication environment within which ASEAN operates today and the importance of telecommunications as a fundamental infrastructure upon which the vision of an ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) can be realised.

They noted that the role of regulators is to effectively manage the telecommunication industry, serve consumers and to accelerate the growth and development of the local telecommunication industry.

Having, recognised the vital role which the ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators' Council can play in ensuring the seamless roaming of services within ASEAN, facilitating intra-ASEAN trade in telecommunication equipment and services, enhancing the interconnectivity and interoperability of ASEAN networks and strengthening ASEAN's profile in the international telecommunication community they wish to reaffirm their intention to strengthen and enhance their timely and effective cooperation within the ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators Council through:

1. harmonisation of frequency spectrum allocation and use within the ASEAN region, such as for mobile cellular and radio paging services to enhance the mobility of and convenience to ASEAN users;
   

2. harmonisation of type-approval standards and processes for telecommunication equipment to support efforts of ASEAN manufacturers and suppliers to ¤ell their products in one anothers' markets and to enhance the range and availability of telecommunication equipment for consumers;
   

3. intensification of cooperation on international issues by Joint coordination of a common ASEAN position to ensure that at fora such as the ITU and APT, ASEAN countries show leadership and initiative commensurate with their economic status:
   

4. promotion of the development, interconnectivity and interoperability of The National Information Infrastructures of ASEAN countries through harmonisation of broadband multimedia network standards bearing in mind the need to assist all ASEAN members to develop NII plans and the need for balanced development of such infrastructures across ASEAN; and
   

5. development of human resource expertise to support the growing needs of the ASEAN region's telecommunication sector by establishing channels and activities to facilitate skills enhancement and creative thinking in the area of telecommunications. This will ensure highly effective, competent and dedicated ASEAN human resources in telecommunications.

 Signed on 8 August 1997 in Singapore:

 Head of Delegation Brunei Darussalam

(Sgd.) DATO PADUKA HJ ABDULLAH BIN BMDP HJ BAKAR
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS

Head of Delegation The Republic Indonesia

(Sgd.) DJAKARIA PURAWIDJAJA
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Head of Delegation Lao People's Democratic Republic

(Sgd.) DR SILAP BOUPHA

SENIOR ADVISOR POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Head of Delegation Malaysia

(Sgd.) DATUK HAJI HOD BIN PARMAN
DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS,
JABATAN TELEKOMUNIKASI MALAYSIA

Head of Delegation Union of Myanmar

(Sgd.) U HTAY AUNG
DIRECTOR-GENERAL MYANMAR POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Head of Delegation The Phillipines

(Sgd.) CONSUELO S PEREZ
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Head of Delegation The Republic of Singapore

(Sgd.) LEONG-KENG THAI

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, TELECOMMUNICATION AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

Head of Delegation Thailand

(Sgd.) DR KITTI YUPHO 
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT

Head of Delegation The Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(Sgd.) NGUYEN NGOC CANH 
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY DEPT,
DEPARTMENT GENERAL OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS