Chairman's Press Statement of the 2nd ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers Meeting, Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 24 July 2001

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Chairman's Statement The Second ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers Meeting 24 July 2001, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
The Second Meeting between the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN with the Foreign Ministers of the People's Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASE/\N+3 FMM) was held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam on 24 July 2001. The Meeting was chaired by H.E.Mr. Nguyen Dy Nien, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The Foreign Ministers reiterated the importance of the Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation adopted by the ASEAN+3 Summit in Manila in 1999 and the decisions made by the ASEAN+3 Summit in Singapore in 2000. The Foreign Ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues affecting peace, stability and development in the region. The discussions were held in a candid and friendly atmosphere. The Foreign Ministers held the views that peace, stability in the region continued to be further strengthened. The Foreign Ministers welcomed the election of President Megawati Sukarnoputri in Indonesia in an orderly and peaceful manner. The Foreign Ministers noted with satisfaction that the exchange and cooperation between South and North Korea have registered progress in various fields, following the North-South Summit on June 15, 2000 and underscored tile importance of holding the second inter- Korean Summit in consolidating peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The Foreign Ministers reviewed the progress of the implementation of the Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation and the follow-up actions to the decisions of the ASEAN+3 Summit in Singapore, in November 2000. The Foreign Ministers noted with satisfaction that the cooperation between ASEAN and the three Northeast Asian countries was strengthened and expanded especially in such areas as economic, financial, human resources, information technology and development cooperation. The Foreign Ministers welcomed the endorsement of the 6 priority projects at the recent ASEAN+ 3 Economic Ministers Meeting and expressed the hope for early materialisation of these projects. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers welcomed the efforts of China, Japan and the ROK to assist ASEAN in promoting regional integration through the initiative for ASEAN Integration and especially the new Member Countries in this endeavour for regional integration in 3 priority areas of the human resources, information technology and the ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDC). They also encouraged the three Northeast ASIAN countries for more assistance and cooperation in this regard. The Foreign Ministers recognized that the ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation had become one of the major areas within the framework of ASEAN + 3 cooperation. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers welcomed the participation of the Plus Three countries in the ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation as reflected by the sending of study missions and survey teams to the regional countries. The ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers were briefed on the activities of the Financial Experts Group within the AMBDC framework. The Plus Three Foreign Ministers took note of ASEAN's proposal on the establishment of a Unit in the ASEAN Secretariat for monitoring and coordinating Mekong Basin development projects. The Foreign Ministers agreed to further intensify and expand the development cooperation projects in the region. The Foreign Ministers noted with satisfaction the formal launching the EASG and the establishment of the Working Group of the EASG and took note of the progress of the EASG by the adoption of the Terms of Reference of the EASG. The Foreign Ministers appreciated the efforts by the Members of the East Asia Vision Group (EAVG) in preparing the Report to be submitted to the ASEAN+3 Summit in November 2001 in Brunei Darussalam. The Foreign Ministers encouraged the EASG to consider the recommendations included in the Report of the EAVG in order to identify feasible ones for submission to the ASEAN+3 Summit with a view to developing the process of the ASEAN+3 cooperation in the interest of peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The Foreign Ministers also discussed the preparations for the ASEAN+3 Summit, which will be held on 5-6 November 2001 in Brunei Darussalam.