During the year under review, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations continued to develop gaining steadily in economic strength and political cohesion, and increasing its international stature.

Despite the difficulties resulting from the world wide recession, ASEAN achieved one of the highest economic growth rates of any region in the world. Accelerated programmes of cooperation have substantially contributed to the continued stability and prosperity of the region enhancing, at the same time, solidarity among its members. The highlights of ASEAN's progress in regional cooperation in the fields of trade and industry, tourism, energy, food, agriculture and forestry, finance and banking, transport and communications, as well as in the areas of social development, information and cultural exchanges, and science and technology, are contained in the relevant sections of this Report.

Cooperation between ASEAN and its dialogue partners has also been strengthened at both the governmental and the private sector levels.

The Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and the European Community met in Bangkok on 24-25 March 1 983 and exchanged views on international issues of mutual interest. Their discussions reflected a common concern over these issues and the urgent need to resolve them, In the context of the ASEAN-EC Cooperation Agreement, cooperation between ASEAN and the Community has expanded rapidly, particularly in the fields of science and technology, insurance, trade promotion, training and development cooperation. In this regard, the Ministers noted the success of the Third Meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee held in Pattaya, Thailand, in November 1982 which gave impetus to increase cooperation between the industrial and business sectors. of the two regions.

The Seventh ASEAN-Australia Forum was held in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, on 26-27 October 1982. ASEAN-Australian cooperation, especially in projects within the framework of the ASEAN - Australia Economic Cooperation Programme was given added impetus. The Foreign Minister of Australia, Mr. William Hayden, visited ASEAN countries in April 1983 in order to strengthen the close relationship between ASEAN and Australia.

The visit of the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Pierre Elliot Trudeau in January 1983 further strengthened the close and friendly ties between ASEAN and Canada. The Fourth ASEAN - Canada Dialogue was held in Ottawa on 26-27 April 1983, within the framework of the Economic Cooperation Agreement which came into force on 1 June 1982, as the First ASEAN - Canada Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting.

The Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Yasuhiro Nakasone, made an important good-will tour of ASEAN countries in May 1983 during which he made various proposals to highlight Japan's commitment to the ASEAN countries. The Sixth ASEAN - Japan Forum, subsequently held in Tokyo on 26 - 27 May 1983, attempted to translate the proposals of the Prime Minister into specific programmes and projects especially in the economic and science and technology fields.

No dialogue meetings were held in the year under review with the U.S. and New Zealand. Cooperation with these countries in various fields was however actively pursued through the ASEAN Committees in Washington and Wellington and the Coordinating Countries.

The Fifteenth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, held in Singapore on 14 - 16 June 1982, decided to establish a Task Force, consisting of three experts from each member country to undertake a comprehensive review and appraisal of ASEAN cooperation, identify policy measures that would maximize the attainment of ASEAN's goals and objectives and define possible new directions for future cooperation, The Report of the Task Force was submitted to the Sixteenth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok in June 1983.

With regard to the continued Vietnamese occupation of Kampuchea, ASEAN has stood firm in its commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and was gratified by a greater majority reaffirming the seat of Democratic Kampuchea during the 37th UN General Assembly. ASEAN welcomed the formation in June 1982 of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK) under the Presidency of Prince Norodom Sihanouk. ASEAN noted with satisfaction that the CGDK is gaining recognition and strength. Meanwhile ASEAN continues to search for ways and means to bring about a comprehensive political solution to the Kampuchean problem in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Declaration of the International Conference on Kampuchea (ICK) The Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and the European Community at their Meeting in Bangkok on 24-25 March 1983 deplored the continued presence of Vietnamese forces in Kampuchea and Soviet forces in Afghanistan. ASEAN's other Dialogue Partners have also shown a clear understanding of ASEAN's position on these issues. The overwhelming majority of the international community continues to support ASEAN's stand on these matters.

The progress ASEAN has achieved in economic, social and cultural cooperation, and its concerted action in international fora on issues such as the Kampuchean problem, has led to wider international acceptance of ASEAN as a strong and viable community of nations seeking peace and progress.