ASEAN-Canada

1. The Sixth Meeting of the ASEAN-Canada Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) was held in Bandar Seri Begawan on 21-22 November 1989. The Meeting deliberated on the various aspects of the ASEAN-Canada cooperation as well as international and regional economic issues of mutual concern. The JCC Meeting also had a useful discussion on the high priority which the ASEAN and Canadian Governments place on addressing the environmental problems. Both sides pledged to work more closely and seek new ways to cooperate in the protection and preservation of the environment. The Meeting saw the active participation of the representatives of the ASEAN-Canada Business Council (ACBC) which reflected the growing partnership between the governments and the business community in expanding trade and investment between ASEAN and Canada.

2. On economic cooperation, the JCC Meeting agreed to intensify consultations on trade issues through trade policy and MTN discussions in the ASEAN region. It was noted that a team of Canadian MTN experts would be travelling to the ASEAN region for negotiations on the MTN issues. It is expected that the consultations would take place in September 1990. On the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Canada agreed to undertake an impact study of the FTA on ASEAN exports to Canada. With respect to the commodity issues, Canada indicated that it intended to proceed with an amendment to its regulation on labelling requirements for vegetable oils.

3. With regard to the trade issues, a Canadian official visited all ASEAN countries in February/April 1990 to look into the administrative difficulties on handicraft exports to Canada as well as conducted a seminar on the utilization of the Canadian General Preferential Tariff. On trade promotion activities, Canada verified that it was not able to continue its ASEAN Trade Promotion Programme. Nevertheless, Canada indicated that ASEAN countries continue to be eligible for support through the Trade Facilitation Office and were encouraged to do so.

4. In the area of development cooperation, Canada indicated that it would be implementing a second phase of some of the on-going projects as well as to implement those projects identified under the Regional Training Programme (RTP) in which an amount of CDN $ 9.1 million has been committed. On the short-term component of the RTP, two projects namely the Radio Frequency Management and Use of Computers for Commercial and Administrative Application in Telecommunications have been implemented. Canada has con firmed to undertake another five projects this year and tentative arrangements have been made for one additional project as indicated below :
   CANADA-ASEAN REGIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMME

   COURSE TITLE	LENGTH (WEEKS)	COURSE CAPACITY	STATE DATE (1990)
   Training course on Computer Applications Customs Administration in Canada	4	12	Proposed for September
   Cooperation in the field Computerization in Tax Administration	4	12	October 1
   Health Promotion through Health Education Programme	4	17	August 15
   Training of ASEAN Museum Professionals in Museology	12	8	September 10
   Study Tour at the Canada Export Development Corporation	2	12-18	To be established
   Regional Training in the Use of Computers for Commercial & Administration Application in Telecommunication	12	12	April 10 (Completed)
   Radio Frequency Management (Spectrum Management System)	10	8	June 19, 1989 (completed)

   In addition, the Canada-ASEAN Centre will field an education specialist in September/October 1990 to work with ASEAN officials on the design of next years' training courses.

5. Regarding other areas of the development cooperation, Canada has indicated that it would support a second phase of the project on ASEAN Institute of Forest Management. The management plan for phase II of the project is being prepared by Canada. With regard to the project on ASEAN-Canada Cooperation in the Ku-Band Propagation Measurement Programme, the Plan of Operation for the project was signed on 9 January 1990 by the President of the Communication Authority of Thailand on behalf of ASEAN and CIDA on behalf of the Canadian Government.

6. With respect to the projects on ASEAN Fisheries Post Harvest Programme, the ASEAN-Canada Solar Energy in Drying Processes and the Establishment, of Environment Criteria for the Development and Management of Living Marine Resources and Health Hearth Protection, the Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) for these projects are currently being been considered by ASEAN and Canadian officials. It is expected that the projects will be implemented once the MOUs have been signed.

7. Canada's assistance to the ASEAN Secretariat to improve its information system was realized through an Exchange of Letters between the Canada-ASEAN Centre and the ASEAN Secretariat in January 1990. Funding for this project is now in place and the Canada-ASEAN Centre has finalized a contract with a consultant who would be commencing the project soon.

8. A significant development in the ASEAN-Canada Relations was the establishment of the Canada-ASEAN Centre in Singapore which was officially open by Mr. Joe Clark, the Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs on 10 July 1989. The broad puspose of the Centre is to facilitate the building of linkage and institutional relationships between ASEAN countries and Canada. To date the activities of the Centre have been limited to the management of ASEAN development programmes and regional institution programmes. It is expected that upon the appointment of an Executive Director, the Centre's focus of activity will evolve beyond the CIDA programmes into a variety of programmes emphasizing contact between ASEAN and Canadian peoples.

9. A Special ASEAN-Canada Ministerial Meeting will be held in Jasper, Canada from 5 to 7 October 1990. The key objective of the meeting is to create an opportunity for strategic assessment of the ASEAN-Canada relationship. Plans have been made to bring the business representatives from each ASEAN country to Canada in conjunction with the Jasper Meeting. Programmes such as an ASEAN- Canada Business Council Seminar on ASEAN Business Climate and Opportunities have been arranged.