ASEAN-AUSTRALIA


Since formal dialogue relations between ASEAN and Australia started in 1974, the priority areas of cooperation through the ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Programme (AAECP) have shifted from food and agri- culture to trade, investment, and science and technology with increasing emphasis on the transfer, development, and the commercialization of technology. New areas for cooperation such as education, telecommunications and environment have also been identified recently.

ASEAN-Australia science and technology cooperation has fostered intra-ASEAN collaboration, strengthened ASEAN science and technology institutions, and promoted human resources development. ASEAN and Australia will continue to emphasize research and development, technology transfer as well as the commercialization of technologies. The 15th ASEAN-Australia Forum, noting the past record of success of cooperation in science and technology, agreed to emphasize these areas as the coordinating themes for the AAECP.

At the 15th ASEAN-Australia Forum, the Working Group on Education and Training agreed to the following areas of cooperation in education: regional language training, institutional links, recognition of skills and qualifications and vocational and technical education. Australia hosted the Regional Vocational English Language Workshop in February 1993 in Jakarta. The workshop reviewed national policies, resources and needs for English language training in ASEAN. The Working Group on Education also recommended the following areas for vocational and technical education: agriculture, industrial and engineering skills and hotel catering and tourism.

ASEAN and Australia recognize the increasing significance of environmental issues and the need for closer cooperation between ASEAN and Australia on environmental matters. At the 14th Forum, Australia expressed interest in having closer contact with the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN). During the 15th Forum, the Workshop on Environment was convened and attended by officials of ASOEN. It discussed several topics for projects including atmospheric haze, environmental economics, risk assessment and environmental regulations.

On cooperation in telecommunications, Australia offered training assistance through its Department of Transport and Communications, and training visits through AUSTEL. ASEAN has indicated interest and will prioritize its training needs before forwarding them to Australia for consideration. At the 15th Forum, the Working Group on Telecommunications reiterated the value of having Australia share its experiences with ASEAN on telecommunications policy development.

A joint mid-term review of the AAECP II (I 989-1994) was carried out from 8 February to 7 March 1992 to: a) review the performance of the programme and recommend changes before Phase II ends; b) recommend a framework for future cooperation after Phase 11 ends in June 1994. The Review identified the following as the key elements of the AAECP II: development assistance, technology transfer, establishment of networks and institutional linkages, human resources development and commercial facilitation. The Review noted that while the AAECP has been strongest and most effective in the areas of training and HRD, the commercialization of projects has been more difficult to accomplish. It underscored the need for more commercialization, improved management, and greater publicity for AAECP projects.

ASEAN and Australia attach great importance to the promotion of greater trade and investment between them. ASEAN was Australia's fourth largest trading partner but the balance of trade is in Australia's favour. Two-way trade between Australia and ASEAN reached A$ 10.4 billion in 1991. Australian exports to the ASEAN region reached a record high of A$ 6.6 billion while ASEAN's exports to Australia amounted to A$ 3.8 billion. The growth in trade, however, was not matched with increase in the volume of investments. Australian investments in ASEAN amounted to only 7 percent of Australia's overseas investments in 1990 despite an increase from A$ 1.6 billion in 1989 to A$ 3.2 billion in 1990. Meanwhile-, ASEAN investments in Australia reached A$ 7.7 billion in 1990-1991 period. At the 15th Forum, both sides agreed that it was important to further develop two-way investment and expressed concern for tariff and non-tariff barriers as major impediments to the expansion of trade. In mid-1992, Australia conducted a series of seminars on countervailing duty and anti-dumping duty actions to brief ASEAN on its procedures.

Regional political and security issues were discussed for the first time at the 15th Forum. Australia viewed the accession of Vietnam and Laos to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Functional cooperation covers man positive development" in the context of their integration into the ASEAN process. Australia also expressed support for the new approaches to strengthen regional security cooperation in the post Cold War era and the role of the ASEAN-PMC in promoting consultations on regional security issues.