An increased focus on programmes that promote technology transfer, networking of centres of excellence, and science and technology awareness has started to emerge with the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action n Science and Technology. This is expected to continue with the completion 'n August 1995 of the Medium Term Programme for ASEAN Science and Technology Development (1996-2000).
Science and technology projects continued to make satisfactory progress and attract some funding from Dialogue Partners. Projects in food science and technology, non- conventional energy, marine sciences and information technology received funding commitments from the ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Programme (AAECP) Phase III. Following the completion of the feasibility study, New Zealand agreed to consider funding projects ',n biotechnology and materials science. The European Union announced its readiness to support science and technology projects under its 4th Framework Programme on Research ,.d Technological Development. The details of this programme were discussed during the ASEAN-EU high level meeting of science and technology officials in Brussels in May 1995. The First Meeting of the ASEAN COST-India joint Collaboration on Science and Technology held in New Delhi in February 1995 agreed to develop joint activities in advanced materials, biotechnology and 'Information technology. Finally, the First Meeting of the ASEAN-China joint Science and Technology Committee held in Bandar Sri' Begawan in March 1995 agreed to consider cooperative projects in remote sensing, meteorology and earth sciences. COST also agreed to consider the possibility of establishing an ASEAN-Russia Commission on Scientific and Technological Cooperation.
Following the policy enunciated by the ASEAN Ministers for Science and Technology of promoting greater, self-relliance in funding projects, the ASEAN Secretariat continued to assist ASEAN COST in developing projects based on cost-sharing among Member Countries for incorporation into the Medium Term Programme. It also continued to implement the ASP-5 Sub-programme on Technology covering, among others, the development of ASEAN science and technology indicators.
Preparations were underway for the Fourth ASEAN Science and Technology Week to be held in Bangkok in August 1995 with the theme "Science and Technology: The Future of ASEAN". The triennial event would feature technical conferences, awards for outstanding scientists, and an exhibition of ASEAN's achievements in science and technology.
ASEAN cooperation in the field of the environment entered a new phase with the implementation of the ASEAN Strategic Plan of Action on the Environment. To sustain the momentum and provide timely review of cooperative activities, the Ministers agreed to meet informally in between formal triennial meetings. The first informal meeting was held in October 1994 in Kuching, Malaysia. At this meeting, the Ministers discussed the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, the results of the First Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and the Basel Convention on the Control of the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, and the activities for ASEAN Environment Year 1995.
Two major environmental concerns were considered by ASEAN during the period under review, namely, atmospheric haze and trade and environment linkages. To address the increasing periodicity and worsening impacts of atmospheric haze in the region, and as a. activity of ASEAN Environment Year 1995, the ASEAN Meeting on the Management of Transboundary Pollution was held in Kuala Lumpur 'In June 1995. The meeting developed an ASEAN cooperative plan on trasboundary pollution aid haze containing comprehensive measures for its prevention, management and control.
To improve ASEAN's capacity to assess the linkages between trade and environment and to enhance its ability to respond to international developments in this area, the ASEAN Secretariat started the implementation of a sub-progamme on trade and environment under the ASEAN-UNDP ASP-5. Several training workshops and preparatory activities for national level studies on trade and environment linkages were conducted.
A new milestone was reached in the sixteen years of ASEAN cooperation in culture and information with the implementation of the three-year programme (replacing the annual programme) contained in the ASEAN Plan of Action on Culture and Information. To implement the first phase of the Plan, twelve new projects under Culture and thirteen new projects under Information ere approved for 1994-1995 with a total funding of over US$1.8 million from the ASEAN Cultural Fund.
Following the decision of the Third Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information, the ASEAN Secretariat initiated the implementation of a feasibility study on the Establishment of a Computerized ASEAN Regional Information Centre and Databank. It also started exploratory talks with prospective publishers for the twenty COCI products identified to have potential for commercialization
Social development issues gained prominence regionally and internationally during the period under review. The ASEAN Plan of Action on Social Development was adopted by the ASEAN Standing Committee in January 1995 thereby giving further impetus to ASEAN's efforts at promoting human resource development, alleviating poverty, enhancing social integration, strengthening the role of the family, increasing awareness f ASEAN and reinforcing ASEAN solidarity, and promoting full participation of all sectors of society. Most of these issues ere also the subject of debate at the World Summit for Social Development held i. Copenhagen in March 1995.
In response to attempts by, some developed countries, the ASEAN Labour Ministers, at its informal meeting held in Chiang Mai in April 1995, reaffirmed their stand to oppose any attempt to link labour standards with international trade and to se labour standards to interfere in the internal affairs of developing countries,. They renewed their call on the ILO to undertake a review of outdated labour standards, taking into account the evolving social and economic environment of both developing and developed countries.
Issues pertaining to family, women and children also occupied ASEAN's attention. Following the decision of the Third Meeting of ASEAN Minister, Responsible for Social Welfare to adopt the Resolution on the ASEAN Plan of Action for Children, the ASEAN Secretariat initiated a feasibility study on the establishment of an ASEAN Regional Centre/ Network for Family and Child Development with assistance from UNICEF. The ASEAN Standing Committee adopted the Guidelines, to Operationalize the Declaration on the Advancement of Women in ASEAN and the Recommendations for Mainstreaming Women in ASEAN and the Guidelines for Reporting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Advancement of Women 'n the ASEAN Region which were developed by the ASEAN Women's Programme the assistance of the ASEAN Secretariat.
Regional cooperation on HIV/AIDS also intensified and the ASEAN Secretariat started the preparation of the ASEAN Regional Programme on the Prevention and Control of HIV/ AIDS with the assistance of WHO.
Finally, the Fourth Summit decision on the ASEAN University as further advanced with the completion of a draft Work Programme on Strengthening ASEAN University Networking, which was reviewed by an ASEAN Experts Group Meeting held in Bangkok in April 1995; and the preparation of a draft Charter of the ASEAN University Network and a draft Memorandum of Agreement between participating universities for further consideration by the Third Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Education in June 1995.
ASEAN cooperation in the four priority areas of preventive drug education, treatment and rehabilitation, law enforcement, and research received a much needed boost with the adoption by the ASEAN Standing Committee of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Drug Abuse Control. The fight against drug abuse was further bolstered with the participation of Laos and Vietnam in regional projects on preventive drug education.
Drug matters continued to be a priority area of concern in ASEAN-EU cooperation and the EU continued to be a major source of funding for ASEAN collaborative projects in this area. The ASEAN Secretariat continued to support the work of the ASEAN Senior Officials o Drug Matters by obtaining funding support for some of its activities from the UNDP ASP-5 Sub-programme on Human Development.