THE FIFTH ASEAN SUMMIT
1. At the Fifth ASEAN Summit, ASEAN's highlight event of the year under review, ASEAN Leaders laid out in the 1995 Bangkok Summit Declaration, the blueprint for greater economic cooperation, the intensification of efforts in other areas of cooperation, and further expansion of the Association. A pivotal document, the 1995 Bangkok Summit Declaration charted the course and set the directions and goals that would see ASEAN into the next millennium.
2. Held in Bangkok, the Fifth ASEAN Summit of 14 -15 December 1995 was marked by several firsts. ASEAN Leaders met with their counterparts from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. This initial meeting of all the Leaders of the ten Southeast Asian states saw the signing of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty. The treaty represents the first step towards the creation of a Southeast Asia that is free of nuclear weapons and the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region.
3. The Meeting of the ASEAN Heads of State and Government with their counterparts from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar also signaled the start of a process of political dialogue and consultations for the establishment of an ASEAN community of ten.
4. The 1995 Bangkok Summit also spawned a new pattern of regional development cooperation involving other Asian countries such as China, Japan and South Korea. As part of this initiative, the Mekong Basin has been earmarked for development in a joint effort.
5. Seeking to meet more frequently than the triennial ASEAN Summits allow, the ASEAN Leaders agreed to meet informally on an annual basis. The first of these meetings will be held in Indonesia at the end of 1996.
6. Other cooperative efforts the ASEAN Leaders considered at the Summit were the possibilities of an electric train running from Kunming via Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok and a network of gas pipelines linking the ASEAN countries.
7. In the economic sphere, the ASEAN Leaders called for greater economic integration, through several bold economic measures. Among these was the move to maximise the number of tariff lines which could be cut to 0-5% by the year 2000, instead of the 2003 AFTA target date. The Leaders also called on ASEAN Member Countries to remove all non-tariff barriers (NTBs) by 1 January 1996, harmonize tariff nomenclature at the HS 8-digit level and implement the GATT Valuation System. In addition, the Green Lane System which expedites the clearance of CEPT products would be implemented. Furthermore, the Leaders concurred on an ASEAN General Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM) to facilitate the solution of disputes arising from ASEAN economic agreements.
8. They also endorsed a plan to liberalize key services industries such as banking, telecommunications and tourism to make these services more open to intra-ASEAN investments. Other initiatives the Leaders encouraged included the implementation of the Framework Agreement on Intellectual Property Cooperation and the possibility of setting up an ASEAN Patent System as well as the ASEAN Trademark System. These moves are expected to spur the development of the high-technology sector in ASEAN.
9. Acknowledging the need to enable the private sector to participate more effectively in the ASEAN policy formulation process and in programme implementation, the ASEAN Leaders supported efforts to strengthen links between their government and the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry. They also approved Plans of Action and programmes that sought to attract foreign direct investment and encourage investment in technology-based industries and value-added activities.
10. In other economic cooperation areas, the ASEAN Leaders agreed to continue to develop, diversify and conserve energy resources and apply the use of environmentally-sound technologies more widely.
11. To give all Member Countries a greater share in the increasing prosperity of the region, the 1995 Bangkok Summit called for the elevation of functional cooperation to a higher plane. The decision marked a new phase for ASEAN efforts in the five areas of cooperation. The Leaders declared that ASEAN�s scientific and technological competitiveness would be built on national strength and regional cooperation, with the active participation of the private sector. This in turn would be supported by human resources development to enable Member Countries to attain and sustain a competitive edge in the international economic arena. To eradicate illiteracy and nurture more informed and educated societies, ASEAN Leaders urged cooperation in educational development and called for the provision of basic education for all.
12. The Leaders demonstrated their concern for the environment when they agreed to advance the economic prosperity and social well-being of ASEAN�s peoples in a sustainable manner for the
benefit of future generations and in the interest of ensuring a balanced ecosystem.
13. The ASEAN Leaders stressed the need to strengthen the family as a foundation for a strong, caring and cohesive society. They emphasized that the participation of various sectors of society, including women youth and children, needed to be enhanced. The Leaders also called for the improvement of the quality of life in ASEAN, by ensuring social justice, reducing poverty, and eradicating drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. The need to raise awareness of ASEAN among its peoples, in particular the younger generation, and to instill in them a consciousness of the spirit and identity embodied in ASEAN was another important concern. In line with this, the Leaders resolved that to conserve and preserve ASEAN�s rich and diverse cultural and artistic heritage and to promote this by harnessing the appropriate media and communication technologies.
14. In external relations, the ASEAN Leaders agreed to further the engagement process involving its Dialogue, Sectoral and Consultative Partners on the basis of mutual benefit. India was elevated from Sectoral Dialogue Partner to full Dialogue Partner status during the Fifth ASEAN Summit.