ASEAN-UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The 13th ASEAN-US Dialogue meeting was held in Batam, Indonesia in September 1996. The ASEAN-US Dialogue relationship has seen a steady growth in both political and economic areas over the years. The important role of the Dialogue in contributing to the creation of peace, stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia was reaffirmed at the 13th ASEAN-US Dialogue. In Batam, the Meeting exchanged views on regional issues such as the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, the ARF, the United States Defense Posture in the Asia-Pacific, Narcotics Cooperation Programmes, and international issues such as the situation in the Middle East, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the United Nations reform, ASEM, SEANWFZ, NPT and CTBT.

The ASEAN-US Dialogue remained valuable in allowing both sides to assess the relationship, to explore ways to further enhance cooperation and to anticipate the challenges of the future. In particular, ASEAN and the United States continued to benefit from various levels of consultations on economic issues through such bodies as the Trade and Investment Cooperation Committee (TICC), the AEM-USTR consultations, the ASEAN Washington Committee and the Economic Coordinating Committee.

Economic issues were also covered at the 13th ASEAN-US Dialogue Meeting. The areas discussed included trade, commodities, investment cooperation and the Alliance for Mutual Growth (AMG). Under the auspices of the AMG, the U.S. proposed the establishment of an ASEAN-US Dialogue forum on the automotive industry. The Meeting also exchanged views on regional trade developments which included APEC, AFTA, NAFTA and the EAEC.

The private sector also contributed to the Dialogue meeting by presenting some ideas on ASEAN-US economic relations. The ASEAN-US Business Council which represented the private sector at the meeting continued to undertake several programmes and activities aimed at promoting ASEAN-US cooperation, especially among the business community.

The important role of the Dialogue in contributing to the creation of peace, stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia was reaffirmed at the 13th ASEAN-US Dialogue

The funding for PITO ended in June 1995, leaving only the Environmental Improvement Project (EIP) as the only project under ASEAN-US development cooperation. ASEAN would prefer for development cooperation to remain an integral part of the Dialogue especially with the expansion of ASEAN membership and indicated that it would like the U.S. to increase development cooperation funding to assist regional projects such as the Mekong Basin Development Cooperation Project.