1. We,
the Heads of State/Government of Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia,
the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the
Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic
of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam,
the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and
the United States (U.S.), held our Fourth ASEAN-U.S. Leaders' Meeting on 19
November 2012 in Phnom Penh. The Meeting was co-chaired by Samdech Akka Moha
Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia in his
capacity as Chairman of ASEAN, and the Honourable Barack Obama, President of
the United States of America. The ASEAN Secretary General was also in
attendance.
2. We
expressed our deep sympathy and deepest condolences to the people and the Royal
Government of Cambodia and especially to His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah
BOROMNEATH NORODOM SIHAMONI, King of Cambodia and Her Majesty Queen Mother
NORODOM MONINEATH SIHANOUK, for the passing away of His Majesty Preah Bat
Samdech Preah NORODOM SIHANOUK, the late King- Father of Cambodia, on 15th
October 2012. We shared our sadness for this great loss with the people of
Cambodia during this period of mourning. Cambodia expressed gratitude to the
respective ASEAN and United States Leaders for their shared condolences to His
Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah NORODOM SIHAMONI, King of Cambodia, Her Majesty
Queen Mother, the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia.
3. We
commemorated the 35th Anniversary of ASEAN-U.S. Relations, noting with
satisfaction the strengthening and deepening of ASEAN-U.S. cooperation, which
has contributed to peace, stability, prosperity and resiliency in Southeast
Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region. We decided to accelerate the
implementation of the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced
Partnership for Enduring Peace and Prosperity 2011-2015 adopted at the 3rd
ASEAN-U.S. Leaders’ Meeting on 18 November 2011 in Bali.
4. We
welcomed efforts to elevate the ASEAN-U.S. partnership to a strategic level. We
received with appreciation the report of the ASEAN-U.S. Eminent Persons Group
(EPG) and welcomed the recommendation, inter alia, that the annual meeting
between the Leaders of ASEAN and the United States is fundamentally important
and should be institutionalized from an ASEAN-U.S. Leaders’ Meeting to an
ASEANU. S. Summit. We tasked the relevant Ministers to review and consider the
recommendations of the ASEAN-U.S. EPG as appropriate.
5. ASEAN
welcomed the continued participation of the Honorable Barack Obama, President
of the United States of America, at the East Asia Summit (EAS). We recalled the
2005 Kuala Lumpur Declaration, the 2010 Ha Noi Declaration, and 2011
Declaration of the East Asia Summit on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial
Relations, which reaffirms and elaborates the broad vision, principles,
objectives and modalities of the EAS. We welcomed continued efforts in the six
priority areas of cooperation under the EAS framework and recognized high-level
U.S. engagement in those areas including energy, education, environment and
disaster management and response. We underscored the need for the EAS to
address political, economic and strategic issues of common interest and
concern, such as nonproliferation and disarmament, maritime security
cooperation, food and energy security, and ASEAN Connectivity. We reaffirmed
the importance of ASEAN as the driving force of the EAS, working in close
partnership with the other participants, and underscored the importance of
regular participation at the highest level from all participating countries in
the EAS.
6. We
appreciated the substantial increase in high-level U.S. engagement in ASEAN-led
political-security fora, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN
Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), the EAS, and the Expanded ASEAN
Maritime Forum. We encouraged efforts to strengthen coordination among these
fora. We welcomed the ADMM’s decision to increase the frequency of the
ADMM-Plus to once every two years. We welcomed the efforts this year of
Indonesia, Republic of Korea and the United States to orient the ARF
Inter-sessional Meeting on Maritime Security to include civil maritime law
enforcement cooperation and capacity building.
7. We
welcomed the progress in the implementation of the activities of the five
ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Groups (ADMM-Plus EWGs) to facilitate cooperation in
maritime security, counter terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief, peacekeeping operations and military medicine. We welcomed U.S.
participation in the ADMM-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and
Military Medicine Exercise (AHMX+) to be held in Brunei Darussalam in 2013. We
welcomed the 2nd ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-terrorism, which
was held in Washington from 3 - 5 April 2012, and took note of the efforts by
the United States and Indonesia to develop a scenario for a Counterterrorism
Exercise (CTX) to be held in September 2013 in Indonesia.
8. We
recognized the enduring importance of the United States and emerging role of
ASEAN as a US$2.2 trillion engine of global economic growth, noting that ever
closer economic ties are of crucial importance to both ASEAN and the United States,
as well as to the world economy. We committed to redouble our efforts to
increase both two way trade and investment. Drawing from U.S. data, total goods
trade between ASEAN and the United States in 2011 showed a 9.2% increase to
$194 billion. U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) stock in ASEAN countries was
US$ 159.6 billion, up 11.2% from 2010. ASEAN FDI stock in the United States
demonstrated even stronger growth, increasing 13.1% to US$ 24.6 billion.
9. We
reaffirmed our commitment to deepen trade and investment ties and welcomed the
launch of the 2013 ASEAN-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA)
Work Plan. The Leaders welcomed the launch of the U.S. - ASEAN Expanded
Economic Engagement (E3) initiative, which will promote closer economic
cooperation between ASEAN and the United States, and facilitate the pursuit of
high standard trade agreements. Drawing on the TIFA work plan, E3 initiative
activities may include negotiation of a U.S.-ASEAN trade facilitation
agreement, the joint development of principles on information and communication
technology, the joint development of investment principles, the development of
a code of conduct for small and medium-sized enterprises on ethical business
practices in key sectors, and the expansion of cooperative work on standards
development and practices, including on technical barriers to trade and good
regulatory practices. We tasked the Economic Ministers and Senior Economic
Officials to explore and develop these activities. Recognising the vital role
that business plays in our economic relationship and the success of the
inaugural U.S.- ASEAN Business Summit in Siem Reap in August 2012, we agreed to
expand our commercial engagement by holding an annual U.S.-ASEAN Business
Summit and holding a second ASEAN Economic Ministers Roadshow to the United
States in 2013.
10. We noted
the official launch of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
negotiations as part of ASEAN’s efforts towards deepening regional economic
integration. We also noted the development of the Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP) as a high-standard agreement, which will boost trade and investment and
promote regional economic integration throughout the Asia Pacific region and
beyond.
11. We welcomed
the strong interest of the United States in supporting the implementation of
the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC), and highlighted the unique
competencies of the United States Government and American business in support
of the implementation of the MPAC in the areas of transportation, energy, and
information technology connectivity. We looked forward to further progress on
the ASEAN-U.S. Connectivity Cooperation Initiative, supported by the U.S. Trade
and Development Agency (USTDA), including engaging U.S. private sector
resources to help ASEAN implement the MPAC. The first of these activities was
the ASEAN Emergency Preparedness Workshop, held in Bangkok in May 2012, and the
second was the ASEAN Smart Grid Workshop, held in Hanoi in early November 2012.
We welcomed the positive outcomes of the “Commitment to Connectivity”
ASEAN-U.S. Business Forum (C2C Forum) held in Siem Reap in July 2012, which
brought together dozens of business leaders from U.S. and Southeast Asian
companies. We also noted the U.S. interest in supporting the development of the
Mekong-India- Economic-Corridor (MIEC) which will contribute to the realization
of ASEAN’s broader
regional connectivity goals.
regional connectivity goals.
12. We welcomed
the innovative and active collaboration between ASEAN and the United States to
boost trade facilitation measures that will support ASEAN's goal of a single
economic community and production base by 2015. In particular, we welcomed the
significant contribution of the United States through USAID in supporting the
development of ASEAN Single Window project, which aims to develop an integrated
cross-border process for customs clearance to increase trade efficiency, trade
security, and competitiveness across the region. We further recognized
consistent United States support for the promotion and implementation of
region-wide technical and product standards to facilitate trade with and within
ASEAN.
13. We
discussed economic challenges that pose threats to global economic recovery,
food and energy security, and the achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs). We further welcomed the establishment of the United Nations
Secretary-General High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on Post 2015 Development
Agenda, of which the President of Indonesia is one of the Co-Chairs as
representation of the region as well as the developing world. We, therefore,
agreed to support the work of the United Nations Secretary-General High Level
Panel of Eminent Persons on Post 2015 Development Agenda.
14. We
reaffirmed our commitment to resist protectionism and to achieve strong,
sustainable, and balanced growth. We stressed that global financial turmoil and
elevated commodity prices underscore the urgency for continued attention
through policy coordination. We stand by the Doha Development Agenda and
reaffirm our commitment to pursue fresh, credible approaches to furthering
trade negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), with an emphasis on
specific areas where progress is most likely in the near term. We welcomed
Indonesia’s offer to host the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali in early
December 2013, and stand ready to cooperate with all Members in making the
Conference a success and produce outcomes that address the needs of all
Members, including developing countries and LDCs. We noted the Los Cabos Growth
and Job Action Plan adopted at the G-20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, on 19 June
2012 and recognized the important contributions of ASEAN in the G-20 process.
15. We welcomed
the successful convening of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic
Leaders’ Meeting in Vladivostok, Russian Federation from 8-9 September 2012,
where the Leaders from APEC economies agreed to the APEC List of Environmental
Goods on which they would reduce tariffs to 5% or less by the end of 2015; a
comprehensive approach to improve supply chain performance; further work to
promote market driven and non-discriminatory innovation policy; increased
transparency in due process; combating wildlife trafficking; and enhancing food
security. We pledged to work together to support Indonesia’s 2013 APEC host
year. We look forward to the convening of the 21st APEC Economic Leaders’
Meeting under the Chairmanship of Indonesia in 2013, with the theme of
`Resilient Asia Pacific, Engine of Global Growth` and looked forward to further
advancements on these and other critical issues, including good regulatory
practices and local content requirements on APEC’s trade and investment agenda,
and to attain the Bogor Goals, sustainable and inclusive growth, and
connectivity.
16. We looked
forward to further positive cooperation and progress on intellectual property
rights (IPR). We commended past and on-going cooperation between ASEAN and the
United States in the provision of technical assistance and capacitybuilding,
the commitment by ASEAN to achieve effective intellectual property regimes and
enforcement consistent with international standards and international
agreements to which ASEAN Member States are parties, and cooperation in the
enforcement against global intellectual property crime. Noting ASEAN's
commitment to the ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Action Plan 2011-2015, we
looked forward to the progress resulting from cooperation and capacity-building
in fighting trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy and to the development
and strengthening of intellectual property rights regimes.
17. We noted
progress in the Maximizing Agricultural Revenue through Knowledge, Enterprise
Development and Trade (MARKET), a U.S. program that directly supports the ASEAN
Integrated Food Security (AIFS) framework and associated Strategic Plan of
Action for Food Security (SPA-FS), emphasizing enhanced trade facilitation as
well as improved farmer and policy-maker access to information, in partnership
with the private sector. We welcomed the second annual dialogue between ASEAN
Agriculture Ministers and food industry leaders in September 2012. We
acknowledged that improved agricultural innovation and trade would improve the
lives of ASEAN citizens by increasing food supplies to those areas that need it
most.
18. We welcomed
continued high-level ASEAN-U.S. consultations on energy. We decided to sustain
cooperation on energy efficiency and conservation, and launch new cooperation
in renewable energy, civilian nuclear energy and natural gas including the transfer
of technology We welcomed the theme of “ASEAN Green Connectivity” at the 30th
ASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting in September 2012 as a way to reflect their
high participation in production and utilization of energy to minimize any harm
to the environment, ecosystem, nature and society. We looked forward to the
implementation of the ASEAN-U.S. Energy Cooperation Work Plan (2012-2014) and
noted the United States’ initiative for the “U.S.-East Asia Comprehensive
Partnership for a Sustainable Energy Future” to be launched by the United
States at the 7th East Asia Summit.
19. We
reiterated our strong commitment to address climate change issues and to work
together to secure a balanced and comprehensive outcome in the 18th Session of
the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (COP-18 UNFCCC) and 8th Session of the Conference of the Parties
serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP-8 Kyoto
Protocol) in Doha, Qatar at the end of 2012. We welcomed the outcome of the
17th Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa. We welcomed the outcome
of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 (Rio+20) held
in Rio de Janeiro on 20-22 June 2012, which reiterated the importance of global
commitment in achieving sustainable development. We noted U.S. support for
green growth in ASEAN through, inter alia, facilitation of a trade and
environment dialogue in ASEAN and looked forward to continued cooperation on
green growth, environment, climate change and biodiversity. We welcomed further
U.S. support for ASEAN's Environmentally Sustainable Cities (ESC) initiative
and ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity.
20. With regard
to the problem of poaching of and illicit trade in endangered and protected
wildlife and living marine resources, ASEAN welcomed U.S. support in combating
illicit trade in wildlife, and both sides agreed to explore future cooperation
in this area.
21. Given the
high human and economic cost of natural and man-made disasters in the region,
we recognized ASEAN’s cooperative disaster management and response efforts
which promote a sense of ASEAN Community and relevance among its populations.
We highlighted consistent ASEAN-US cooperation on disaster management and
response in support of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency
Response (AADMER) and its mechanism. We welcomed U.S. support to the ASEAN
Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA
Centre) as well as technical support on disaster management to the ASEAN
Secretariat’s ASEAN Regional Forum Unit. We welcomed U.S. assistance in
advancing ASEAN implementation of an all hazard disaster monitoring and
response system. We looked forward to a 2013 U.S.-ASEAN Committee on Science
and Technology Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction and real time information
sharing. ASEAN welcomed U.S. efforts to promote mechanisms to facilitate
disaster relief in the region, and we took note of the US-proposed Rapid Disaster
Response (RDR) Agreement Concept, which outlines a legal and procedural
bilateral framework to accelerate the deployment and acceptance of assistance
personnel, supplies, and services in the event of major disasters. We looked
forward to further consultations on RDR concept development in the region. We
expressed support for further cooperative efforts between our scientists and
researchers in disaster risk reduction.
22. We
reaffirmed our shared interests on the importance of regional peace and stability,
which are fundamental to growing prosperity in the region. In this context, we
underscored the importance of maritime security, freedom of navigation and over
flight, unimpeded lawful commerce, respect for international law, continued
constructive dialogue and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with
the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We welcomed deepening
ASEAN-U.S. cooperation on maritime issues, through promotion of capacity
building, information sharing, and technology cooperation across a variety of
maritime fora. We welcomed the outcomes of the 3rd ASEAN Maritime Forum and
inaugural Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum, held in the Philippines in October
2012. In this regard, we welcomed the proposal of the United States to
establish an Expanded ASEAN Seafarers Training Program. We took note of the
U.S. initiative on Southeast Asia Maritime Partnership (SAMP) that aims to
enhance maritime cooperation in the region.
23. We
recognized the importance of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct
(DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea and welcomed its implementation. We
looked forward to the early conclusion of a Regional Code of Conduct in the South
China Sea (COC). We expressed support for ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on
ASEAN’s “Six-Point Principles on the South China Sea”, adopted on 20 July 2012,
and its effective implementation. We took note of the ASEAN-China Joint
Statement on the 10th Anniversary of the DOC in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 19
November 2012.
24. We
recognized the grave risks posed by proliferation of nuclear, biological and
chemical weapons and their means of delivery and acknowledged the need to
cooperate to reduce potential threats to legitimate trade. We welcomed the U.S.
commitment to achieving general and complete nuclear disarmament and our common
vision of a world without nuclear weapons. We affirmed our support for the
implementation of the Action Plan adopted by the May 2010 Review Conference of
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and we stressed the necessity for
all NPT parties to continue to fulfill their respective obligations under the
NPT. We welcomed the successful second Nuclear Security Summit held in Seoul in
March 2012. Further, we supported the implementation of actions called for by
the Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference in December 2011. On the
15th
Anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), we reiterated our commitment to meeting our obligations under the Convention, including the complete destruction of chemical weapons stockpile under verification as soon as possible, in order to protect the integrity of the Convention. We also urged countries that have yet to join the Convention to do so. We committed to the universalization of the IAEA Additional Protocol as soon as possible. In this regard, we welcomed the accession and ratification to the IAEA Additional Protocol by several ASEAN Member States. We reiterated the importance of a full and non-selective application and implementation of the NPT's three pillars - nuclear disarmament, nuclear nonproliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. ASEAN expressed appreciation for U.S. support of the ASEAN-sponsored United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution on SEANWFZ, which was adopted by consensus at the 66th UNGA.
Anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), we reiterated our commitment to meeting our obligations under the Convention, including the complete destruction of chemical weapons stockpile under verification as soon as possible, in order to protect the integrity of the Convention. We also urged countries that have yet to join the Convention to do so. We committed to the universalization of the IAEA Additional Protocol as soon as possible. In this regard, we welcomed the accession and ratification to the IAEA Additional Protocol by several ASEAN Member States. We reiterated the importance of a full and non-selective application and implementation of the NPT's three pillars - nuclear disarmament, nuclear nonproliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. ASEAN expressed appreciation for U.S. support of the ASEAN-sponsored United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution on SEANWFZ, which was adopted by consensus at the 66th UNGA.
25. We
reaffirmed the critical importance to regional and global security of the
complete verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
We called on the DPRK to comply fully with its commitments under the 2005 Joint
Statement of the Six Party Talks and its obligations under the relevant United
Nations Security Council resolutions and abandon all nuclear weapons and
existing nuclear programmes and return, at an early date, to the NPT and to
IAEA safeguards.
26. We resolved
to deepen cooperation against international terrorism under the framework of
the ASEAN-U.S. Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International
Terrorism, the ARF statements and its Work Plan on Counter Terrorism and
Transnational Crimes, and the UN Global Counterterrorism Strategy. The U.S.
expressed its appreciation to ASEAN Member States for their counterterrorism
efforts. We noted significant achievements of law enforcement and security
forces in ASEAN over the past several years in countering terrorist threats. We
committed to continue identifying and implementing actions towards this goal.
27. We noted
our support for the efforts of ASEAN and the ARF in addressing cyber security
matters. We acknowledged the work of the ARF on cyber confidence building
measures intended to build transparency and cooperation in an effort to reduce
risk in cyberspace, and commended the United States and Vietnam for hosting a workshop
this year on Proxy Actors in Cyberspace. We committed to partner on practical
workshops for senior experts in law enforcement, IT and other fields to address
national cyber strategies, domestic and regional coordination, public-private
partnerships in cyber security and the development of national Computer
Emergency Readiness Teams (CERTS).
28. We decided
to strengthen efforts to prevent and combat other transnational crimes, such as
illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, people smuggling, money
laundering, arms smuggling, sea piracy, armed robbery against ships, cybercrime
and other forms of international economic crime in accordance with national
laws and regulations. ASEAN Leaders appreciated U.S. support through ASEAN-U.S.
Technical Assistance and Training Facility (TATF) in providing a trade based
money laundering training, which help build capacity within ASEAN Member States
to detect trade-based money laundering techniques.
29. The United
States welcomed ASEAN’s goals to realize an ASEAN Community based upon
adherence to rule of law, democracy, and the promotion and protection of human
rights, and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter. We
commended the successful visit to the United States of the ASEAN Commission on the
Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) in April
2012. We further welcomed the incorporation of a focus on women, gender, and
youth issues in all Lower Mekong Initiative Pillars following the July 2012
Women’s Gender Equality and Empowerment Dialogue in Siem Reap, and also
reaffirmed the Joint Statement on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment
adopted by LMI Ministers and endorsed by Friends of LMI Ministers in July 2012.
30. We noted
the importance to regional rule of law of increasing exchanges among ASEAN
Member States’ Judiciaries and appreciated the U.S. contributions to ASEAN’s
first ever judicial cooperation workshop in 2012. ASEAN looked forward to
considering the U.S. initiative to organize a workshop on the development of
model legislation to support ASEAN integration and community building. In this
context, we also welcomed the establishment of the Singapore-US Third Country
Training Program, which also offers relevant capacity building programs for
ASEAN Member States.
31. We
highlighted continued efforts by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational
Crime (AMMTC) to combat trafficking in persons (TIP). We welcomed the U.S.
commitment to enhanced collaboration in addressing human trafficking, which
presents a serious challenge to the region as well as the world. We looked
forward to enhanced cooperation that will include support for efforts to
harmonize ASEAN Member States’ legal frameworks in defining and prohibiting
human trafficking, increase cross-border joint investigation, and build
capacity for a standardized response to the needs of trafficking victims. The
United States pledged to support ASEAN’s plans to develop the Regional Plan of
Action to Combat
Trafficking in Persons (RPA) and the ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP) as announced at the SOMTC Meeting in September 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. This is in line with the global efforts under the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. We welcomed continuing U.S.-ASEAN cooperation on the MTV EXIT -- End Exploitation and Trafficking -- campaign in Southeast Asia, which raises awareness of the problem by reaching millions of ASEAN youth through symposia, live concerts, and regional and local television, radio and online content.
Trafficking in Persons (RPA) and the ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP) as announced at the SOMTC Meeting in September 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. This is in line with the global efforts under the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. We welcomed continuing U.S.-ASEAN cooperation on the MTV EXIT -- End Exploitation and Trafficking -- campaign in Southeast Asia, which raises awareness of the problem by reaching millions of ASEAN youth through symposia, live concerts, and regional and local television, radio and online content.
32. We welcomed
increasing regional cooperation under the U.S.-Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) in
the areas of energy security, health, agriculture and food security, education,
connectivity, environment and water, which significantly contributes to quality
of life and capacity building among the Lower Mekong Basin countries, and
supports ASEAN's aim of narrowing the development gap among its Member States
and addressing the common challenges. We were also pleased to note the
admission of Myanmar as sixth member of the LMI at the 5th Lower Mekong
Initiative Ministerial Meeting on 13 July 2012 in Phnom Penh. We welcomed the
U.S. announcement of $50 million from the Asia-Pacific Strategic Engagement
Initiative (APSEI) for LMI programs over a three year period and also took note
of $1 million support for a Mekong River Commission (MRC) Study on the
sustainable
management and development of the Mekong River. We noted with appreciation the launch of “Connect Mekong,” which facilitates linkages between LMI and ASEAN, fast tracks LMI programs related to ASEAN connectivity, and initiates efforts in grassroots entrepreneurship in the Mekong sub-region. We looked forward to U.S. support for other sub-regional cooperation frameworks in Southeast Asia.
management and development of the Mekong River. We noted with appreciation the launch of “Connect Mekong,” which facilitates linkages between LMI and ASEAN, fast tracks LMI programs related to ASEAN connectivity, and initiates efforts in grassroots entrepreneurship in the Mekong sub-region. We looked forward to U.S. support for other sub-regional cooperation frameworks in Southeast Asia.
33. We welcomed
positive steps being taken in Myanmar that could facilitate national
reconciliation, and encouraged further progress towards a democratic and open
political and economic system. ASEAN Leaders expressed their hope that the
United States and Myanmar would continue to deepen their engagement, including
through taking advantage of Myanmar’s role as Country Coordinator for the ASEAN
United States dialogue relations until July 2015. ASEAN welcomed the United
States’ continuing engagement in Myanmar.
34. We welcomed
U.S. efforts to build people-to-people ties between the United States and
ASEAN. We noted with interest the expansion of the U.S. Fulbright Exchange
Program to include regional scholarships with a focus on ASEAN-U.S. priorities.
We looked forward to the U.S. - ASEAN Young Leaders Summit on 5-9 December 2012
in Jakarta, which will bring together alumni of the Southeast Asia Youth
Leadership Program (SEAYLP) from all ASEAN Member States.
35. 35. We
welcomed the U.S. support for the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Programme (AYVP) to
promote people-to-people connectivity in ASEAN and enable youth in ASEAN Member
States to be deployed to fellow Member States in support of sociocultural,
economic, and environmental programmes. Building on USAID technical assistance
working with the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Youth (SOMY) and ASEAN
Secretariat, the U.S. government will continue to support the launch of the
AYVP in 2013.
36. We
recognized the importance of science and technology as enabling factors for
sustained economic development. We welcomed the United States announcement of
the Innovation in Science through Partners and Regional Engagement (INSPIRE)
initiative, which will foster cooperation between U.S. and ASEAN scientists in
such areas as pandemic flu monitoring and prevention, development of low-cost
vaccines, drug treatment monitoring, health innovation, and disease research.
We looked forward to the launch of the U.S.-ASEAN Prize for Women in Science.
We looked forward to continued dialogues to strengthen ASEAN-U.S. cooperation
in Science, Technology and Innovation and promote the implementation of the
eight thematic tracks of the ASEAN Krabi Initiative and Flagship Program.
37. We
highlighted the value of increased and more efficient access to digital content
among ASEAN Member States, especially to promote knowledge sharing in matters
of academic and policy studies. We expressed appreciation for U.S.
contributions to the redesign and relaunch of the ASEAN website, and looked
forward to further collaboration to promote digital literacy among ASEAN Member
States.
38. We
discussed the pivotal role of education in ASEAN in promoting human resources
development, bridging the development gap, enhancing regional competitiveness,
promoting sustained economic development, and facilitating friendship and
mutual understanding among people in the region. We recognized the United
States as a longstanding educational resource and destination for students from
ASEAN, and highlighted the desirability of increased opportunities for two-way
academic exchanges and programmes. We looked forward to continued U.S. support
for the ASEAN University Network (AUN), including through implementation of an
ASEAN Studies course, which was launched in ASEAN universities in 2012. We welcomed
the launch at the 7th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting in Yogyakarta in July
2012 of the U.S.-supported ASEAN Curriculum Sourcebook as a manual for teachers
to incorporate lessons on ASEAN into primary and secondary classrooms. We noted
that the first group of students in the US$ 25 million Brunei-U.S English
Language Enrichment Project for ASEAN started their training at Universiti
Brunei Darussalam in September and will complete their training at the
East-West Centre in Hawaii in December 2012.
39. We
acknowledged the consistent and productive engagement among the Committee of
Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), the U.S. Mission to ASEAN and the
ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, and are committed to work together to boost the
capacity of ASEAN to address regional challenges. ASEAN appreciated the U.S.
Mission to ASEAN's efforts in promoting frequent meetings and exchanges of
views with visiting U.S. officials, which have enhanced common understanding of
ASEAN and U.S. policies, and facilitated development and implementation of new
programs. In this context, we noted the successful visit of the CPR in
September 2012 to the United States. We noted the high-level engagement with
the United States, including Secretary Clinton’s visit to the ASEAN Secretariat
on 4 September
2012.
2012.
40. We
emphasized the importance of sustaining dialogue at the highest level and
looked forward to the first ASEAN-U.S. Summit in Brunei Darussalam in 2013.