Australia and ASEAN: 35 Years On
by HE Ms Gillian Bird
Deputy Secretary &
Ambassador to ASEAN
Australia Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
19 March 2010 I Full Text
Abstract
Australia's Ambassador to ASEAN, Ms Gillian Bird, will provide a broad overview of Australia's economic and political engagement with ASEAN and our cooperation in ASEAN-associated institutions, including the EAS and ARF. She will look back at what we've achieved and how our foreign/trade policy and regional architecture is continuing to evolve to meet new challenges such as trade and economic liberalisation, security cooperation, and people smuggling ... >> more
A New Era in the Long-Standing U.S.-ASEAN Relationship
by HE Mr Scot Marciel
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
and Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, US State Department
09 December 2009 I Full Text
Abstract
The United States and ASEAN have entered a new era in their relations. On the U.S. side, the accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), three visits of Secretary Clinton to the region during her first ten months in office, the meeting of President Obama and all ten ASEAN Leaders and more are clear indications of a new political engagement. On the ASEAN side, a new Charter is in place and the building of numerous regional institutions to manage security, economic, human rights and many other issues where we have common interests is well underway.
Do these developments, some of which could scarcely be imagined a few years ago, guarantee that the pace of relationship building between ASEAN and the United States will continue? There is a good chance that they will. Looking ahead just five years, the ASEAN Economic Community alone will be a game changer. This will be true for the people inside ASEAN; we have supported studies that quantify the benefits. But we can also see that this will be true outside of ASEAN too; our governments and private sectors will do business differently. The larger ASEAN Community and its political, strategic and social advances will have effects we can start to guess at. But it is clear that these developments will expand the universe of our common interests, not contract it.
China-ASEAN Cooperation: A Model of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation
by HE Ms Xue Hanqin
Ambassador to ASEAN, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China
19 November 2009 I Full Text
Abstract
Ever since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, China has pursued an independent foreign policy of peace based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence with a view to building good-neighbourly relations with other countries. International relations in the region, however, experienced twists and turns during the Cold War period. In the past two decades, great changes have taken place in Asia. By the 1990s, China had normalized its diplomatic relations with all Southeast Asian countries. From a dialogue partner to a strategic partner, political mutual trust between China and the Southeast Asian countries has gradually deepened. With the fast economic growth of China and the ASEAN integration process, both have ranked the 4th largest trade partner for each other. Besides, people's contacts through tourism, educational and cultural exchanges have greatly consolidated the foundation of their relations. At each regional cooperation forum, China has played an active role in promoting mutual understanding, economic cooperation and social progress among Asian countries.
China is fully aware of the existing differences with some ASEAN Member Countries, and would like to settle them through negotiations and other peaceful means to enhance peace and stability of the region. It is through such efforts that China hopes that the East Asian cooperation will offer a model of good neighborliness and friendly cooperation in international relations in the new era. >> more
ASEAN: An Indispensable Partner for Japan
by HE Mr Yoshinori Katori
Ambassador for ASEAN, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
01 July 2009 I Full Text
Abstract
The interdependence between Japan and ASEAN has deepened significantly in the last 30 years. Meanwhile, we have witnessed a steady growth in the integration process of ASEAN. The speaker will focus on these historical developments and analyze the potential of cooperation and interdependence between Japan and ASEAN. >> more
Coordinator
Dr Pavin Chachavalpongpun
Fellow, ISEAS
E-mail: pavin@iseas.edu.sg
For more information contact:
ASEAN Studies Centre
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
30 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Singapore 119614
Tel: (65) 68704540 Fax: (65) 67756264
E-mail: asc@iseas.edu.sg