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ASEAN and the Asia Pacific’s Role in Regional Architecture

ASEAN and the Asia Pacific’s Role in Regional Architecture. Ambassador Ong Keng Yong CONFERENCE ON ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND ARCHITECTURE 25 MARCH 2010 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. Key Factors. Historical baggage

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ASEAN and the Asia Pacific’s Role in Regional Architecture

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  1. ASEAN and the Asia Pacific’s Role in Regional Architecture Ambassador Ong Keng Yong CONFERENCE ON ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND ARCHITECTURE 25 MARCH 2010 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

  2. Key Factors • Historical baggage • Individual countries’ experiences during World War II and their colonial encounters • Diverse cultural, economic, political and social systems • Sensitivities of race, religion and language • Entrenched positions of big powers • Especially in the determination of regional affairs

  3. Regional Architecture • ASEAN developed regional mechanisms and processes • Manage and balance competing interests • Series of overlapping circles with ASEAN at its core • Peace, prosperity and security

  4. ASEAN Regional Forum • Established in 1994 • Maintain peace and stability in the region • Promote regional development and prosperity • Three-stage process • Stage 1 on Confidence Building Measures, • Stage 2 on Preventive Diplomacy • Stage 3 on Conflict Management • Gradual evolutionary approach, decision-making by consensus • Movement at a pace comfortable to all members

  5. ASEAN Plus Three • Started in KL in December 1997 • China setting the pace (ASEAN-China FTA) • ASEAN moving strategically • Driving force is economic and strengthening of ASEAN’s centrality

  6. East Asia Summit • Started in KL in 2005 • Addition to ASEAN Plus Three Process • Inculcated bureaucratic cooperation and coherence • Developed mutual confidence and trust • Focused on more strategic issues • Cooperation in energy security, finance, health pandemic, education, environment

  7.    ASEAN    ASEAN Plus Three    Additional members of the East Asia Summit

  8. ADB’s Illustration of Regional and Trans-regional Forums Source: ADB’s Emerging Asian Regionalism, A Partnership for Shared Prosperity

  9. Regional Partnerships • East Asian community building: • ASEAN+3 and EAS as complementary processes • Regional countries engaged • Broad range of regional challenges addressed • Healthy sign • Ongoing discussions – mechanisms can evolve • Keep up with new challenges and changing international circumstances • Important to maintain region’s delicate yet dynamic equilibrium

  10. ASEAN’s Partnerships in Regional Contexts Separately: ASEAN Plus One mechanisms with individual Dialogue Partners of ASEAN

  11. FTA Strategy • Concluded FTAs • China, RoK, Japan, Australia/New Zealand, India • Encouraged more FTAs • Talks with EU • Joint study with Pakistan • GCC in agreement to explore possibilities • Trade and Investment Framework Agreement exists between ASEAN and USA

  12. ASEAN External Economics Relations ASEAN-Russia ASEAN-Canada ASEAN-China FTA CEPEA ASEAN-EU ASEAN-US TIFA ASEAN-Korea FTA EAFTA ASEAN-Japan CEP ASEAN-Pakistan ASEAN-GCC AEC ASEAN-India FTA ASEAN-Australia- New Zealand FTA

  13. Asia Pacific community • Discussions on developing APc relevant • APc is not an independent idea • Must find its place among other elements of regional architecture • ASEAN countries not entirely persuaded by the APc • Lacks clarity • Does not yet seem to fit comfortably among existing building blocks of the regional architecture • APc should not diminish ASEAN’s central role in the regional architecture

  14. Asia Pacific community (2) • Concern for ASEAN: • Australia’s seemingly two-tier approach • Create grouping of big regional powers • Sit above existing structures • Two-tier approach unlikely to serve the Asia-Pacific region well • Basic philosophy: remain open and inclusive • Be transparent • Better to rely on ASEAN-centric approach • An ASEAN Plus Eight (ASEAN Ten, China, Japan, RoK, India, Australia, NZ, Russia, USA)?

  15. Conclusion • ASEAN lies at the heart of many multilateral initiatives • Well placed to play unique role in evolving regional architecture • Rise of big powers and new developments • Challenges • Closer engagement with countries who can contribute to peace and stability in the region

  16. Thank You One Vision, One Identity, One Community

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