AMBASSADOR ONG KENG YONG

CONFERENCE ON ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND ARCHITECTURE

25 MARCH 2010

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

ASEAN and the Asia Pacific’s Role in Regional

Architecture

Key Factors

1. Historical baggage Individual countries’ experiences during World War II

and their colonial encounters

2. Diverse cultural, economic, political and social systems Sensitivities of race, religion and language

3. Entrenched positions of big powers Especially in the determination of regional affairs

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

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

ASEAN Plus Three

Started in KL in December 1997China setting the pace (ASEAN-China FTA)ASEAN moving strategicallyDriving force is economic and strengthening

of ASEAN’s centrality

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

   ASEAN   ASEAN Plus Three    Additional members of the East Asia Summit

ADB’s Illustration of Regional and Trans-regional Forums

Source: ADB’s Emerging Asian Regionalism, A Partnership for Shared Prosperity

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

ASEAN’s Partnerships in Regional Contexts

Separately:

ASEAN Plus One mechanisms with individual Dialogue Partners of ASEAN

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

ASEAN External Economics Relations

ASEAN-Korea FTA

ASEAN-Japan CEP

ASEAN-CanadaASEAN-Russia

ASEAN-EU

ASEAN-Pakistan

ASEAN-US TIFA

ASEAN-India FTA

ASEAN-China FTA

ASEAN-Australia- New Zealand FTA

ASEAN-GCC

Asia Pacific community

Discussions on developing APc relevantAPc 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

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)?

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

Thank YouThank You

One Vision, One Identity, One Community