Done By: Choo Jingyi Seow Ting Yijiao Liwen Kai Ting (305)

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Example 1 (ASEAN Free Trade Area):

*The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) (1 January 1993) ASEAN member countries also signed an agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme (28 January 1992) to eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers in the region. agreement was updated on 31 January 2003.

*ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) (17 May 2010 )entered into force, upon the notification of the ratification of all ASEAN Member States. The ATIGA is an enhancement of the CEPT-AFTA more comprehensive legal instrument. *ASEAN signed the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) in 1995.

Example 1 (ASEAN Free Trade Area):The AFAS aims to eliminate restrictions to trade in services and enhance cooperation in services within ASEAN. *Framework Agreement on the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) on 7 October 1998 The AIA encourages investors to adopt a regional investment strategy and network of operations. will provide greater scope for division of labour and industrial activities across the region, creating opportunities for greater industrial efficiency and cost competitiveness.

Example 1 (ASEAN Free Trade Area):

“Among all the FTA negotiations that China has been in, the negotiation with the ASEAN is definitely the fastest and most fruitful one. “ Zhai Kun

Example 2 (Singapore-ASEAN Youth Fund):April 2007. Administered by the National Youth Council (NYC) of Singapore, the SGD$5 million fund goes towards funding joint youth activities in the ASEAN region over a five-year period till 2011. The Singapore-ASEAN Youth Fund is an initiative by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.

Example 2 (Singapore-ASEAN Youth Fund):The Singapore-ASEAN Youth Fund was created to promote ASEAN youth interaction and develop ASEAN youths between the age of 15 and 35 through participation in ASEAN youth projects. also aims to foster ASEAN unity in ASEAN youths and promote greater awareness of ASEAN internationally. The Fund supports partnerships among ASEAN youths and Youth Sector Organisations (YSOs), thus contributing to greater understanding and closer ties within the ASEAN community.The fund is open to Youth Sector organisations and National Youth Focal Points from ASEAN member countries.

Example 2 (Singapore-ASEAN Youth Fund):

Few projects supported by the Fund: Project SACH (23 July to 2 August 2009) – Aceh, IndonesiaASEAN Youth Mania Camp (15 to 29 June 2009) – Singapore1st ASEAN+3 Youth CAUCUS (19 to 27 June 2009) – Nakorn Pathom, ThailandASEANPRENEURS Youth Leaders Exchange (7 to 13 December 2009) – Jarkata, Indonesia23rd East Asian Medical Students’ Conference (14 to 18 January 2010) – Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaService Leadership Projects 2009 (22 August to 6 September 2009) – Laos, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam

Example 3: ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

Establishment: The Twenty-Sixth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Post Ministerial Conference, which were held in Singapore on 23-25 July 1993, agreed to establish the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). The inaugural meeting of the ARF was held in Bangkok on 25 July 1994.

Example 3: ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Objectives: The objectives of the ASEAN Regional Forum are outlined in the First ARF Chairman's Statement (1994), namely: •to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest and concern; and•to make significant contributions to efforts towards confidence-building and preventive diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Example 3: ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) The 27th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (1994) stated that "The ARF could become an effective consultative Asia-Pacific Forum for promoting open dialogue on political and security cooperation in the region. In this context, ASEAN should work with its ARF partners to bring about a more predictable and constructive pattern of relations in the Asia Pacific."

Example 3: ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

On the tenth year of the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ARF Ministers met in Phnom Penh on 18 June 2003 and declared that "despite the great diversity of its membership, the forum had attained a record of achievements that have contributed to the maintenance of peace, security and cooperation in the region." They cited in particular: •The usefulness of the ARF as a venue for multilateral and bilateral dialogue and consultations and the establishment of effective principles for dialogue and cooperation, featuring decision-making by consensus, non-interference, incremental progress and moving at a pace comfortable to all;

Example 3: ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) •The willingness among ARF participants to discuss a wide range of security issues in a multilateral setting;•The mutual confidence gradually built by cooperative activities;•The cultivation of habits of dialogue and consultation on political and security issues;•The transparency promoted by such ARF measures as the exchange of information relating to defense policy and the publication of defense white papers; and•The networking developed among national security, defense and military officials of ARF participants.

Benefits:POLITICAL:With these relations, ASEAN countries can unite as one to deal with problems which may arise in the Asia-Pacific region.One example may be the ASEAN Regional Forum, which provides a platform for countries to voice out their views on certain issues and resolve conflicts peacefully.

ASEAN Regional ForumFor example, the Inter-sessional Group on Confidence-Building Measures (ISG-CBM) hold meetings on November 1997 in Bandar Seri Begawan and in March 1998 in Sydney. It served as an effective forum for direct and constructive dialogue on the regional security environment, for the exchange of information and for the undertaking of cooperative activities aimed at promoting trust and confidence among participating states. In 1998, the ISG-CBM seek cooperation for maritime safety, law and order at sea and protection and preservation of the marine environment.

Benefits:ECONOMICASEAN helps member countries improve their economies through cooperation with one another, establish ties with other countries and associations to promote trade in the region.One example may be the ASEAN Free Trade Area.

ASEAN Free Trade Area

Singapore exporters to ASEAN will benefit from lower tariff due to AFTA. Singapore exporters are able to export to other ASEAN member economies with most of the tariffs in the region of 0% to 5%.

“Asean is obviously a very important association for us. Over the past 30 years, Asean has made great strides in regional cooperation covering a number of areas, although recently it has been under strain because of the financial crisis and other challenges. “Hassanal Bolkiah

Benefits:

ECONOMIC

Benefits:SOCIAL

ASEAN provides the platform for greater understanding among member countries, which allows countries to have increased social exchanges among the people, thus going to each other’s aid in times of need.One example may be a flood that was caused by a storm in Indonesia, early August 2001.

Benefits:

SOCIAL

Singapore has sent 50,000 dollars (28,000 US) worth of relief goods to flood victims on the Indonesian island of Nias, the defence ministry said Tuesday. The aid package, comprised of tents, blankets and medical supplies, was ferried by a Singapore air force C-130 transport plane and turned over to the chief of staff of the North Sumatra Military Command, the ministry here said in a statement. Indonesian relief officials said the death toll has reached 108 and the search was continuing for 169 people still missing. A storm had triggered the deadly floods and landslides on July 31

Benefits:

SOCIAL"I have benefited tremendously from the 3 month course and am now able to understand and converse in English more confidently due to exposure and the opportunities to speak and interact with other course participants from the various ASEAN countries. It was also an opportunity for us to get to know one another on a personal level our country and culture."

Nguyen Thi HienVietnamSCP Alumni

Some Pictures =D

•ASEANPRENEURS Youth Leaders Exchange 2009

Some Pictures =D

Members of ASEAN

Some Pictures =D

Some Pictures =D

Argument:

Singapore, being a tiny nation on the map, it has limited resources, and undoubtedly, limited young talents to be groomed. Thus, regional relations are important in ensuring a constant supply of resources and economic growth and improving Singapore’s standing in the world.

Argument:

Regional relations benefit Singapore the most, as compared to bilateral and international relations which played a part in benefitting Singapore too.However, bilateral relations can only be formed within 2 countries, which goes to say that one country only can depend on another country in times of need.E.g, If Singapore was to form a bilateral relation with Malaysia, Malaysia may not meet all the needs of Singapore, whereas in ASEAN, several countries are combined together to try to meet the needs of all the countries;

Argument:

If Malaysia decides to turn against Singapore one day, many problems and conflicts will arise and conditions may worsen, and ASEAN helps to resolve conflicts between them, thus regional relations like ASEAN can benefit Singapore better.With regards to international relations, United Nations comprises of 192 member states all around the world till now. This could mean that countries are spreaded out across the world, not centralized so when in times of trouble, they may not be able to reach out to help readily. United Nations may not be able to reach out to Singapore as much as those in ASEAN. Furthermore, countries in UN have a large range of culture and traditions, while ASEAN countries have similar cultures which enable us to understand and get along with one another better, thus putting ASEAN in a much more beneificial position as compared to the UN.