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EXECUTIVE REPORT
PROGRESS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASEAN-JAPAN PLAN OF ACTION

Introduction

  1. The Executive Report is submitted to the Leaders of ASEAN and Japan as a progress report of the implementation of the various measures and actions under the Plan of Action to realise the Tokyo Declaration for the Dynamic and Enduring ASEAN-Japan Partnership in the New Millennium signed by the Leaders of ASEAN and Japan on 12 December 2003 at the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo, Japan. The Plan of Action is a comprehensive and substantive document that serves as a guide for strengthening ASEAN-Japan relations. The first Executive Report was submitted to the Leaders at the 8th ASEAN-Japan Summit held on 30 November 2004, in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON STRATEGIES FOR ACTION

  1. Since the first Executive Report was presented to the Leaders of ASEAN and Japan in November 2004, various projects and measures envisaged in the Plan of Action have been implemented in the course of the year. Areas relating to political and security cooperation have been pursued vigorously. There has also been progress in other fields, including economic development, especially human resources development and the Mekong Region Development. It is important for ASEAN and Japan to continue making strenuous efforts to accelerate the formulation and implementation of projects and programmes envisaged in the Plan of Action.

Reinforcing Comprehensive Economic Partnership and Monetary Cooperation

  1. Pursuant to the decision of the 8th ASEAN+Japan Summit in November 2004 in Vientiane, the negotiation for the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEP) Agreement was launched in Tokyo on 14 April 2005. ASEAN-Japan negotiations on the CEP are ongoing but have not yet achieved the desired result. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Japan and Singapore has already entered into force. Japan-Malaysia EPA is scheduled to be signed in December 2005. Negotiations for the EPAs between Japan and the Philippines, Thailand have reached an agreement in principle. Negotiations for the EPA between Japan and Indonesia are ongoing. Japan has also been negotiating bilaterally with Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam with a view to exploring the means satisfactory to both sides.
  2. The network of Bilateral Swap Arrangements (BSAs) under the Chiang Mai Initiative was expanded to a total number of 16 with the size of US$ 58.5 million. The size of the ASEAN Swap Arrangement (ASA) doubled from the current USD 1.0 billion to USD 2.0 billion.
  3. On the Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI), the East Asian local currency-denominated bond markets have grown rapidly, and some structural improvements have been observed, such as stretching the government bond yield curves and diversification of instruments and issuer base. A sizeable portion of the Asian currencies-denominated bond has been issued by international financial banks and organisations, including the issuance of Thai Baht bond by Japan Bank for International Cooperation in September 2005, and the issuance of bonds by ADB in Malaysia, Thailand and China and the Philippines.
  4. To support ASEAN economic integration, Japan has provided various supports under the framework of AMEICC (AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee), such as Dispatching Roving Automotive Experts to Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. Japan is also providing "Technical Support to the Development of Roadmaps for the Integration of Automotive and Electronic Sectors" by dispatching the Japanese experts to develop the roadmap. The Japanese experts would be sent to the ASEAN Secretariat for a period of one year (2005-2006) with a possibility of extension.
  5. To strengthen ASEAN-Japan cooperation on transport, the 3rd ASEAN-Japan Transport Ministers' Meeting was held on 18 November 2005 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The meeting was pleased with the significant progress in the implementation of the 21 joint projects under the ASEAN-Japan Transport Partnership and approved their new work plans for 2005-2006. The meeting also adopted the "ASEAN-Japan Transport Logistics Improvement Plan" to improve and facilitate the logistics services and infrastructure in the ASEAN and Japan region and the "Common Action Plan for the ASEAN-Japan New Air Navigation System" to facilitate the implementation of the new air navigation systems, to cope with the increasing air traffic as well as improve air transport safety in the region.
  6. In the area of trade in services and facilitation, some customs projects under the JAGEF have been implemented/pending implementation and approval from Japan. These include 2 workshops on Capacity Building for the Implementation of the ASEAN Harmonised Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN), which were held during 19-21 April 2004 in Jakarta and 27-29 April 2004 in Bangkok, respectively. The development of the training module was expected to be completed in 2005 for effective delivery to the ASEAN Member Countries. The project on the Attachment of Customs Officers to the ASEAN Secretariat, which has just been approved by Japan, is pending implementation.
  7. The Eminent Persons Committee (EPC) was established following the decision of the 8th ASEAN-Japan Summit to facilitate the reform of the ASEAN-Japan Centre. The Leaders took note that the EPC met twice, on 31 May 2005 in Tokyo, Japan, and during 3-4 October 2005 in Bali, Indonesia, and have concluded its interim report.
  8. The EPC will submit its final Report to the Council Directors after its final Meeting during 4-5 April 2006 in Tokyo, Japan.
  9. The ASEAN-Japan Centre has conducted a Design Development Project in 2005 in the area of trade. One hundred twelve ASEAN companies received technical support from Japanese experts and several of them received good product design award in Japan. The Centre dispatched 114 members in 6 investment missions to ASEAN countries in total, in 2005. Some companies already decided to make actual investments as a result of this project. In the area of tourism, the ASEAN-Japan Centre organized an "ASEAN Tourism Fair" in 2005 which attracted 64,000 visitors.
  10. Japanese organizations, including Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), organized training courses in the area of Intellectual Property for ASEAN countries in 2005 and invited approximately 125 trainees to Japan. JICA also dispatched an expert to Vietnam and Indonesia in 2005 to support computerization.
  11. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) organized training courses in the area of Standardization and Conformation for ASEAN in 2005 and invited 170 trainees to Japan. These organizations also dispatched experts to the Philippines and Thailand in 2005.

Consolidating the Foundation for Economic Development and Prosperity

  1. As a part of support for ASEAN integration, Japan has extended assistance to 24 Integrated ASEAN Initiative (IAI) projects (16 projects funded by the JAGEF, 3 projects by the Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund, 2 projects by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and 3 projects - by JICA), amounting to US$ 4,732,120 covering human resources development (HRD) in the areas of energy, transportation, vocational training, industrial relations, environmental protection, irrigation system management, and management programmes for senior officials of CLMV countries.
  2. Japan hosted the 3rd ASEAN-Japan High Level Officials Meeting on Caring Societies for contributing to human resource development in health and social welfare sectors as well as promoting cooperative relationship for ASEAN+3 Meetings of Health Ministers and Social Welfare Development Ministers.
  3. Japan has extended assistance to the ASEAN Programme on Industrial Relations after the three-year successful programme in March 2005. Japan held the High-Level Meeting with ASEAN in May 2005 in Cambodia followed by the Capacity building workshop and Regional Seminar in October in Singapore. The 2nd phase programme puts the emphasis on the governance of the ASEAN countries. For instance, Singapore is leading in 2005 on the theme "Wage and Productivity" whereas Malaysia will be in 2006 on Globalisation.

Supporting the Initiative for ASEAN Integration and other Sub-Regional Growth Areas

  1. Japan decided to provide approximately USD 600 million for the Mekong Region Development in 2005 which includes the following 5 major projects:

    17.1 The Greater Mekong Telecommunication Backbone Network Project in Cambodia: 3,029 million yen

    17.2 The National Road No. 1 Improvement Project in Cambodia: 786 million yen

    17.3 The Greater Mekong Power Network Development Project in Laos: 3,326 million yen

    17.4 The Vientiane No. 1 Road Improvement Project in Laos: 2,092 million yen

    17.5 The Cai Mep - Thi Vai International Port Construction Project in Viet Nam: 36,364 million yen

    Sub total : USD 423 million (45,597 million yen) for these five major projects.

  2. During the period form December 2003 to November 2005, in the pursuit of the expected target of USD 1.5 billion over the three years since the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, Japan's total amount of assistance for the Mekong Region Development reached over USD 1.1 billion.
  3. Japan sent a study mission to the CLV Development Triangle from 27 March to 9 April 2005. On the basis of the report of the mission, Japan implemented some projects of basic human needs in the area.
  4. Japan is also supporting business development in CLMV countries through the AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC), such as "Investment Environment Study Mission to CLMV countries" and "Dispatching Expert to GMS-BF Secretariat."
  5. Japan also dispatched a mission to Malaysia in September 2004 for consultation identifying specific areas of cooperation to assist the BIMP-EAGA member countries in developing the East ASEAN Growth Area. ASEAN-Japan Centre held seminars for the promotion of tourism in this area in January 2004 and for promotion of investment activities in November 2005.

Strengthening Political and Security Cooperation and Partnership

  1. Japan acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) on 2 July 2004 in Jakarta. Japan's accession to the TAC presented an important milestone in ASEAN-Japan relations and has the potential to contribute to enhanced peace and stability in Southeast Asia.
  2. Under the Work Programme to Implement the ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime, an ASEAN Seminar on Sea Piracy was held on 2-3 December 2004 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  3. On 28 April, 2005, Japan, Singapore, Laos and Cambodia signed the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, and the Philippines and also Brunei Darussalam signed the Agreement in September 2005.
  4. Japan and ASEAN adopted the ASEAN-Japan Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism at the ASEAN-Japan Summit held on 30 November 2004 in Vientiane. The 2nd ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) Plus Japan Consultation on 15 June 2005 in Siem Reap discussed regional cooperation on combating transnational crime and counter-terrorism. Closer cooperation between ASEAN and Japan in this area manifested itself in other fora, including the 3rd Inter-Sessional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (ISM on CT/TC) held in Bangkok in April 2005.
  5. The 3rd ASEAN-Japan Security Symposium was held on 7-8 October 2005 in Singapore. The recommendations of the Symposium would be submitted to the ASEAN-Japan Forum for further consideration.
  6. Under the JAGEF, the "Basic Training Course on Investigation on Anti-Drug Money Laundering for ASEAN Law Enforcement Officers" was completed from 21 February to 4 March 2005 in Singapore, while the "Development of ACCORD Regional Information Network" is ongoing. The "ASEAN Workshop on Combating Trafficking in Persons, particularly Women and Children" was held during 21-23 November 2005 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
  7. In June 2005, Japan jointly held the seminar on counter-biological terrorism with Malaysian government at SEARCCT (Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism). Nearly 50 experts from ASEAN and other countries participated in the seminar. Japan extended grant aid amounting to 449 million yen to Indonesia in 2005 for the project for "Capacity-Building of the Indonesian National Police," technical cooperation project on money laundering and anti-terrorism funds for Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand also in 2005.

Promoting Human Resource Development, Exchanges and Social and Cultural Cooperation

  1. Japan had provided funding support for the Attachment Programme of eight CLMV junior diplomats to the ASEAN Secretariat in 2004. The 7th batch consisting of 4 CLMV junior diplomats completed their attachment period from November 2004 to April 2005.
  2. Upon positive feedback from CLMV countries, ASEAN proposed to continue the attachment programme, consisting of 3 annual batches for the period 2005-2008, with funding support from the JAGEF. On 30 September 2005, Japan approved the first batch of the one-year attachment programme for an official from each of the CLMV countries.
  3. Japan also decided to provide the total aid of approximately USD 506.3 million under the Japan Human Resources Development Total Plan in 2005. The following are the main projects in 2005 under the plan.

    31.1 Project for the construction of the Myanmar-Japan Centre for HRD for USD 3.8 million. This will fulfil Japan's commitment in the ASEAN-Japan Plan of Action to establish HRD Centres in CLMV.

    31.2 Grant and Loan aid amounting to USD 45 million for HRD scholarship for ASEAN Member Countries.

    31.3 Technical assistance amounting to approximately USD 316 million for ASEAN Member Countries.

  4. During the period form December 2003 to November 2005, in the pursuit of the expected target of USD 1.5 billion over the three years since the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, the total amount of assistance for the Japan Human Resources Development Total Plan reached approximately USD 1.05 billion.
  5. Japan also committed to support 40,000 people in ASEAN under the Human Resources Development Total Plan over the three years since the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit. During the period from December 2003 to November 2005, the total number of people who received benefit under the Plan has already reached 40.900. (19,636 for 2004 and 21,264 for 2005).
  6. Japan held the 4th Intellectual Dialogue between Japan and ASEAN entitled "Japan-ASEAN Dialogue: The Prospect for East Asian Community and Regional Cooperation" in June 2005 in Tokyo. The dialogue provided policy recommendations to the track I level on East Asia cooperation.
  7. Japan has hosted and will host a total of more than 2,000 ASEAN youths through various schemes and programmes in 2005 as presented below. The total number of youths invited to Japan since December 2003 has reached approximately 4300. Japan committed to invite 10,000 youth under the exchange programs over five years at the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit.

    35.1 Grant aid for scholarship: 170

    35.2 Loan aid for scholarship: 89

    35.3 Youth invitation programme by JICA: 740

    35.4 21st Century Partnership Invitation Programme: 48

    35.5 Global Youth Exchange Programme: 3

    35.6 Japanese Language Programme for Foreign Service Officers and Public Officials: 10

    35.7 JET Programme: 33

    35.8 High school students exchange programme: 40

    35.9 The Youth Exchange Programme for Promotions of Tourism Exchange with Mekong Region Countries (CMLV and Thailand): 25

    35.10 Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship: 796

    35.11 Youth Invitation Programme by Cabinet Office: 290

Deepening East Asia Cooperation

  1. Japan hosted the Informal ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers Meeting on 6 May 2005 in Kyoto to exchange ideas on ASEAN Plus Three cooperation and the East Asia Summit.
  2. Japan also hosted the 1st meeting on the "Promotion of East Asian Studies" during 17-19 January 2005 in Tokyo, among academics of the ASEAN Plus Three. The Meeting discussed the modalities for a Network of East Asian Studies (NEAS) and measures to promote East Asian Studies and came up with a set of recommendations.
  3. Japan complied a comprehensive database of East Asia regional cooperation that identified 72 ASEAN Plus Three and 30 other cooperative activities respectively in 17 areas. The database was distributed at the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on 27 July in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and is expected to serve as a basis for a more exhaustive database to be prepared by the ASEAN Secretariat in the near future.
  4. Japan hosted the 3rd Annual Meeting of the NEAT (Network of East Asian Think-tanks), with the theme "Towards an East Asia Community", during 21-23 August 2005 in Tokyo to exchange views and make policy recommendations to the track I level on East Asia cooperation.

Cooperation in Addressing Global Issues

  1. ASEAN Leaders and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan participated in the Special ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami in Jakarta on 6 January 2005, and joined the "Declaration on Action to Strengthen Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Preservation on the Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster of 26 December 2004."
  2. Japan-ASEAN Information and Human Resources Network for Infectious Diseases Control established three core groups for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and Malaria. "ASEAN AIDS Workshop 2005" was held from June 28 till July 1 in Kobe City, Japan. The result of the workshop was reported to the 7th International Conference on AIDS in Asia and Pacific (ICAAP) held on July 2, 2005.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE INSTITUTIONAL AND FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN OF ACTION

  1. ASEAN and Japan continue to consult each other on the effective implementation of the Plan of Action. In June 2005, ASEAN and Japan held an Expanded Consultative Group Meeting where the Directors-General discussed the progress and future implementation of the Plan of Action. At this meeting, ASEAN sought Japanese support for eleven projects under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration that remain unfunded. ASEAN Secretariat has already submitted the detail project proposal to Japan for its consideration. Japan was again called upon to follow up on the first leg of the Japanese mission to BIMP-EAGA, the visit to Sabah and Sarawak in September 2004.
  2. Further discussions were held at the 21st ASEAN-Japan Forum held on 25-26 August 2005 in Tokyo. During the ASEAN-Japan Forum, both sides agreed to expedite implementation of the Plan of Action. Japan also reaffirmed its support for the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) and Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). The Directors-General further discussed the progress of the implementation at the ASEAN-Japan Directors-General meeting held in October in Kuala Lumpur and re-emphasized the need for steady implementation of the Plan of Action. It was recommended that coordination and reporting between Japan and ASEAN Secretariat be improved in order to facilitate the monitoring of implementation of the ASEAN-Japan Plan of Action.

FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASEAN-JAPAN PLAN OF ACTION

  1. The ASEAN-Japan Forum will continue to be the body to follow up and monitor the implementation of the Plan of Action. ASEAN and Japan should coordinate with each other on the effective implementation of the measures/actions in the Plan of Action.
  2. Japan will cooperate with ASEAN in monitoring progress in the implementation of the Plan of Action by providing regular updates on projects carried out under the bilateral component of the Plan of Action. Japan is also considering ASEAN's proposal to attach an officer at the ASEAN Secretariat to facilitate the monitoring process.
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