Guidelines for the implementation of programmes and activities for " ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year 2003"

1. Basic ideas

(1) What are the areas?

Exchange programmes and activities will be organised and conducted in a wide range of areas and circles including politics, economies and industries, social activities, education, science and technologies, and culture and arts.

(2) Who are implementing?

Exchange programmes and activities should include not only those at the government level, but also those at various levels including central and local governments, private companies, cultural institutions, NGOs, research institutes, universities and colleges.

(3) What are the modalities?

Exchange programmes and activities should be organised and conducted at either bilateral (Japan and each ASEAN country), plurilateral (Japan and several ASEAN countries) or regional (Japan and all ASEAN member countries) levels.

(4) Where?

In the region of ASEAN and in Japan

(5) Duration?

Exchange programmes and activities could be organised and conducted between January to December 2003.
(Note) If registered commemorative events of the ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year 2003 are rescheduled due to the spread of SARS, such events can be held by the end of March 2004 (FY 2003) as registered ones using the official title and the logo.

(6) Who bears the costs?

(a) Exchange programmes and activities initiated by ASEAN and/or ASEAN countries:

   ASEAN countries should, in general, bear the costs for exchange programmes and activities utilizing government and private sector resources of each initiating ASEAN country. ASEAN related funds such as the ASEAN Cultural Fund, the JAGEF (the Japan-ASEAN General Exchange Fund) and the JAEP (the Japan-ASEAN Exchange Project), the Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund should also be considered as funding sources. There could be programmes and activities for which Japan shares a part of the costs, when appropriate.

(b) Exchange programmes and activities by Japan's initiative

   Japan should bear the costs for exchange programmes and activities through the government budget, various funds and private sector resources. (There could be programmes and activities for which ASEAN countries also share a part of the costs.)

2. Modalities of operating the month for which a key co-ordinator bears responsibility

(1) To continue exchange activities through the year 2003 with participation of all the countries, Japan plus 10 ASEAN members, each of the 10 ASEAN countries plus Japan will be designated as a key co-ordinator in each month of 2003.

(2) A key co-ordinator country, in a particular month, should plan and organise as many exchange activities as possible to be held in its country and/or in Japan. This key co-ordinator country should decide on which modality (bilateral, plurilateral or regional) exchange activities would be most appropriate. Exchange activities between Japan and all ASEAN member countries will be most desirable.

(3) In conducting exchange activities on a plurilateral basis, a key co-ordinator country should co-ordinate with other ASEAN countries and Japan such as inviting those countries. Other ASEAN countries and Japan should co-operate with, and contribute to, the exchange activities in the month organized under the leadership of the key co-ordinator country, through sending businessmen, intellectuals, experts, artists, etc., or involving Chamber of Commerce in these exchanges.

(4) Apart from the month in which any key co-ordinator country bears its responsibility, December, when the Japan-ASEAN Commemorative Summit Meeting is to be held in Japan is be designated as the "Month for Joint ASEAN Activities in Japan". In this month, Japan and ASEAN countries should jointly concentrate on planning and organizing exchange programmes and activities in Japan which could contribute to enhancing Japanese understanding of ASEAN countries (for example, ASEAN food fair, ASEAN film festival, ASEAN goods exhibition, etc.). By conducting programmes and activities in this month, Japan and ASEAN countries co-operate with each other.

3. Role of a contact point

Japan and each ASEAN country should designate a contact point in each government for programmes and activities for "ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year 2003." Such a contact point will have primary responsibility for collectively managing information on exchange activities, liaising with parties concerned in the country and co-ordinating with other countries.