Introduction 

    The Second ASEAN Informal Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur on 15 December
1997, adopted the ASEAN Vision 2020 which sets out a broad vision for ASEAN
in the Year 2020: an ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian Nations, outward
looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in
partnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.
In order to implement the long-term vision, action plans are being
drawn up to realise this Vision. The Ha Noi Plan of Action (HPA) is the first
in a series of plans of action building up to the realisation of the goals of
the Vision.
    The HPA has a six-year timeframe covering the period from 1999 to
2004. The progress of its implementation shall be reviewed every three years
to coincide with the ASEAN Summit Meetings.
    In recognition of the need to address the current economic situation
in the region, ASEAN shall implement initiatives to hasten economic recovery
and address the social impact of the global economic and financial crisis.
These measures reaffirm ASEAN commitments to closer regional integration and
are directed at consolidating and strengthening the economic fundamentals of
the Member Countries. 

I. STRENGTHEN MACROECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COOPERATION 

    To restore business confidence, regenerate economic growth and
promote regional financial stability through maintaining sound macroeconomic
and financial policies as well as strengthening the financial systems and
capital markets enhanced by closer consultations, so as to avoid future
disturbances.
   1.1 Maintain regional macroeconomic and financial stability.
   1.1.1 Strengthen the ASEAN Surveillance Process; and
   1.1.2 Structure orderly capital account liberalization.
   1.2 Strengthen financial system
   1.2.1 Adopt and implement sound international financial
practices and standards where approppriate by 2003;
   1.2.2 Coordinate supervision and efforts to strengthen
financial systems;
    1.2.3 Develop deep and liquid financial markets to enable
governments and private firms to raise long-term financing in local currency,
thereby reducing the over dependence on bank finance and limiting the risks
of financial crisis.
   1.2.4 Adopt and implement existing standards of disclosure
and dissemination of economic and financial information; and
   1.2.5 Adopt prudential measures to mitigate the effects of
sudden shifts in short term capital flows.
   1.3 Promote liberalization of the financial services sector
   1.3.1 Intensify deregulation of the financial services
sector; and
   1.3.2 Intensify negotiations of financial sector
liberalization under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS).
   1.4 Intensify cooperation in money, tax and insurance matters.
   1.4.1 Study the feasibility of establishing an ASEAN currency
and exchange rate system;
   1.4.2 Establish an ASEAN Tax Training Institute by 2003;
   1.4.3 Enhance the role of "ASEAN Re Corporation Limited" as a
vehicle to further promote regional cooperation in reinsurance business; and
   1.4.4 Establish an ASEAN Insurance Training and Research
Institute by the year 2005.
   1.5 Develop ASEAN capital markets
   1.5.1 Adopt and implement internationally accepted practices
and standards by year 2003; and where appropriate at a later date especially
for the new Member Countries;
   1.5.2 Establish a set of minimum standards for listing rules,
procedures and requirements by 2003;
   1.5.3 Coordinate supervision of and programmes to strengthen
capital markets;
   1.5.4 Improve corporate governance, transparency and
disclosure;
   1.5.5 Develop a mechanism for cross-listing of SMEs among
ASEAN capital markets by 2003, and where appropriate at a later date for the
new Member Countries;
   1.5.6 Facilitate cross-border capital flows and investments;
   1.5.7 Facilitate clearing and settlement systems within
ASEAN;
   1.5.8 Promote securitization in ASEAN;
   1.5.9 Foster collaborative and cooperative networks among
capital market research and training centres in Member States;
   1.5.10 Prepare the framework to develop bond market in ASEAN
by 2000; and
   1.5.11 Promote networking among development banks in Member
States for financing of productive projects. 

II. ENHANCE GREATER ECONOMIC INTEGRATION 

   To create a stable, prosperous and highly
competitive ASEAN Economic Region in which there is a free flow of goods,
services and investments, a freer flow of capital, equitalbe economic
development and reduced poverty and socio-economic disparities.
   2.1 Accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area
(AFTA).
   2.1.1 Trade liberalization
      a. Maximize the number of tariff lines whose CEPT tariff rates shall
be reduced to 0-5 percent by the year 2000 (2003 for Viet Nam and 2005 for
Laos and Myanmar);
      b. Maximize the number of tariff lines whose CEPT tariff rates shall
be reduced to 0 percent by the year 2003 (2006 for Viet Nam and 2008 for Laos
and Myanmar); and
      c. Expand the coverage of the CEPT Inclusion List by shortening the
Temporary Exclusion List, Sensitive List and General Exception List.
   2.1.2 Customs harmonization
      a. Enhance trade facilitation in customs by simplifying customs
procedures, expanding the Green Lane to cover all ASEAN products and
implementing an ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature by the year 2000;
      b. Promote transparency, consistency and uniformity in the
classification of goods traded within ASEAN and enhance trade facilitation
through the provision of facilities for obtaining pre-entry classification
rulings/desicions at national and regional levels by the year 2003;
      c. Promote the use of transparent, consistent and uniform valuation
methods and rulings through the implementation of the WTO Valuation Agreement
by the year 2000;
      d. Operationalize and strengthen regional guidelines on mutual
assistance by the year 2003 to ensure the proper application of customs laws,
within the competence of the customs administrations and subject to their
national laws;
      e. Fully operationalize the ASEAN Customs Training Network by the
year 2000; and
      f. Undertake customs reform and modernization, in particular to
implement risk management and post-importation audit by the year 2003.
   2.1.3 Standards and conformity assessment
      a. Harmonize product standards through alignment with international
standards for products in priority sectors by the year 2000 and for regulated
products by the year 2005;
      b. Implement the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Mutual Recognition
arrangement (MRAs) by developing sectoral MRAs in priority areas beginning
in 1999; and
      c. Enhance the technical infrastructure and competency in laboratory
testing, calibration, certification and accreditation by the year 2005, based
on internationally-accepted procedures and guides; and
      d. Strengthen information networking on standards and technical
regulation through the use of, among others, the Internet, with the aim of
meeting the requirements of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
and WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
   2.1.4 Other trade facilitation activities
      a. Establish a mechanism of information exchange and disclosure
requirements to promote transparency of government procurement regimes by the
year 2003 to facilitate participation of ASEAN nationals and companies;
      b. Establish contact points in 1999 to facilitate ongoing exchange of
the above information;
      c. Encourage the liberalization of government procurement;
      d) Establish a mechanism of information exchange by 2003 to
promote transparency of each domestic regulatory regime by publishing annual
reports detailing actions taken by ASEAN Member States to deregulate their
domestic regimes; and
      e) Encourage the increased use of regional currencies for intra-ASEAN
trade transactions.
   2.2 Implement the Framework Agreement on ASEAN Investment Area (AIA)
    The ASEAN Investment Area aims to enhance the competitiveness of the
region for attracting higher and sustainable levels of direct investment
flows into and within ASEAN. Three broad-based programmes of action shall
form the thrust of the AIA arrangement. These are Cooperation and
Facilitation, Promotion and Awareness, and Liberalization Programme. These
programmes shall be implemented through individual and collective action
plans, within the agreed schedules and timetable. The ASEAN Investment Area
is to be realized through implementing, among others, the following key
measures:
      a. Immediately extend national treatment and open up all industries
for investments. However, for some exceptions, as specified in the Temporary
Exclusion List and the Sensitive List, these will be progressively
liberalized to all ASEAN investors by 2010 or earlier and to all investors by
2020 in accordance with the provisions of the Framework Agreement on AIA;
      b. Identify and progressively eliminate restrictive investment
measures;
      c. Liberalize rules, regulations and policies relating to
investment; rules on licensing conditions; rules relating to access to
domestic finance; and rules to facilitate payment, receipts and repatriation
of profits by investors;
      d. Complete implementation of all the measures and activities
identified in the Schedule 1 of "Cooperation and Facilitation Programme"
under the AIA Agreement by 2010 or earlier;
      e. Complete implementation of all the measures and activities
identified in the Schedule II of "Promotion and Awareness Programme" under
the AIA Agreement by 2010 or earlier;
      f. Improve and enhance the measures and activities of the Cooperation
and Facilitation, and Promotion and Awareness Programmes to further
strengthen the implementation process of the AIA arrangement;
      g) Undertake active and high profile joint investment promotion
activities to promote greater awareness of investment opportunities in ASEAN
to global and regional investors. This shall include, among others, joint
publications of investment and business information as well as databases and
statistics;
      h) Promote freer flow of capital, skilled labour, professionals and
technology among ASEAN Member States;
      i) Work towards establishing a comparable approach of FDI data
collection, measurement and reporting among the Member States;
      j) Undertake activities to increase transparency of investment
regimes of Member States; and
      k) Identify areas for technical cooperation in human resource
development, R&D, infrastructure development, SME and supporting industry
development, information and industrial technology development. 
   2.3 Liberalize Trade in Services
  The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services will strengthen service
suppliers and introduce more competition into this large and important sector
of ASEAN Member States and open new doors for service suppliers in the
region.
   2.3.1 Liberalization
      a. Progressively liberalize trade in services by initiating a new
round of negotiations beginning 1999 and ending 2001;
      b. Expand the scope of negotiations in services beyond the seven
priority sectors, identified at the Fifth ASEAN Summit, to cover all services
sectors and all modes of supply;
      c. Seek to accelerate the liberalization of trade in services through
the adoption of alternative approaches to liberalization; and
      d. Accelerate the free flow of professional and other services in the
region.
   2.3.2 Facilitation
      a. Encourage the free exchange of information and views among
professional bodies in the region with the view to achieving mutual
recognition arrangements;
      b. Conduct an impact study by the year 2000 on the removal of
transport, travel and telecommunication barriers in ASEAN; and
      c. Develop standard classification and categorization of tourism
products and services to facilitate the region's implementation of the
General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the ASEAN Framework
Agreement on Services (AFAS).
   2.3.3 Cooperation
      a. Strengthen and enhance existing cooperation efforts in service
sectors through such means as establishing or improving infrastructure
facilities, joint production, marketing and purchasing arrangements, research
and development and exchange of information;
      b. Develop cooperation activities in new sectors that are not covered
by existing cooperation arrangements; and
      c. Cooperate to harmonize entry regulations with regard to commercial
presence.
   2.4 Enhance food security and global competitiveness of ASEAN's food,
agriculture and forestry products
ASEAN would strive to provide adequate levels of food supply and food
accessibility within ASEAN during instances of food shortages to ensure food
security and at the same time, enhance the competitiveness of its food,
agriculture and forestry sectors through developing appropriate technologies
to increase productivity and by promoting intra- and extra- ASEAN trade and
greater private sector investment in the food, agriculture and forestry
sectors.
   2.4.1 Strengthen food security arrangements in the region
      a. Enhance ASEAN food security statistical database and information
by establishing an ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) which would
allow Member States to effectively forecast, plan and manage food supplies
and utilization of basic commodities;
      b. Develop a Common Framework to analyse and review the regional food
trade policies in the light of the AFTA, and to enhance intra-ASEAN food
trade by undertaking a study on the long-term supply and demand prospects of
major food commodities (rice, corn, soybean, sugar, pulses and oilseeds) in
ASEAN;
      c. Strengthen the food marketing system of agricultural cooperatives
for enhancing food security in ASEAN; and
      d. Review the Agreement on the ASEAN Emergency Rice Reserve (AERR) to
realize effective cross-supply arrangements of food during times of
emergency.
   2.4.2 Develop and adopt existing and new technologies
      a. Conduct collaborative research to develop new/improved
technologies in food, agriculture and forestry production, post-harvest and
processing activities and sharing of research results and available
technology;
      b. Conduct R&D in critical areas to reduce the cost of inputs for
food, agriculture and forestry production; and
      c. Strengthen programmes in food, agriculture and agro-forestry
technology transfer, training and extension to increase productivity.
   2.4.3 Enhance the marketability of ASEAN food, agriculture
and forestry products/commodities
      a. Develop, harmonize and adopt quality standards and regulations for
food, agriculture and forestry products;
      b. Promote diversification of forest products; and
      c. Promote and implement training programmes and share and exchange
expertise in the field of food, agriculture and forestry.
   2.4.4 Enhance private sector involvement
      a. Conduct a study to identify high-impact investment opportunities
in key areas under the food, agriculture and forestry sectors in ASEAN and to
provide essential information for investment decisions on these
opportunities; and
      b. Establish networking and strategic alliances with the private
sector to promote investment and joint venture opportunities in ASEAN.
   2.4.5 Enhance ASEAN cooperation and joint approaches in
international and regional issues
      a. Strengthen ASEAN's cooperation and joint approaches in addressing
issues and problems affecting trade in the region's food, agriculture and
forestry products including environment and labour issues; and
      b. Seek closer cooperation and negotiate, through relevant ASEAN
bodies, with trading partners on market access for ASEAN products.
   2.4.6 Promote capacity building and human resource
development
      a. Promote and implement training programmes in the field of food,
agriculture and forestry, including the exchange of experts; and
      b. Develop and strengthen agricultural rural communities through
enhanced human resource development. 
   2.5 Intensify industrial cooperation
      a. Expedite the implementation of AICO;
      b. Establish a Directory of Major ASEAN Manufacturing Companies;
      c. Explore the merits of common competition policy;
      d. Increase value-added contribution of ASEAN Manufacturing Sector;
      e. Explore/develop other areas of cooperation that has not been
covered under the existing arrangement; and
      f. Establish R&D/Skill Development Centres.
   2.6 Foster small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
Recognizing that small and medium scale enterprises constitute the
majority of industrial enterprises in ASEAN and that they play a significant
role in the overall economic development of Member States, ASEAN needs to
cooperate in order to develop a modern, dynamic, competitive and efficient
SME sector. The SME cooperation will address priority areas of human
resource development, information dissemination, access to technology and
technology sharing, finance and market. The SME cooperation will also ensure
the development and implementation of non-discriminatory market-oriented
policies in ASEAN that will provide a more favourable environment for SME
development.
   2.6.1 Facilitation
      a. Encourage Member States to establish national export
financing/credit guarantee schemes for SMEs;
      b. Explore the possibility of establishing regional export
financing/credit guarantee scheme;
      c. Explore the possibility of establishing an ASEAN Investment Fund
for SMEs; and
      d. Explore the possibility of establishing a trade or industrial
cooperation scheme to promote intra-ASEAN cooperation for SMEs.
   2.6.2 Cooperation
      a. Compile Member States' SME policies and best practices in selected
sectors to enhance mutual understanding and possible adoption;
      b. Compile and provide information to SMEs on policies and
opportunities including electronic media such as the Internet websites;
      c. Promote information networking between existing SME-related
organizations in ASEAN;
      d. Promote awareness among SMEs on benefits and availability of other
sources of finance such as venture-capital and equity;
      e. Enhance interactions between Government Sector Institutions (GSI)
and Private Sector Institutions (PSI) on SME development by convening
biennial GSI/PSI conference;
      f. Undertake selected sectoral regional study on the potential areas
of finance, market, production technology and management for possible trade
and industrial cooperation between/among SMEs in the region;
      g. Organize annual ASEAN match-making workshops to promote SME
joint-ventures and linkages between SMEs and LSEs;
h. Organize annual joint ASEAN trade promotion activities/trade
exposition;
      i. Encourage national venture-capital company to go regional;
      j. Organize annual meetings of all national Credit Guarantee
Corporations (CGC) in ASEAN;
      k. Harness the capacity of non-ASEAN SMEs as a source of technology
to ASEAN SMEs;
      l. Organize biennial ASEAN technology exposition;
      m. Organize regular joint training programmes, seminars and workshops
for SMEs;
      n. Compile and publish a directory of resource persons in ASEAN in
the area of production technology and management;
      o. Develop programmes on entrepreneurship development and innovation
in all Member States; and
      p. Assist new members of ASEAN on SME development through specialized
training programmes and technical assistance.
   2.7 Further intellectual property cooperation
   To ensure adequate and effective protection, including legislation,
administration and enforcement, of intellectual property rights in the region
based on the principles of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment, national
treatment and transparency as set out in the TRIPS Agreement.
   2.7.1 Protection.
      a. Strengthen civil and administrative procedures and remedies
against infringement of intellectual property rights and relevant
legislation, and
      b. Provide and expand technical cooperation in relation to areas such
as patent search and examination, computerization and human resource
development for the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement;
   2.7.2 Facilitation.
      a. Deepen Intellectual Property policy exchange among ASEAN Member
States;
      b. Survey the current status of intellectual property rights
protection in each ASEAN Member State with a view to studying measures,
including development principles, for the effective enforcement of
intellectual property rights;
      c. Develop a contact point list of public and business/private sector
experts on intellectual property rights and a list of law enforcement
officers, the latter list for the purpose of establishing a network to
prevent cross-border flow of counterfeits;
      d. Exchange information on well-known marks as a first step in
examining the possibility of establishing a region-wide trademark system;
      e. Exchange information on current intellectual property rights
administrative systems with a view to simplifying and standardizing
administrative systems throughout the region;
      f. Ensure that intellectual property legislation conform to the TRIPS
Agreement of the World Trade Organization through the review of intellectual
property laws and introduction of TRIPS-consistent laws. This would begin
with a comprehensive review of existing legislation to be completed by the
year 2000; and
      g. Strengthen intellectual property administration by setting up an
ASEAN electronic database by the year 2004 on patents, designs, geographical
indications, trademarks and information on copyright and layout design of
integrated circuits.
   2.7.3 Cooperation
      a. Implement an ASEAN Regional Trademark and Patent Filing System by
the year 2000;
      b. Establish an ASEAN Regional Fund for Trademark and Patent by the
year 2000;
      c. Finalize and implement an ASEAN Common Form for Trade Mark and
Patent Applications;
      d. Establish a regional trademark and patent registration system; or
establish a regional trademark or patent office (on voluntary basis);
      e. Promote accession of Member States to international treaties;
      f. Promote Intellectual Property public and private sector awareness;
      g. Introduce Intellectual Property as a subject in the curriculum of
higher learning institutions;
       h. Develop training programmes for Intellectual Property officials;
and
      i. Enhance intellectual property enforcement and protection through
establishing mechanisms for the dissemination of information on ASEAN
intellectual property administration, registration and infringement;
facilitating interaction among legal and judicial bodies through seminars,
etc.; facilitating networking among intellectual enforcement agencies;
encouraging bilateral/plurilateral arrangements on mutual protection and
joint cooperation in enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights. 
   2.8 Encourage electronic commerce
   2.8.1 Create policy and legislative environment to facilitate
cross-border Electronic Commerce;
   2.8.2 Ensure the coordination and adoption of framework and
standards for cross-border Electronic Commerce, which is in line with
international standards and practices; and
   2.8.3 Encourage technical cooperation and technology transfer
among Member States in the development of Electronic Commerce infrastructure,
applications and services.
   2.9 Promote ASEAN tourism
   2.9.1 Launch the Visit ASEAN Millennium Year as the catalytic
focus for the first plan of action;
   2.9.2 Conduct Strategic Studies for Joint Marketing of the
ASEAN Region in the 21st Century, and the convening of Top-level Tourism
Marketing Missions to promote the region;
   2.9.3 Develop a Website/Information Database on relevant
tourism statistical data and other related information within the ASEAN
Secretariat by the beginning of the year 2000;
   2.9.4 Establish a Network among ASEAN Tourism Training
Centres with emphasis on new job skills and new technologies by 2001 in
tourism policy and planning;
   2.9.5 Develop trainer and training material database for
ASEAN to be completed by 2001;
   2.9.6 Conduct Eco-Tourism Promotion Programmes for Travel
Trade and Consumers;
   2.9.7 Complete cruise tourism development study in ASEAN by
the year 2000;
   2.9.8 Encourage the establishment of the ASEAN Lane for
facilitating intra-ASEAN travel;
   2.9.9 Increase the use of the Internet or other electronic
global distribution systems in the ASEAN travel industry; and
   2.9.10 Launnch the ASEAN Tourism Investment Guide in 1999.
   2.10 Develop regional infrastructure
To intensify cooperation in the development of highly efficient and
quality infrastructure, and in the promotion and progressive liberalization
of these services sectors:
   2.10.1 Transport
      a. Develop the Trans-ASEAN transportation network by the year 2000 as
the trunkline or main corridor for the movement of goods and people in ASEAN,
consisting of major road (interstate highway) and railway networks, principal
ports and sea lanes for maritime traffic, inland waterway transport and major
civil aviation links;
      b. Operationalize the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation
of Goods in Transit by year 2000. For this purpose, its implementing
Protocols will be finalized and concluded by December 1999;
      c. Target the conclusion and operationalization of the ASEAN
Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Inter-State Transport by the year
2000;
      d. Implement the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport;
      e. Develop a Maritime/Shipping Policy for ASEAN to cover, among
others, transhipment, enhancing the competitiveness of ASEAN ports, further
liberalization of maritime transport services, and the integration of
maritime transport in the intermodal and logistics chain;
      f. Adopt harmonised standards and regulations with regard to vehicle
specifications (e.g. width, length, height and weight), axle load limits,
maximum weights and pollution or emission standards;
      g. Institute the policy framework and modalities by the year 2000 for
the development of a Competitive Air Services Policy which may be a gradual
step towards an Open Sky Policy in ASEAN; and
      h. Develop and implement the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link and the
ASEAN Highway Network Projects.
   2.10.2 Telecommunications
      a. Achieve the interoperability and interconnectivity of the National
Information Infrastructures (NIIs) of Member States by the year 2010;
      b. Develop and implement an ASEAN Plan of Action on Regional
Broadband Interconnectivity by the year 2000; and
      c. Intensify cooperation in ensuring seamless roaming of
telecommunications services (i.e., wireless communications) within the
region, as well as in facilitating intra-ASEAN trade in telecommunications
equipment and services.
   2.10.3 Energy
      a. Ensure security and sustainability of energy supply, efficient
utilisation of natural energy resource in the region and the rational
management of energy demand, with due consideration of the environment; and
      b. Institute the policy framework and implementation modalities by
2004 for the early realization of the trans-ASEAN energy networks covering
the ASEAN Power Grid and the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline Projects as a more
focused continuation of the Medium-Term Programme of Action (1995-1999).
   2.10.4 Water utility
      a. Cooperate on a regular basis, exchange of information, knowledge,
and experiences among Member States as means to improve water resources
management and water supply system within the region; and
      b. Support the development of Trans-ASEAN land and submarine pipeline
for conveyance of raw water between ASEAN Member States.
   2.11 Further development of growth areas
To narrow the gap in the level of development among Member States and
to reduce poverty and socio-economic disparities in the region.
   2.11.1 Actively expedite the implementation and further
development of growth areas such as the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines
East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore Growth
Triangle (IMS-GT), Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), and
the inter-state areas along the West-East Corridor (WEC) of Mekong Basin in
Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia and North-eastern Thailand within the ASEAN-Mekong
Basin Development Cooperation Scheme.
   2.11.2 Facilitate the economic integration of the new Members
into ASEAN. 

III. PROMOTE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOP INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE
   3.1 Establish the ASEAN Information Infrastructure (AII).
   3.1.1 Forge agreements among Member Countries on the design,
standardization, inter-connection and inter-operability of Information
Technology systems by 2001.
   3.1.2 Ensure the protection of intellectual property rights
and consumer rights.
   3.2 Develop the information content of the AII by 2004.
   3.3 Establish networks of science & technology centres of excellence
and academic institutions by 2001.
   3.4 Intensify research & development (R&D) in applications of
strategic and enabling technologies.
   3.5 Establish a technology scan mechanism and institutionalize a
system of science & technology indicators by 2001.
   3.6 Develop innovative systems for programme management and revenue
generation to support ASEAN science and technology.
   3.7 Promote greater public and private sector collaboration in
science and technology, particularly in information technology.
   3.8 Undertake studies on the evolution of new working conditions and
living environments resulting from widespread use of information technology
by 2001. 

IV. PROMOTE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ADDRESS THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS 

   4.1 Strive to mitigate the social impact of the regional financial
and economic crisis.
   4.2 Implement the Plan of Action on ASEAN Rural Development and
Poverty Eradication and, in view of the financial and economic crisis,
implement the ASEAN Plan of Action on Social Safety Nets to ensure that
measures are taken to protect the most vulnerable sectors of our societies.
   4.3 Use the ASEAN Foundation to support activities and social
development programmes aimed at addressing issues of unequal economic
development, poverty and socio-economic disparities.
   4.4 Implement the ASEAN Plan of Action for Children which provides
for the framework for ensuring the survival, protection and development of
children.
   4.5 Strengthen ASEAN collaboration in combating the trafficking in,
and crimes of violence against, women and children.
   4.6 Enhance the capacity of the family and community to care for the
elderly and the disabled.
   4.7 Strengthen the ASEAN Regional Aids Information and Reference
Network.
   4.8 Enhance exchange of information in the field of human rights
among ASEAN Countries in order to promote and protect all human rights and
fundamental freedoms of all peoples in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action.
   4.9 Work towards the full implementation of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination against Women and other international instruments concerning
women and children.
   4.10 Strengthen regional capacity to address transnational crime.
   4.11 Implement the ASEAN Work Programme to Operationalize the ASEAN
Plan of Action on Drug Abuse Control by 2004, and continue developing and
implementing high-profile flagship programmes on drug abuse control,
particularly those related to prevention education for youth, and treatment
and rehabilitation. 

V. PROMOTE HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
   5.1 Strengthen the ASEAN University Network and move forward the
process of transforming it into the ASEAN University.
   5.2 Strengthen the education systems in Member Countries by 2001 so
that all groups of people, including the disadvantaged, can have equal access
to basic, general and higher education.
   5.3 Implement the ASEAN Work Programme on Informal Sector Development
to provide opportunities for self-employment and entrepreneurship.
   5.4 Implement the ASEAN Work Programme on Skills Training for
Out-of-School Youth by 2004, to strengthen their capacity to obtain gainful
employment.
   5.5 Strengthen regional networking of HRD centres of excellence and
develop the regional capacity for HRD planning and labour market monitoring.
   5.6 Establish and strengthen networks in education and training,
particularly those promoting occupational safety and health, skills training
for out-of-school youth, distance education by 2004.
   5.7 Intensify efforts of the ASEAN Network for Women in Skills
Training to enhance the capacity of disadvantaged women to enter the work
force.
   5.8 Begin to implement the ASEAN Science and Technology Human
Resource Programme addressing the needs of industry and business by 2000.
   5.9 Implement regional training programmes for ASEAN Civil Service
Officers and strengthen networks among ASEAN Civil Service Commissions.
   5.10 Establish networks of professional accreditation bodies to
promote regional mobility and mutual recognition of technical and
professional credentials and skills standards, beginning in 1999. 

VI. PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

   6.1 Fully implement the ASEAN Cooperation Plan on Transboundary
Pollution with particular emphasis on the Regional Haze Action Plan by the
year 2001.
   6.2 Strengthen the ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre with
emphasis on the ability to monitor forest and land fires and provide early
warning on transboundary haze by the year 2001.
   6.3 Establish the ASEAN Regional Research and Training Centre for
Land and Forest Fire Management by the year 2004.
   6.4 Strengthen the ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity
Conservation by establishing networks of relevant institutions and implement
collaborative training and research activities by the year 2001.
   6.5 Promote regional coordination for the protection of the ASEAN
Heritage Parks and Reserves.
   6.6 Develop a framework and improve regional coordination for the
integrated protection and management of coastal zones by the year 2001.
   6.7 Strengthen institutional and legal capacities to implement Agenda
21 and other international environmental agreements by the year 2001.
   6.8 Harmonize the environmental databases of Member Countries by the
year 2001.
   6.9 Implement an ASEAN regional water conservation programme by the
year 2001.
   6.10 Establish a regional centre or network for the promotion of
environmentally sound technologies by the year 2004.
   6.11 Formulate and adopt an ASEAN Protocol on access to genetic
resources by the year 2004.
   6.12 Develop a Regional Action Plan for the Protection of the Marine
Environment from Land-based and Sea-based Activities by the year 2004.
   6.13 Implement the Framework to Achieve Long-Term Environmental Goals
for Ambient Air and River Water Qualities for ASEAN Countries.
   6.14 Enhance regional efforts in addressing climatic change.
   6.15 Enhance public information and education in awareness of and
participation in environmental and sustainable development issues. 

VII. STRENGTHEN REGIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

   7.1 Consolidate and strengthen ASEAN's solidarity, cohesiveness and
harmony by strengthening national and regional resilience through enhanced
cooperation and mutual assistance to further promote Southeast Asia as a Zone
of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality.
   7.2 Promote coherent and comprehensive programmes of bilateral and
regional cooperation and technical assistance to ASEAN member states to
strengthen their integration into the community of Southeast Asian nations.
   7.3 Ratify the Second Protocol of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
in Southeast Asia (TAC) as soon as possible.
   7.4 Encourage and facilitate the accession by ASEAN's Dialogue
Partners and other interested countries to the Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation with a view to developing the TAC into a code of conduct
governing relations between Southeast Asian States and those outside the
region.
   7.5 Formulate draft rules of procedure for the operations of the High
Council as envisioned in TAC.
   7.6 Encourage greater efforts towards the resolution of outstanding
problems of boundaries delimitation between ASEAN member states.
   7.7 Ensure border security and facilitate safe and convenient border
crossings.
   7.8 Encourage Member Countries to cooperate in resolving
border-related problems and other matters with security implications between
ASEAN member countries.
   7.9 Promote efforts to secure acceptance by Nuclear Weapon States of
the Treaty on Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), including
their early accession to the Protocol to the SEANWFZ Treaty.
   7.10 Convene the Commission for SEANWFZ Treaty to oversee the
implementation of the Treaty and ensure compliance with its provisions.
   7.11 Support and participate actively in all efforts to achieve the
objectives of general and complete disarmament, especially the
non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
   7.12 Encourage ASEAN Member Countries parties to a dispute to engage
in friendly negotiation and use the bilateral and regional processes of
peaceful settlement of dispute or other procedures provided for in the U.N.
Charter.
   7.13 Enhance efforts to settle disputes in the South China Sea
through peaceful means among the parties concerned in accordance with
universally recognized international law, including the 1982 U.N. Convention
on the Law of the Sea.
   7.14 Continue efforts to promote confidence-building measures in the
South China Sea between and among parties concerned.
   7.15 Encourage all other parties concerned to subscribe to the ASEAN
Declaration on the South China Sea.
   7.16 Promote efforts to establish a regional code of conduct in the
South China Sea among the parties directly concerned.
   7.17 Intensify intra-ASEAN security cooperation through existing
mechanisms among foreign affairs and defense officials. 

VIII. ENHANCE ASEAN'S ROLE AS AN EFFECTIVE FORCE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE,
AND MODERATION IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC AND IN THE WORLD

   8.1 Maintain ASEAN's chairmanship in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
process.
   8.2 Undertake, actively and energetically, measures to strengthen
ASEAN's role as the primary driving force in the ARF, including directing the
ASEAN Secretary-General to provide the necessary support and services to the
ASC Chairman in coordinating ARF activities.
   8.3 Formulate initiatives to advance, on a consensus basis and at a
pace comfortable to all, the ARF process from its current emphasis on
confidence-building to promoting preventive diplomacy.
   8.4 Promote public awareness of the ARF process and the need for
ASEAN's role as the primary driving force in respective ASEAN Member
Countries.
   8.5 Continue the involvement of ASEAN defense and security officials
together with foreign affairs officials in ARF activities.
   8.6 Develop a set of basic principles based on TAC as an instrument
for promoting cooperative peace in the Asia-Pacific region.
   8.7 Enhance consultation and coordination of ASEAN positions at the
United Nations and other international fora.
   8.8 Revitalize ASEAN's relations with Dialogue Partners on the basis
of equality, non-discrimination and mutual benefit. 

IX. PROMOTE ASEAN AWARENESS AND ITS STANDING IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 

   9.1 Support the activities of the ASEAN Foundation and other
available resources and mechanisms to promote ASEAN awareness among its
people.
   9.2 Launch, within ASEAN's existing resources, a concerted
communications programme to promote ASEAN's standing in the international
community and strengthen confidence in ASEAN as an ideal place for
investment, trade and tourism.
   9.3 Establish and operate an ASEAN satellite channel by year 2000.
   9.4 Provide and disseminate materials on ASEAN's efforts to cope with
the financial and economic crisis.
   9.5 Publicize ASEAN's HPA priorities through ASEAN's external
mechanisms with its Dialogue Partners.
   9.6 Develop linkages with mass media networks and websites on key
areas of ASEAN cooperation to disseminate regular and timely information on
ASEAN.
   9.7 Prepare and adopt an ASEAN Declaration on Cultural Heritage by
year 2000.
   9.8 Mount professional productions of ASEAN performances and
exhibitions within and outside ASEAN and provide adequate mass media coverage
on such activities.
   9.9 Organize art and cultural immersion camps and exchange programmes
for the youth and encourage their travel to other ASEAN Member Countries.
   9.10 Establish an ASEAN Multi-Media Centre by the year 2001 to
conduct professional training programmes and provide production facilities
and services for mass media and communication practitioners. 

X. IMPROVE ASEAN'S STRUCTURES AND MECHANISMS 

   10.1 Review ASEAN's overall organizational structure in order to
further improve its efficiency and effectiveness, taking into account the
expansion of ASEAN activities, the enlargement of ASEAN membership, and the
regional situation.
   10.2 Review and streamline ASEAN external relations mechanisms with
its Dialogue Partners, regional organizations and other economic groupings.
   10.3 Review the role, functions and capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat
to meet the increasing demands of ASEAN and to support the implementation of
the Hanoi Plan of Action.--VNA