12 on ASEAN Tourism Integration, under the ASEAN NTOs, which would facilitate and
recommend further tourism integration measures towards realising the AEC.
9.5 23
RD
ASEAN MINISTERS ON ENERGY MEETING AMEM
66. The Meeting noted the Report of the 23
rd
ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting
AMEM held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 13 July 2005. The Report appears as ANNEX 15.
9.6 1
ST
ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING ON MINERALS AMMin
67. The Meeting noted the Report of the 1
st
ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals
AMMin held in Kuching, Malaysia on 4 August 2005. The Report appears as ANNEX 16. The Meeting, in particular, noted that AMMin signed a Ministerial Understanding MU on
ASEAN Cooperation in Minerals to formalise regional cooperation in minerals. The MU also aims to develop the minerals sector to be an engine for greater economic growth and social
progress in the ASEAN region; enhance trade and investment in the ASEAN minerals sector; and promote environmentally sound and socially responsible mineral development
practices in the sustainable management and optimum utilisation of mineral resources. AGENDA
ITEM 10: JOINT APPROACHES TO INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL
ECONOMIC ISSUES 10.1
WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION WTO
68. Viet Nam updated the Meeting on her accession to the WTO. She highlighted her
difficulty to conclude bilateral discussions with the US, which has tabled some requests perceived to go beyond WTO standards; while Australia and New Zealand were asking for
tariff reduction as extended under AFTA. She also briefed the Meeting on the positive progress on the multilateral talks in the Working Party and thanked ASEAN for its support.
She sought further support from ASEAN in persuading the US, Australia and New Zealand to refrain from making unreasonable demands to Viet Nam.
69.
The Ministers pledged their support to Viet Nam for its early accession to the WTO. 70.
The Meeting noted the briefing of Singapore on the preparations for the WTO Ministerial Meeting scheduled in Hong Kong in December 2005.
10.2 ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION APEC
71. Viet Nam briefed the Meeting on her preparations in hosting APEC 2006, including
the schedule of APEC meetings. To assist her in the preparations, Viet Nam requested Member Countries to provide comments on the topics and themes for the APEC meetings
for consolidation and sought the assistance of ASEAN Member Countries for them to successfully organise the APEC Leaders’ meeting. The Meeting noted the offer of Brunei
and Thailand on this regard. 72.
The Meeting also expressed their support and assistance to enable Viet Nam to successfully host the APEC Meetings in 2006.
10.3 ASIA-EUROPE MEETING
ASEM
73. Indonesia, as the coordinating country for the Asia-Europe Meeting ASEM, briefed
the Meeting on the recent developments in ASEM. She informed the Meeting that no
13 Minister from Asia side was present at the scheduled 6
th
Economic Ministers Meeting EMM held in Rotterdam on 16-17 September 2005. The issue on the need to reconvene the EMM
prior to the ASEM Summit in Helsinki was raised during the Meeting. Indonesia sought the views of ASEAN Member Countries on the issue. The outcomes of the said meeting appears
as ANNEX 17. AGENDA ITEM 11: PREPARATIONS FOR THE AEM CONSULTATIONS
74.
The Meeting considered and endorsed the provisional agenda for the following consultations with Dialogue Partners:
a 4
th
AEM-MOFCOM Consultation; b 12
th
AEM-METI Consultation; c 2
nd
AEM-Korea Consultation; d 4
th
AEM-India Consultation; e 8
th
AEM Plus Three Consultations, including consultations with EABC; and f 10
th
AEM-CER Consultation,
which appears in ANNEX 18. AGENDA
ITEM 12: PREPARATIONS FOR THE 11
TH
ASEAN SUMMIT, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, DECEMBER 2005
75. Malaysia briefed the Meeting on her preparations for the 11
th
ASEAN Summit and other Summit-related activities, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur on 7-14 December 2005.
The tentative programme for the Summit appears as ANNEX 19. The Meeting also agreed to work on the Summit deliverables, which appear as ANNEX 20.
AGENDA ITEM 13: OTHER PREPARATIONS 76.
The Meeting considered the possibility of bringing forward the realisation of the AEC from 2020 to 2015, in line with the decision to accelerate to 2015 the liberalisation of
services. AGENDA ITEM 14: CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF THE MEDIA STATEMENT
77.
The Meeting considered and endorsed the Joint Media Statement of the 37
th
AEM
Meeting, which appears as ANNEX 21. AGENDA ITEM 15: DATE AND VENUE OF THE THIRTY-EIGHTH MEETING OF THE
ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS
78. The Meeting agreed that the Thirty-Eighth Meeting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers
will be held in Malaysia in 2006. The Meeting noted that the exact date and venue of the said Meeting will be conveyed to the Ministers as soon as possible.
AGENDA ITEM 16: CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF THE REPORT
14 79.
The Meeting considered and adopted the Report of the 37
th
ASEAN Economic Ministers AEM, held in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 28 September 2005.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Meeting expressed its sincere appreciation to the Government and people of the Lao
PDR for the warm hospitality extended and the excellent arrangements made for the Meeting.
J
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