Secretary Romulo’s Statement on the Cancellation of the ASEAN Related Summits

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Secretary Romulo’s Statement on the Cancellation of the ASEAN Related Summits

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Written by Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles

Monday, 13 April 2009 17:22

M uch has been accomplished despite the non completion of the ASEAN Summit and other related summits, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Bert Romulo.

One, there is already agreement in principle as the amount of contribution to the $120B equity fund; $24B from the 10 ASEZN members, $24B from South Korea, and the balance from Japan and China. Two, the establishment of the Asean Political Security Community. Three, the initial convening of the Committee of Permanent Representatives.

The President remained calm and collected all throughout. We are proceeding to Dubai ahead of schedule.

* Global financial crisis hangs heavily over 14th ASEAN Summit in Thailand

PATTAYA, Thailand (via PLDT) – The world financial downturn hangs heavily over the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits which opens tomorrow (Friday, April 10) in this world-famous resort metropolis.

The theme of the Summit, “Acting Together to Cope with Global Challenges,” underscores the need for ASEAN to mount a collective effort to surmount the global financial crisis.

The other central issues up for discussion are food and bio-energy security, and disaster management. The Summit gets underway tonight (Thursday, April 9) with an informal working dinner of the ASEAN leaders at the Royal Cliff Hotel. Aside from the ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN leaders will hold Summits with their counterparts from China, South Korea and Japan on Saturday (April 11) under the headline of ASEAN Plus One Summits.

Also set for Saturday is the ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the ASEAN Summit Plus One with India. This will be followed by the East Asia Summit (EAS), also called ASEAN Plus 6 Summit with dialogue partners, namely, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

The Department of ASEAN Affairs of the Thai Foreign Ministry said a total of 26 documents will be discussed at the Summit. They include the Pattaya Statement on ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation on Food Security and Bio-diversity Development, the Pattaya Statement on East Asia Summit (AES) Disaster Management, Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Good Manufacturing Practice of Medicinal Products and the ASEAN-China Investment Agreement.

Also, the ASEAN leaders will meet with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss a wide range of regional and international issues, notably the global financial crisis, food and energy security, disaster management, climate change and development.

As host, Thailand put the finishing touches to its preparations for the 14th ASEAN Summit and Related Summit, said Vitavas Srivihok, director-general of the Department of ASEAN Affairs. He added that except for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India, all the participating heads of state had confirmed their attendance.

The Indian leader has yet to confirm his attendance for health reasons. But if he cannot attend the Summit, he would be represented by Kamal Nath, India’s minister of commerce and industry as his country’s special envoy to the Pattaya high-level conference.

* Departure Statement of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ASEAN Plus Summits and Dubai, April 10, 2009

The world economyØ continues to challenge developed and developing nations alike. This and North Korea’s missile launch underline the importance of our upcoming ASEAN Plus and East Asian Summits.

Within the context of a turbulent world, it isØ essential to keep our own region as calm and coordinated as possible. The ASEAN Plus and East Asian Summits should be an anchor for member states to keep control of our own backyard.

The Philippine economy remains resilient.Ø ASEAN and related meetings are always an opportunity for us to advance our interests and compare ways to bolster our economy through cooperation with our neighboring countries.

It will be important for East Asian leaders toØ agree on actions to further strengthen our regional economy and on steps to promote peace and stability. We similarly take a strong stand for continued and united efforts on the region’s economy and security.

After the ASEAN Plus and East Asian Summits, I will travel to Dubai to promote the interests of our expatriate workers there. The economy has been particularly difficult in Dubai, but Philippine workers are still the most sought-after workers in the UAE. As such, I will be going there to champion our workers before the government and those firms that are hiring workers in Dubai.

Central to keeping our economy moving is keeping our workers employed – at home and abroad. The central mission of the Philippine government is the health, security and safety of our people. Good jobs and good wages will continue to help achieve those goals.

Global engagement has been an essential component of whatØ has kept the Philippines from getting pulled under the raging economic waves sweeping most countries. Abroad, our economy is increasingly diversified; we have spread the risk of our reliance on other nations and other markets.

At home, today we are a strong, consumer-driven nation that relies less and less on exports and more and more on our own domestic economy. * Aside from global economic crisis ASEAN Summit will also tackle energy, other pressing issues

* PATTAYA, Thailand – The central focus of the 14th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits will be on how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its six dialogue partners – China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand – will work together to address the challenges of the global economic crisis.

But equally compelling regional and international concerns -- ranging from food and bio-energy security and disaster management -- are on the table when the regional heads of state buckle down to work starting tonight

* (Friday, April 10). President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is arriving here late this afternoon, is expected to follow through the agreements reached by ASEAN and its dialogue partners at the ASEAN summit in Cebu in Jan. 2007.

She will be received by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Panorama Seaview, Royal Cliff Grand and Spa for the informal working dinner of ASEAN leaders, the initial meeting of the regional heads leading to the Summits. In their 4th summit, the ASEAN Plus Three

* (APT) – ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea – will revisit previous agreements, including the declaration on energy security and biofuels. The Cebu summit declaration called for solutions to the limited global reserve of fossil fuel, the unstable world prices of fuel oil and the worsening problem of the environment and health, and the urgent need to address global warming and climate change.

It also pointed out that the growing need for energy required large-scale investments in energy development in the coming years.

The APT leaders said that renewable energy and nuclear power would represent an increasing share of the global energy supply. They underscored the need to “strengthen renewable energy development such as biofuels, and to promote open trade and cooperation in the sector and related industries.”

In its background materials on the APT Summit here tomorrow, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said President Arroyo was looking forward to discussing with her counterparts practical policy responses to address worsening global and financial crisis.”

“The crisis is expected to be the main topic of discussion in all the seven ASEAN Related Summit meetings, which include the ASEAN+1 Summit meetings with China, Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK) and India, the 12th ASEAN Plus Three Summit (China, Japan, ROK), the 4th East Asia Summit and the 3rd ASEAN-Summit,” the paper said.

It added that at the “4th EAS, the President will raise the need to hold ASEAN-led consultations involving other regional fora and organizations in Asia and Asia Pacific in order to protect the region from future global economic and financial crises.”

* ASEAN moves a step closer to realization of its vision on integrated health care sector

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has moved a step closer to the realization of its vision of an integrated regional health care sector through the reduction of technical barriers to trade in pharmaceutical products.

On Friday (April 10), the ASEAN economic ministers signed a Sectoral Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Inspection of Manufacturers of Medicinal Products (IRMMP) that would ensure the safety, quality, efficacy and lower prices of drugs being sold in the region.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is one of the heads of state of the 10-member ASEAN attending the ongoing three-day 14th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits which wind up Sunday (April 12).

In a report, the secretariat of the 14th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits said divergences in national product standards often act as impediments to trade in goods.

"In order to promote deeper economic integration between economies towards the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015, the harmonization of product standards, and mutual recognition of test report and certification are necessary."

One of the priority sectors of ASEAN, the healthcare program is expected to accelerate the region's economic integration process.

The report on the inspection of manufacturers of medical products seeking good manufacturing practice certifications and/or inspection by authorized agencies will serve as the basis in determining compliance with regulatory requirements.

These include the issuance of licenses to the pharmaceuticals. "The report will also include information on the dosage forms manufactured at the(pharmaceutical) facility and whether the manufacturer complies with the GMP requirements," the report said.

The Sectoral Mutual Recognition Arrangement, which will be fully implemented by all ASEAN member countries by Jan. 1, 2011, requires that "a facility manufacturing medical products shall ensure that it is licensed or authorized to manufacture medicinal products or carry out a manufacturing operation in question."

Pharmaceuticals must also demonstrate proper compliance with the Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PIC/S) Guide for Medicinal Products.

The report pointed out that both consumers and manufacturers will benefit from the MRA. "For manufacturers of medicinal products, in particular pharmaceutical products, ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of their products will become a priority," the report said.

On the part of consumers, the MRA will serve as an assurance that the medicinal products they consume are safe, effective and lives up to the prescribed quality. # # #

As Sent by the Philippine Consulate General

3600 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 500Los Angeles, CA 90010

Tel. (213) 639-0980/Fax (213)639-0990

Website – www.philippineconsulatela.org