ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded in 1967 and today comprises 10 member states (Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). The Headquarters of the Secretariat and of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of ASEAN-states of ambassadorial rank are based in Jakarta. Up until now, the priority of ASEAN cooperation was economic integration. By 2015 ASEAN is aiming for an economic community with a joint market for goods, services, capital and jobs in connection with the goals of competition ability, equal economic development and integration into the world economy. ASEAN is already in the process of establishing the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) through step-by-step custsoms reductions. The AFTA Agreement came into effect on 1 January 2003.
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The Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community, Mr S. Pushpanathan, signed an implementation agreement with the Country Director of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Ms Sabine Markert, to address food security and impact of climate change in ASEAN Member States, on September 23.
ASEAN-German Agreement on Climate Change
On September 6, Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and ASEAN Secretary-
General Surin Pitsuwan met for political consultations in Berlin. The talks focussed on the progress of
regional integration in Southeast Asia, the growing role of ASEAN in settling regional conflicts, as
well as trade issues.
Pitsuwan meets Westerwelle
The ASEAN Secretariat and Germany are moving forward into the 3rd phase of their joint capacity building project
A signing ceremony was held on 18 January 2011 at the Secretariat to mark the occasion.
The "Capacity Building for the ASEAN Secretariat" project aims at supporting ASEAN by strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat's capacity. Within the third phase, Germany will provide EUR 4 million to support the Secretariat in administration and management, economic integration, media and communication, legal matters, and other agreed needs. The aim is to improve legal services, macroeconomic finance and surveillance, competition and public-private sector engagement. It will also help engage the media to support the ASEAN vision.
Representing the ASEAN Secretariat at the ceremony, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, Bagas Hapsoro, thanked Germany for the continued support of ASEAN's integration efforts.
ASEAN Thanks Germany for Cooperation and Support ASEAN Secretariat, 30 November 2010
Germany is interested in further strengthening economic relations with ASEAN. The intention was conveyed by the State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office, Mr Martin Biesel, during his courtesy call to the ASEAN Secretariat yesterday. He was accompanied by the German Ambassador to ASEAN, Dr Norbert Baas.
Receiving Mr Biesel, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, Mr Bagas Hapsoro, said that ASEAN highly appreciates Germany for its assistance in various areas, including Germany's help in capacity building for the ASEAN Secretariat, and hoped that the support will continue.
During their meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on ways to advance the ASEAN-Germany cooperation.
Mr Biesel was in Jakarta to participate in the European Indonesian Business Dialogue (EIBD) from 27-29 November.
Germany is a Member Country of the European Union, which is a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.
ASEC
On 30 September and 1 October 2010, the first "Journalism Workshop on EU-ASEAN Relations" took place in Jakarta. Conducted by InWEnt Capacity Building International in cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat and the Delegation of the European Union to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, this workshop united 34 journalists who cover ASEAN and/or European affairs from all ASEAN member states.
Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States in Brussels and Berlin
The ten Permanent Representatives of the ASEAN Member States accredited to the ASEAN Secretary-General on ambassadorial level visited Brussels and Berlin on a joint invitation of the European Commission and the Federal Republic of Germany from 3-10 July 2010. Previously scheduled for the end of April 2010, the visit had to be postponed to the beginning of July due to the closure of airports in Europe caused by a cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano.
The aim of this trip was to discuss with high-ranking officials the structure and processes of European integration as well as the exchange of information and coordination between Brussels and the capital cities of the EU. After meeting with the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the EU member states (AStV) amongst others, the delegation then travelled to Berlin. In the framework of the Guest Programme of the Federal Republic of Germany the Permanent Representatives were introduced to various aspects of the European unity process, such as the role of the Bundestag in the EU, as seen by a member state.
