The implementation of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Community by 2015 and ratification of ASEAN Chapter at the end of this year are the two biggest jobs for the block to achieve higher integration and cooperation, said Ong Keng Yong, secretary-general of ASEAN.
"We have focused on ASEAN economic cooperation and integration for 10 years, we want to achieve a community of our 10 economies by 2015, regarding to a single market initiative," Ong told Xinhua in an exclusive interview Wednesday on the sidelines of the secretariat's reception for ASEAN's 40th founding anniversary.
The 12th ASEAN Summit in January in the Philippines decided to establish the ASEAN Community by 2015, five years ahead of the initial schedule, and ratify the chapter draft by the end of this year in Singapore.
As a regional cooperation group comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, ASEAN has been working for economic integration since its establishment.
Now, with a population of about 600 million and over one trillion U.S. dollars of GDP, ASEAN is showing its great economic potential. It not only has established ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) internally, but also signed free trade agreements with China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and others, showing its ambition and confidence to play more important role in global trade.
On the political integration, ASEAN is preparing its historical chapter.
Ong said, "The chapter itself is not revolutionary. But what is important is by having a chapter we will have more rule bases and practices. Right now, ASEAN is like a happy family, we don't have constitution, we talk to each other to try to bring out a common position. But we do not have a fixed legal regime. So we think it is a chapter that was signifying ASEAN readiness to do more predictable policies and cooperation."
He emphasized that the chapter is unique.
The secretary general explained that, integration in ASEAN not only covers economy but also the society, because ASEAN want to have a broader community based on security, political, social and cultural cooperation. "So with the ASEAN chapter, we will formalize our cooperation in all the treaties, security and political cooperation, economic integration and social and cultural development."
Ong Keng Yong pointed out the difference between the ASEAN model and the European Union (EU) model.
"Well, EU integrated with the aim of having one union, and ASEAN with the aim of having 10 countries... ASEAN is not contemplating a political union. By supporting the common market, we will have good political security cooperation, and social cultural development."
He said, EU established all the institutions at first, then they move the agendas, but ASEAN is just contrary. ASEAN will not build many institutions. "If we find it ready, we will build it later."
"After having a chapter, we will be more effective in implementing our lots of agreements, and secondly, the cooperation is to become more predictable, because you have to do according to the schedule or time line," said Ong.
"And more importantly, in drafting out the new chapter, everybody of our 10 members will start fresh and equal, everybody discuss the chapter in the way we wish or based on their own interest... Because of this psychological support, ASEAN will be strengthened," said the secretary general of ASEAN.
Source: Xinhua
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