Transcript of remarks by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to the media on the discussions at the 4th ASEAN Informal Summit, 24 Nov 2000

The theme of the Summit is ASEAN integration and solidarity. So we discussed several measures to ensure that ASEAN will function more as a united whole. This is not to suggest that ASEAN is not united but it is more to see how we can present ourselves solidly as a group at international meetings and how we can overcome the gaps which are now there, which prevent ASEAN from becoming more integrated as an economy. We took a helicopter view and tried to look at the ASEAN economies as one economy and see where we can then begin to strengthen the weak parts, for example in transportation, river transportation, railway, all those were discussed, even air services and telecommunications. These were points that were discussed.

That said, can I take questions from you?

Q: [inaudible]

We didn't quite discuss that but of course that's important and just assume that we must have peace and stability on ASEAN.

Q: Was the of non-intervention discussed ... [inaudible]

The policy was not discussed. What we had done was to in fact go into a huddle. So when we went into the huddle we did discuss some sensitive issues. And of course since it was a huddle, I can't let you know what we huddled over.

Q: Do you find the timeframe for e-ASEAN agreement for Cambodia, Vietnam, etc - do you find the timeframe for them realistic?

I don't know about the timeframe but what we decided to do is to help build capacity in these 4 countries. See part of e-ASEAN integration to see how all the economies can work better as one economy and we will pay particular attention to the 4 economies of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam as they need capacity in their human resource development. And Singapore, of course, along with Thailand and a few other countries will be helping these 4 economies to develop their manpower, particularly in IT. But I think it will take some time for these countries, to be able to actually take advantage of e-ASEAN.

Q: Have other countries within ASEAN and outside [inaudible] Singapore government for advice?

I think there are several countries outside which are quite good in e-government. If you go to the Scandinavian countries, I believe they are quite advanced. The smaller ones especially. Big countries like the United States will find it more difficult to move as fast as Singapore had done. And of course Singapore is far ahead of countries like Japan and China. So several countries send their people to Singapore to study how they can do this e-governance.

Q: Prime Minister, is there going to be any new kind of institutions that is going to evolve in a new forum from your discussions now in order to make ASEAN more effective. [inaudible] you mentioned some time back that a country like India could [inaudible] ASEAN + 3 Summit meeting, so was that issue discussed and any position taken?

There will not be any new institutions because ASEAN itself is an organisation, we are going to strengthen the various aspects of ASEAN and there were some good suggestions, for example, we have to project ASEAN better. And one suggestion was, we can have an ASEAN-country week, which means within ASEAN every year, we'll designate one country to be presented to ASEAN members as a whole, so that we can facilitate better understanding of that country, and through that country, ASEAN as a whole. And we decided to mount several ASEAN organised missions overseas, as well as within ASEAN. For example, we'll organise an ASEAN trade fair, so this will be an ASEAN effort. And we'll also organise ASEAN investment fairs. It can be rotated among various cities over the years. And we can do road shows too as ASEAN. The very important point, which we made, was how to bring the other ASEAN members who are not members of Asia Europe Meeting and APEC into these organisations. EU is in ASEM, that is Asia Europe meeting, as an organisation, ASEAN is not. We decided that we should find ways to bring in the remaining ASEAN members who are not members of these organisations into ASEAN. And if they are not members in the meanwhile, we should go around to solicit the views of these countries. We should help to present their views through ASEAN in these international meetings. So these are useful suggestions that we have adopted.

India, yes, the leaders have seen not just me, but leaders of other countries to express interest in having an ASEAN-India summit as part of this summit that we have. I explained to them when they put a request to me that it would be difficult to have an ASEAN +4 Summit. ASEAN +3 is more like an East Asian get-together. But we could consider ASEAN + India as a separate forum. So this matter was discussed and the view was that it is a bit too early to consider this request because the ASEAN +3 is still a new process, and we would rather concentrate on forging this new process. And of course, ASEAN now also needs consolidation. People talk about two-tiered ASEAN, 4 countries and the rest of ASEAN, CMLV countries. So concentration will be on the ASEAN +3 process and on consolidating and integrating ASEAN two-tiered structure into one-tier. So we defer the decision on India.

Q: [inaudible] about bringing North Korea into the summit?

No, this is an ASEAN meeting, so N Korea will not feature in our ASEAN summit.

[inaudible]

I would not know whether the South Korean President would raise this in the afternoon but in the morning it was purely an ASEAN meeting.

Q: [inaudible] growing gap in economic development and political stability between North East Asia and South East Asia [inaudible]

You are referring to the gap between North East Asia and South East Asia. Of course, that is a very important point that was discussed. That North East Asia will streak ahead because it's proving to be rather attractive to many foreign investors. And the answer lies with South East Asia. That was discussed and we'll this is where we'll try to work together as an ASEAN organisation, an ASEAN economy, and as an ASEAN community. And over time of course if we work well together, with the synergy, we should be able to narrow the gap between South East Asia and North East Asia. And if we can't, if North East Asia gallops away, well if South East Asia gets pulled along, then that's fine, we'll also see our standard of living increase.

There is one more last point, which I want to make before I go, and that is the importance of the English language. The leaders discussed the need for all ASEAN people to master English because unless we are able to master English, we will not be able to get our population to use IT to the literature, which is in English, and to take advantage of the new economy. So the decision was taken to emphasise the importance of English in our respective countries. And some will do this as a first language like in Philippines and Singapore, others will do it as a second language but it is going to be a very important second language. So this is a decision by ASEAN leaders that you need to have English for the country to be able to transit into the knowledge-based IT economy. So as to be able to compete with other economies.

Thank you very much.

. . . . .

Issued by the Media Secretariat, 4th ASEAN Informal Summit, Singapore, 24 Nov 2000