U.S. – Australia Relations
ASEAN Cooperation Plan Enhances Ties with U.S.
Washington, D.C. — 29 July 2005
August 2002 initiative supports cooperation on wide range of goals (550)
The ASEAN Cooperation Plan (ACP) is a U.S.-funded initiative established in August 2002 that supports joint activities between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to advance mutual interests, according to a fact sheet released by the Department of State July 29.
"Since its inception, the program has initiated over 20 projects valued at more than $9 million," the fact sheet says.
Among the areas covered by ACP are cybersecurity; HIV/AIDS; sustainable development; trafficking in persons; intellectual property rights protection; and trade issues such as biotechnology, industrial standards and competition policy.
The ACP "has reinforced the broader U.S.-ASEAN relationship by bringing together many different government agencies, state governments, non-government organizations, and academics, and private sector entities," the fact sheet says.
Following is the State Department fact sheet on the ACP:
(begin fact sheet)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
July 29, 2005
FACT SHEET
U.S. ASEAN Cooperation Plan (ACP)
The ASEAN Cooperation Plan (ACP) is a U.S.-funded initiative that supports U.S.-ASEAN activities to advance mutual interests in areas such as promoting trade and countering transnational crime. Then-Secretary Powell announced the plan in August 2002 with the aim of strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat; building regional cooperation to address transnational challenges including terrorism, human trafficking, and infectious diseases; and fostering ASEAN economic integration and development. Since its inception, the program has initiated over 20 projects valued at more than $9 million. It has reinforced the broader U.S.-ASEAN relationship by bringing together many different government agencies, state governments, non-government organizations, and academics, and private sector entities. Below are some illustrative projects.
Fostering ASEAN Economic Integration and Development
-- Providing a U.S. trade expert at the ASEAN Secretariat to support the organization's integration and the Vientiane Action Program, including holding seminars on trade negotiations, trade in services, rules of origins and a study of the potential benefits of a free trade agreement between the U.S. and several ASEAN countries.
-- Seminars and studies on a variety of other trade issues, including AFTA procedures to promote intra-ASEAN trade, biotechnology, industrial standards and competition policy.
-- Support for effective protection of intellectual property rights through training of ASEAN country judges, prosecutors, investigative officials, and others.
-- Studies and technical assistance to promote the information and communications technology sector and cybersecurity in ASEAN countries.
Supporting the ASEAN Secretariat
-- Increasing the Internet bandwidth capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat, creating an interactive ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Website, and establishing a portal for ASEAN member countries.
-- Financing of ASEAN Secretariat staff support at ASEAN Summit in Vientiane.
-- Training of Secretariat staff in information technology, international security, environment, and trade.
Building Regional Cooperation on Transnational Challenges
-- Projects to assist in the regional fight against HIV/AIDS.
-- Support for the Framework for Environmentally Sustainable Cities in ASEAN, improved enforcement of wildlife trafficking laws, and other environmental work.
-- A seminar to increase capacity and foster cooperation on maritime security.
-- Cooperative work on statistics to address the problem of Trafficking in Persons and workshops on developing ASEAN women's entrepreneurial skills and empowerment.
-- Training and technical assistance for disaster management through the Incident Command System.
-- Seminars to build capacity and cooperation on cyber-security.
(end fact sheet)
Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:http://usinfo.state.gov
Original document from Washington Hyperfile [EPF507].
Last update: Monday, 19 November 2007 GMT+1000
