Asia in the new millennium

Objectives

To discuss the Asia in the new millennium.

To enumerate the ASEAN cooperation and the League of Arabs.

To give value to the Asia in the new millennium.

Asia in the new millennium

• The Human Development Index (HDI) which the United Nations Development
Program (NDP) uses to measure the quality of life The HDI based on factors
namely: Life Expectancy, Literacy and Sufficiency of purchasing power to meet
the basic needs.

• According to a report by the Asian development Bank, poverty will continue as

Asia’s most serious challenge of the new millennium. In speech before the
Manila Social Forum in the new millennium. In the speech before the Manila
Social forum in November 1999, ADB President Tadao Chino pointed out that the
seventy percent of the poor people of world live is Asia and the Pacific.

• Because of poverty, the old problems of Asian countries remain unresolved such
as: joblessness, environmental destruction, drug addiction, prostitution and
population explosion.

ASIAN COOPERATION

• Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

• Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,

Singapore, and Thailand. It is different from Southeast Asian Treaty Organization
(SEATO), a military alliance set up in 1954 at the height of the Cold War by the founding
ASEAN members along with the United States, Britain, and France.

The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the Association are:

 To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the

region through joint endeavors in the spirit of equality and partnership to
strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast
Asian Nations.

 To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice
and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and
adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Free Trade and Other Initiatives

In the last decade of the 20th century, the ASEAN countries speeded up the process
for economic cooperation.
In a speech on February 28, 2000 at the ASEAN Investment Seminar in Tokyo,
former ASEAN Sec. Gen. Rodolfo Severino declared that “ASEAN is moving steadily
toward being a truly integrated economy. Trade barriers are going down. Tariffs on
almost all products traded by ASEAN’s leading trading nations will be down 0-5
percent in less than two years.”
Severino was referring to the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), The ASEAN
Investment Area, and the ASEAN Industrial Complementation Schemethat are all
part of Plan 2020. By this year, ASEAN expects the region to become a huge market
of various products.

• Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand

implemented AFTA in 2002.

• In the agreement, the six countries would lower their tariffs at a rate of 0 for
Singapore to 4.64 percent for Thailand.

ASEAN Regional Forum

• In 1994, ASEAN and its dialogue partners agrred to establish the ASEAN
Regional Forum (ARF) as a way of discussing security issues in an informal
manner.

• The forum was set up partly in response to the last remaining point of conflict in
the region: dispute over the Spratlys Islands in the South China Sea. Six
countries claim the Spratlys, a group of islands believed to have rich mineral and
oil deposit. The claimants include China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the
Philippines, and Brunei. Altogether, the ARF comprises twenty-four countries.

South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

• The SAARC was established in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1985. The meeting

brought together the leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

• The SAARC was initiative of Bangladesh, which suggested in 1977 the formation
of an organization in South Asia to promote cooperation within the region. In
Dhaka, the South Asian leaders adoted the SAARC Charter with the following
objectives:

1. To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their
quality of life.

2. To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development

in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity
and to realize their full potential

3. To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of

South Asia.
 4. To contribute to mutual trust, understand and appreciation of one
another’s problem
5. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic,
social, cultural, technical, and scientific fields.

6. To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries.

7. To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on

matters of common interest

8. To cooperate with the international and regional organizations with similar

aims and purposes.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

• APEC was formed to expand economic cooperation and foster the idea of
community between the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. Australian Prime
Minister Bob Hawke first suggested this regional forum.

• Initially, only twelve countries joined APEC. Among these were: Australia, Brunei,
Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, and the United States.

• In communique, APEC committed to the following steps:

• Identify areas of cooperation in response to the challenges of the rapidly-

changing regional and global economy.

• Support the expanding global economy and an open system of trade.

• Continue the removal of barriers to trade and investment in order to

ensure the free flow of goods, services and capital between countries in
the APEC region.

• In the next meeting in Bogor, Indonesia in 1994, APEC agreed to implement free
and open trade and investment in the region while at the same time recognizing
the different levels of economic development in each member country.

• In its meeting in Subic, Philippines in 1996, the membership rose to eighteen. At

present, APEC’s have twenty one Member Economies. They are account for
approximately sixty percent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product and about
forty seven percent of the world trade.

Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)

• The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) was established on September 25,

1969 in Rabat, Morocco to promote the interests of Muslims all over the world.

• As of 2005, the OIC has fifty-seven member countries.

• According to the OIC, the organization was founded after Zionists attempted to
burn down the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on August 21, 1969.

The objectives of the OIC are the following:

 • To promote Islamic solidarity among Member States.

• To consolidate cooperation among member states in the economic,

social, cultural, scientific and other vita fields of activities, and to carry out
consultations among member states in international organizations

• To endeavor to eliminate racial segregation, discrimination and to

eradicate colonialism in all its forms.

• To take necessary measure to support international peace and security

founded on justice.

• To coordinate efforts for the safeguarding of the Holy Places and support
of the struggle of the people of Palestine, to help them regain their rights
and liberate their land.

• To back the struggle of all Muslim People with a view to preserving their
dignity, independence, and national rights.

• To create a suitable atmosphere for the promotion of cooperation and

understanding among member states and other countries.

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

• OPEC is presently composed of eleven member-countries. It was founded by

Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela in 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq. Other
members include Qatar, Indonesia, Libya, United Arab Emirates, and Nigeria

• OPEC countries supply more than forty percent of the world’s oil requirements
and control almost seventy-eight percent of the known oil reserves.

• According to OPEC, the organization aims to maintain stability and development

in the oil market.

League of Arab States

• The League of Arab States was established in Cairo in 1945 by Egypt, Iraq,
Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Transjordan (now Jordan), and Yemen.

• When the idea of the league came up in 1943, the objective was to find ways of
liberating all Arabs from colonialism and prevent the founding of a Jewish State.

• At present, the League of Arab States aims to strengthen the unity of Arab
countries, coordinate their policies and advance their interests.

The member of the Arab League are:

• Bahrain

• Tunisia

• Algeria

• Djibouti
 • Saudi Arabia

• Sudan

• Syria

• Somalia

• Iraq

• Oman

• Palestine

• Qatar

• Comoros

• Kuwait

• Lebanon

• Libya

• Egypt

• Morocco

• Mauritania

 
 Asia in the new millennium

I Identify the following statement below. Write your answer before the number.

________1. Because of this, the old problems of Asian countries remain unresolved.

________2. He pointed out that the 70% of the poor people of world live is Asia and
Pacific.

________3. When was ASEAN established.

________4. He is a former secretary of ASEAN who declared that ASEAN is moving

steadily toward being a truly integrated economy.

________5. It was established in Dhaka Bangladesh in 1985.

________6. When was established the Organization of Islamic Conference.

________7. According to this organization aims to maintain stability and development in

the oil market.

________8. When was established The League of Arab States.

________9. It aims to strengthen the unity of Arab countries.

________10. It was formed to expand economic cooperation and foster the idea of
community between the countries and Asia Pacific Region.

II. Enumeration

Give the three (3) Asian Cooperation

1.

2.

3.

Give at least two (2) Member of Arab League.

4.

5.

III. Acronym : Give the Meaning

1.ASEAN

2.SAARC

3.APEC

4.SEATO

5.OPEC
IV. Essay

Explain the statement below.

1. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social,

cultural, technical and scientific fields.
2. For you, what is the impact of International and Regional organizations with
similar aims and purposes.
 Asia in the new millennium

Key to correction

Identification

1. Poverty
2. President Tadao Chino
3. August 8, 1969
4. Sec. Gen. Rodolfo Sverino
5. SAARC
6. September 25, 1969
7. OPEC
8. 1945
9. The League of Arab States
10. APEC

Enumeration

1. ASEAN
2. SAARC
3. APEC

4-5 Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Iraq

Acronym

1. Association of South East Asian Nations

2. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
3. Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
4. Southeast Asian Treaty Organization
5. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
 Asia in the new millennium

• The Human Development Index (HDI) which the United Nations Development
Program (NDP) uses to measure the quality of life The HDI based on factors
namely: Life Expectancy, Literacy and Sufficiency of purchasing power to meet
the basic needs.

• According to a report by the Asian development Bank, poverty will continue as

Asia’s most serious challenge of the new millennium. In speech before the
Manila Social Forum in the new millennium. In the speech before the Manila
Social forum in November 1999, ADB President Tadao Chino pointed out that the
seventy percent of the poor people of world live is Asia and the Pacific.

• Because of poverty, the old problems of Asian countries remain unresolved such
as: joblessness, environmental destruction, drug addiction, prostitution and
population explosion.

ASIAN COOPERATION

• Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

• Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,

Singapore, and Thailand. It is different from Southeast Asian Treaty Organization
(SEATO), a military alliance set up in 1954 at the height of the Cold War by the founding
ASEAN members along with the United States, Britain, and France.

The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the Association are:

 To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the

region through joint endeavors in the spirit of equality and partnership to
strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast
Asian Nations.

 To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice
and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and
adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Free Trade and Other Initiatives

In the last decade of the 20th century, the ASEAN countries speeded up the process
for economic cooperation.
In a speech on February 28, 2000 at the ASEAN Investment Seminar in Tokyo,
former ASEAN Sec. Gen. Rodolfo Severino declared that “ASEAN is moving steadily
toward being a truly integrated economy. Trade barriers are going down. Tariffs on
almost all products traded by ASEAN’s leading trading nations will be down 0-5
percent in less than two years.”
Severino was referring to the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), The ASEAN
Investment Area, and the ASEAN Industrial Complementation Schemethat are all
part of Plan 2020. By this year, ASEAN expects the region to become a huge market
of various products.

• Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand

implemented AFTA in 2002.

• In the agreement, the six countries would lower their tariffs at a rate of 0 for
Singapore to 4.64 percent for Thailand.

ASEAN Regional Forum

• In 1994, ASEAN and its dialogue partners agrred to establish the ASEAN
Regional Forum (ARF) as a way of discussing security issues in an informal
manner.

• The forum was set up partly in response to the last remaining point of conflict in
the region: dispute over the Spratlys Islands in the South China Sea. Six
countries claim the Spratlys, a group of islands believed to have rich mineral and
oil deposit. The claimants include China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the
Philippines, and Brunei. Altogether, the ARF comprises twenty-four countries.

South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

• The SAARC was established in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1985. The meeting

brought together the leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

• The SAARC was initiative of Bangladesh, which suggested in 1977 the formation
of an organization in South Asia to promote cooperation within the region. In
Dhaka, the South Asian leaders adoted the SAARC Charter with the following
objectives:

1. To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their
quality of life.

2. To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development

in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity
and to realize their full potential

3. To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of

South Asia.

4. To contribute to mutual trust, understand and appreciation of one

another’s problem
5. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic,
social, cultural, technical, and scientific fields.

6. To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries.

7. To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on

matters of common interest
 8. To cooperate with the international and regional organizations with similar
aims and purposes.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

• APEC was formed to expand economic cooperation and foster the idea of
community between the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. Australian Prime
Minister Bob Hawke first suggested this regional forum.

• Initially, only twelve countries joined APEC. Among these were: Australia, Brunei,
Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, and the United States.

• In communique, APEC committed to the following steps:

• Identify areas of cooperation in response to the challenges of the rapidly-

changing regional and global economy.

• Support the expanding global economy and an open system of trade.

• Continue the removal of barriers to trade and investment in order to

ensure the free flow of goods, services and capital between countries in
the APEC region.

• In the next meeting in Bogor, Indonesia in 1994, APEC agreed to implement free
and open trade and investment in the region while at the same time recognizing
the different levels of economic development in each member country.

• In its meeting in Subic, Philippines in 1996, the membership rose to eighteen. At

present, APEC’s have twenty one Member Economies. They are account for
approximately sixty percent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product and about
forty seven percent of the world trade.

Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)

• The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) was established on September 25,

1969 in Rabat, Morocco to promote the interests of Muslims all over the world.

• As of 2005, the OIC has fifty-seven member countries.

• According to the OIC, the organization was founded after Zionists attempted to
burn down the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on August 21, 1969.

The objectives of the OIC are the following:

• To promote Islamic solidarity among Member States.

• To consolidate cooperation among member states in the economic,

social, cultural, scientific and other vita fields of activities, and to carry out
consultations among member states in international organizations

• To endeavor to eliminate racial segregation, discrimination and to

eradicate colonialism in all its forms.
 • To take necessary measure to support international peace and security
founded on justice.

• To coordinate efforts for the safeguarding of the Holy Places and support
of the struggle of the people of Palestine, to help them regain their rights
and liberate their land.

• To back the struggle of all Muslim People with a view to preserving their
dignity, independence, and national rights.

• To create a suitable atmosphere for the promotion of cooperation and

understanding among member states and other countries.

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

• OPEC is presently composed of eleven member-countries. It was founded by

Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela in 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq. Other
members include Qatar, Indonesia, Libya, United Arab Emirates, and Nigeria

• OPEC countries supply more than forty percent of the world’s oil requirements
and control almost seventy-eight percent of the known oil reserves.

• According to OPEC, the organization aims to maintain stability and development

in the oil market.

League of Arab States

• The League of Arab States was established in Cairo in 1945 by Egypt, Iraq,
Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Transjordan (now Jordan), and Yemen.

• When the idea of the league came up in 1943, the objective was to find ways of
liberating all Arabs from colonialism and prevent the founding of a Jewish State.

• At present, the League of Arab States aims to strengthen the unity of Arab
countries, coordinate their policies and advance their interests.

The member of the Arab League are:

• Bahrain

• Tunisia

• Algeria

• Djibouti

• Saudi Arabia

• Sudan

• Syria

• Somalia

• Iraq
• Oman

• Palestine

• Qatar

• Comoros

• Kuwait

• Lebanon

• Libya

• Egypt

• Morocco

• Mauritania
ASIA IN THE NEW MILLENIUM
MAJOR 11