Although its future directions are uncertain, this 26 member forum trumps Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and ASEAN Plus Three, which includes China, Japan, and South Korea.

Another option is for the US to press for a Trans Pacific Partnership. This was proposed late in the Bush administration in order to forge links with some ASEAN members Singapore, Vietnam, and Brunei as well as others across the Pacific.

Despite the different levels of economic development among ASEAN member countries, the Association wished to play a significant part in the wider progress of the Asia Pacific region.

Regarding ASEAN, Viet Nam played an active role in ASEAN Women Committee.

ASEAN attached no less importance to its cooperation with other partners, such as COPUOS, the Group on Earth Observations, the Committee on Earth Observing Satellites and the Asia Pacific Advanced Network.

After its accession to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) in 1989, Brunei hosted the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November 2000 and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in July 2002.

Brunei Darussalam is also a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which promotes dialogue amongst Asia Pacific countries on political and security cooperation to enhance peace and prosperity in the region.

There is much common ground between NEPAD and NAASP, as the challenges being addressed by Africa are similar to those faced by other developing countries in the Asia Pacific region, including ASEAN.

Trashing the ASEAN Brand

We hope to see ASEAN play a pivotal role in the evolution of a new equilibrium in the Asia Pacific region that will consolidate the peaceful engagement of regional Powers with one another.

Regional integration in ASEAN had encouraged intra ASEAN investment, which contributes to South South FDI flows.

Likewise, America s proposed Trans Pacific Partnership and offers of economic engagement to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries are the latest initiatives underscoring its determination to strengthen its economic ties in the region.

There is, to start, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). But larger groupings ASEAN plus China and a future ASEAN plus Japan, South Korea, and India are being negotiated.

Moreover, given Myanmar's recent announcement that it will presently ratify the Convention, North Korea's accession to the OPCW would complete the accession of all States in the Asia Pacific region and of all ASEAN members.

A year ago at their Cebu (Philippines) summit, the leaders of ASEAN adopted the ASEAN Convention Against Terrorism.

During the Second ASEAN UN Summit held in New York in September 2005, ASEAN had acknowledged the United Nations support for the realization of the ASEAN Security, Economic and Socio cultural Communities.

But larger groupings ASEAN plus China and a future ASEAN plus Japan, South Korea, and India are being negotiated.

ASEAN member States had adopted the ASEAN Declaration against Trafficking in Persons, particularly Women and Children in November 2004.

Here ASEAN 3 talks the talk.

Regional Sub Regional Conferences APEC, ASEAN

That ASEAN debacle has had serious consequences.

ASEAN cannot afford to stand by idly.

(ii) ASEAN Disaster Information Sharing and Communication Network, as provided for in the ASEAN Socio Cultural Community component of the Vientiane Action Programme

The intra ASEAN projects laid particular emphasis on exchange of knowledge and expertise through the ASEAN Subcommittee on Space Technology and Applications (SCOSA).

Reference was made to the work carried out in the framework of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The ASEAN effort coincides with two other developments.

E.g. MERCOSUR, ASEAN or the EU Mexico FTA.

The protagonists that pressured the regime into relinquishing the ASEAN chair were not the usual Western human rights campaigners, but Burma s closest ASEAN neighbors.

In that connection, ASEAN is pleased to inform that it has concluded the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response in July 2005.

Mechanisms like the G 20 and ASEAN 3 (ASEAN, with China, Japan, and South Korea) should be used more actively for policy dialogue and surveillance.

For ASEAN, the episode was a lesson in assertiveness.

This rate is also the worst among ASEAN countries.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Third Committee experts)

ASEAN government officials have since met to draft a text.

So why not make similar overtures to other ASEAN states?

ASEAN members conduct almost 50 of their trade within Asia.

Only 30 of ASEAN activities enjoys the participation of women.

Ten countries are members of ASEAN see www.aseansec.org 74.htm.

However, in 2000 the Japanese group of 85 members expanded itself, becoming the Pacific Asia group, composed of 117 members 75 Japanese, 11 South Koreans, 7 Australian and New Zealand citizens, and 15 members from the ASEAN nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand).

ASEAN government officials have since met to draft a text. Approval by the association s foreign ministers may come in September, with ASEAN leaders tackling the issue in October.

Now that the 10 southeast Asian states have been gathered into ASEAN and are promulgating an ASEAN Charter the concept of an East Asian Economic Grouping (EAEG) that would incorporate ASEAN and China, Japan, and (a presumably unified and nuclear free) Korea is moving forward steadily.

Asia Pacific

These organizations include the Pacific Island Forum Security Conference, South Pacific Chief of Police Conference, and the Pacific Immigration Directors Conference.

In 2004, the governments of ASEAN vowed to end the impunity states like Burma have enjoyed and signed the Declaration to Eliminate Violence Against Women in the ASEAN Region.

(i) The utilization of military and civilian personnel in disaster relief operations and an ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Centre, as provided for in the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action