July 16, 1971

JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF THE SIXTH MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC COUNCIL

Reference: This Joint Communique is also published in X DFA TS No. 1, p. 60.

1. At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, the Sixth Ministerial Meeting of the Asian and Pacific Council, comprising Australia, the Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Republic of Vietnam was convened in Manila, Philippines, from July 14 to 16,1971. Representatives from the Khmer Republic and the Kingdom of Laos participated as observers at all sessions of the Meeting. The presence of the Indonesian representative at the opening and closing sessions as a special guest of the host Government was warmly welcomed by all the Ministers.

2. His Excellency Ferdinand E. Marcos, President of the Philippines, welcomed the visiting delegates and all participants in the Meeting and expressed his wishes for the success of the Conference. President Marcos described ASPAC as a platform for mutual counsel and a forum for peace through which it would be possible to reconcile the diverse interests and conflicting wills of nations in Asia and the Pacific. He suggested an expanded role for ASPAC in shaping the peace and stability in the region. Affirming that one of its basic principles is adherence to the right of peoples to selfdetermination, he proposed an attitude of realistic circumspection in order to achieve stability and establish the essential conditions for the social and economic development of the region.

3. The Ministers deliberated on a wide range of vital issues and outstanding problems affecting intra-regional relations. They undertook a comprehensive review of the events and various developments in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres within the region and the underlying questions of peace and regional security.

4. In their frank and constructive exchange of views and statement of national purposes, the Ministers explained their respective positions on current problems and their attitudes on the policies of major Powers in the world as these affected the region. While recognizing the diversity of their cultural backgrounds and national interests, they reaffirmed their common need for greater cooperation and unity. They reiterated on particular the need to reduce international tensions and to work closely with one another as well as with other countries for this purpose. They reaffirmed the basic responsibility of Asian and Pacific countries to solve the problems of the region. They also reaffirmed their profound conviction that the less powerful nations of the area are entitled to the full recognition, scrupulous observance, and strict respect, by more powerful States, of their desire to live in peace, independence and harmony.

5. The Ministers noted with satisfaction the efforts of the Republic of Vietnam to continue the normal processes of its democratic system, as evidenced by its scheduled elections in the midst of trying circumstances. They expressed their concern over the situation existing in the Khmer Republic and the Kingdom of Laos. They reaffirmed their sympathy for the efforts of the Khmer Republic, the Kingdom of Laos and the Republic of Vietnam to preserve their freedom, independence and territorial integrity. They also expressed the hope that the efforts for a just and lasting peace in Vietnam, as well as in the whole of Indo-China, would result in a ceasefire, under international supervision, and put an end to the war.

6. Expressing concern over the continuing tension prevailing in the Korean Peninsula caused by provocative and aggressive acts against the Republic of Korea, the Ministers welcomed the statement made by the President of the Republic of Korea on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Korean independence calling up North Korea to renounce the use of force and to undertake constructive efforts toward the easing of tension in the Peninsula. They warmly commended the continuous economic progress achieved by the Republic of Korea under trying conditions while making efforts to safeguard its national security.

7. Reviewing the recent developments on the Chinese mainland, a number of Ministers including the Foreign Minister of the Republic of China expressed their respective views. The Ministers agreed that these developments should be studied closely.

8. The Ministers took note of the proposal of the Malaysian Government made during the past year for the neutralization of Southeast Asia under joint guarantee by the major Powers as a means of insuring the independence, peace and stability of the countries in that region. 9. The Ministers agreed that an important factor in building for peace in the Asian and Pacific region on a long-range basis is a balanced economic prosperity and viability. They pledged to work for further cooperation and collaboration among the developed and developing member-countries to attain this goal.

10. The Ministers welcomed in principle the idea of an exchange of youth among the member-countries in order to promote mutual understanding and the spirit of regional cooperation and agreed to refer the matter to the Standing Committee.

11. The Ministers took note of the suggestion made by the Philippine Government concerning the establishment of a Food Processing Centre to be located in the Philippines. It was agreed, to refer the proposal to the Standing Committee.

12. Welcoming the generalized scheme of non-reciprocal, non- discriminatory preferences for developing countries soon to be inaugurated, the Ministers expressed the hope that the third UNCTAD to be convened in Santiago, Chile, early in 1972, would open a fresh avenue for economic development and trade expansion for the benefit of developing countries.

13. The Ministers noted the report of the Standing Committee and expressed their gratification at the progress of the organization as recorded in the report, and their appreciation of the work of the Chairman and the members of the Committee.

14. Recognizing the continuing need to intensify cooperation among ASPAC member-countries, the Ministers agreed that ASPAC served as an important forum for frank and constructive consultation. They reaffirmed the organization's outward-looking character and expressed their readiness to broaden the scope of membership and encourage association with other regional organizations pursuing similar objectives. They reiterated the view that all ASPAC projects were open to non-member-countries, subject to the approval of the Council.

15. The Ministers agreed that the practice of informal consultations among ASPAC members in other international organizations and at major international meetings had proved to be a great value. They also agreed that this practice should be continued to promote the achievement of common aims and a better understanding of views and positions on issues of common concern.

16. The Ministers noted with appreciation the reports on the Registry of Scientific and Technical Services, the Cultural and Social Centre, the Food and Fertilizer Technology Centre and the Economic Cooperation Centre. They agreed that the activities of these operational projects in their respective spheres added significantly to furthering the objectives of the organization. They also noted with pleasure that the Economic Cooperation Centre began its operations in May 1971 in Bangkok. They expressed the hope that the Centre would in due course play an active and important role in encouraging further economic cooperation and trade promotion among member-countries.

17. The Ministers approved and signed the Agreement for the Registry of Scientific and Technical Services for the Asian and Pacific region. They expressed their appreciation to the Government of Australia which had financed the Registry for the initial three years after its establishment and accepted the invitation of the Government of Australia that the Registry be established in Canberra.

18. The Ministers took note of the section of the Standing Committee report concerning the Asian and Pacific Maritime Co-operation Scheme Experts' Meeting convened in Tokyo in November 1970 and adopted the Guiding Principles of the Scheme.

19. The Ministers welcomed the proposal of the Japanese Government to host in Tokyo the Asian and Pacific Maritime Cooperation Scheme Expert's Meeting in the field of shipbuilding during the latter part of 1971, and agreed to refer it to the Standing Committee for consideration and report to the Seventh Ministerial Meeting.

20. Pursuant to their agreement to meet annually, the Ministers accepted the offer made by the Government of the Republic of Korea to hold the Seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Council in Seoul in 1972. In accordance with established practice, the Standing Committee will meet in Seoul under the chairmanship of the Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs during the coming twelve months, and the Korean Government will act as a clearing house and provide a Secretariat pending and during the Seventh Ministerial Meeting.

21. The Ministers expressed their warm appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of the Philippines for the excellent facilities provided for the meetings of the Standing Committee and the Council, and the cordial hospitality extended to them and their delegations as well as for the valuable assistance rendered to them by the ASPAC National Secretariat of the Philippines.
 

Source: Supreme Court e-Library