ASEAN-US DIALOGUE RELATIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 000140 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/RSP AND EAP/BCLTV STATE PLEASE PASS USTR FOR HUNTSMAN AND IVES USDA FOR FAS/FAA HUETE, FAS/ITP: THEILER, FAS/ICD: FUSSELL USDOC FOR 4431/MAC/IEP/OKSA/HPPHO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ETRD EAGR EAID TSPL VM ASEAN SUBJECT: ASEAN-US DIALOGUE RELATIONS ¶1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. ¶2. PHAM HUU CHI, DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE MFA'S ASEAN DEPARTMENT, ON JANUARY 18 SENT POL/C A SUMMARY OF THE ASEAN STANDING COMMITTEE VIEWS REGARDING ASEAN-US DIALOGUE RELATIONS. PLEASE NOTE REQUESTS FOR FOLLOW UP FROM USDA ON TWO PROPOSED PROGRAMS (ITEM A); AEM/USTR CONSULTATIONS (ITEM C); S&T COOPERATION (ITEM E),THE WORLD CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION ON LAND AND FOREST FIRE HAZARDS PROJECT PROPOSAL (FINAL PARA). ¶3. BEGIN TEXT THE 1ST MEETING OF THE 35TH ASEAN STANDING COMMITTEE TOOK PLACE ON 8-10 JANUARY, 2002, IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM. I AM PLEASED TO CONVEY HEREWITH THE OUTCOME OF THE DISCUSSION AT THE MEETING REGARDING THE ASEAN-U.S. DIALOGUE RELATIONS FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION. THE 16TH ASEAN-US DIALOGUE, 29 NOVEMBER 2001, WASHINGTON DC VIETNAM, AS THE COUNTRY COORDINATOR, BRIEFED THE MEETING ON THE POSITIVE OUTCOME OF THE 16TH ASEAN-US DIALOGUE. THE ASEAN STANDING COMMITTEE (ASC) HAS REQUESTED THE COUNTRY COORDINATOR AND THE ASEAN SECRETARIAT TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE DECISIONS OF THE MEETING. DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION ¶A. ASEAN-USDA COOPERATION IN FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 00140 01 OF 03 221305Z AND IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION THREE NATIONAL-LEVEL PROJECT PROPOSALS IN THE AREA OF AGRICULTURE ARE BEING DEVELOPED INTO ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL. USDA OFFICIALS HAVE VISITED SEVERAL ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES, NAMELY MALAYSIA, THE PHILIPPINES AND VIET NAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF GATHERING INPUTS TO DEVELOP THE PROJECT PROPOSALS INTO REGIONAL ONES. THE USDA HAS SENT ONE OF THE PROJECT PROPOSALS TO THE ASEAN SECRETARIAT TO WHICH THE SECRETARIAT HAS PROVIDED ITS SIPDIS COMMENTS. THE USDA'S RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTS AND THE SUBMISSION OF THE OTHER TWO PROJECT PROPOSALS IS BEING AWAITED. THE ASEAN SECRETARIAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY THE ASC TO FOLLOW-UP ON THIS MATTER WITH THE USDA. THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE ASEAN SENIOR OFFICIALS ON FORESTRY (ASOF) ON 23-25 JULY 2001 IN PASAY CITY, PHILIPPINES, ENDORSED SEVEN PROJECT CONCEPTS AND PROPOSALS IN THE AREA OF FORESTRY FOR THE REVIEW/FUNDING CONSIDERATION OF THE USDA. THE USDA IS IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THE PROPOSALS. THE ASEAN SECRETARIAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED TO FOLLOW-UP ON THIS MATTER WITH THE USDA. ¶B. MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION (MOC) ON STANDARDS AND CONFORMITY AT THE THIRD ACCSQ-US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE MEETING ON 21 SEPTEMBER 2001 IN SYDNEY, BOTH SIDES HAVE AGREED TO THE ACTIVITIES THAT WERE OUTLINED FOR 2001 AND 2002 UNDER THE THREE-YEAR DRAFT ACTION PLAN (2001-2003) TO ADDRESS TRADE RELATED STANDARDS AND CONFORMANCE ISSUES. OTHER ACTIVITIES UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 00140 01 OF 03 221305Z IN THE DRAFT ACTION PLAN WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION OF THE US AND WOULD BE DISCUSSED AT THE NEXT ACCSQ-US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE MEETING, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN MARCH 2002, BACK TO BACK TO THE 19TH ACCSQ MEETING IN HO CHI MINH CITY. ¶C. TRADE AND INVESTMENT THE PROPOSED AEM-USTR CONSULTATIONS DID NOT TAKE PLACE AS SCHEDULED ON 16 SEPTEMBER 2001 IN HA NOI. THE DEPUTY USTR, AMBASSADOR JON HUNTSMAN JR., MET BILATERALLY WITH SEVERAL ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS FOR INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS AT THE SIDELINES OF THE 33RD AEM MEETING IN HA NOI. ASEAN SENIOR ECONOMIC OFFICIALS WOULD CONTINUE TO EXPLORE WITH THEIR US COUNTERPART TO CONVENE THE AEM-USTR CONSULTATIONS AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME AND VENUE. DURING THE 16TH ASEAN-US DIALOGUE ON 29 NOVEMBER 2001 IN WASHINGTON DC, THAILAND HAD OFFERED TO HOST THE AEM-USTR CONSULTATIONS. ASEAN SENIOR ECONOMIC OFFICIALS AND ASSISTANT USTR MET FOR CONSULTATIONS ON 17 AUGUST 2001 IN BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN. THE CONSULTATIONS, FIRST SINCE 1996, AMONGST OTHER DISCUSSED ISSUES PERTAINING TO WTO, APEC AND POSSIBLE AREAS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND THE US. THE ASSISTANT USTR WOULD BE INVITED FOR CONSULTATIONS DURING THE 2/33 SEOM ON 26-28 MARCH 2002 IN INDONESIA. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8428 PAGE 01 HANOI 00140 02 OF 03 220912Z ACTION EAP-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EXME-00 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 NASA-01 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-01 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 R-00 EPAE-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /012W -------------- 5B06DC 220912Z /38 R 220856Z JAN 02 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5282 INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY ASEAN COLLECTIVE USDA WASHDC USDOC WASHDC UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 HANOI 000140 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/RSP AND EAP/BCLTV STATE PLEASE PASS USTR FOR HUNTSMAN AND IVES USDA FOR FAS/FAA HUETE, FAS/ITP: THEILER, FAS/ICD: FUSSELL USDOC FOR 4431/MAC/IEP/OKSA/HPPHO ¶D. ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE/NETWORK BOTH ASEAN AND THE US HAVE ENDORSED THE REVISED TERM OF REFERENCE (TOR) TO UNDERTAKE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTER/NETWORK. THE STUDY HAS BEEN COMPLETED, AND WOULD BE REFERRED TO THE ASEAN SENIOR OFFICIALS ON ENVIRONMENT. THE STUDY IS ATTACHED HEREWITH FOR YOUR INFORMATION. (NOTE: SEE PARA 4. END NOTE) ¶E. ASEAN-US SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION US RESPONSE ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ASEAN ON SOME OF ITS PLANNED PROGRAMMES IN THE AREA OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ARE STILL BEING WAITED. (VIET NAM HAS TRANSMITTED THE INFORMATION TO THE US ON APRIL 10, 2001.) (NOTE: SEE 2001 HANOI 2755 AND PREVIOUS. END NOTE) ¶F. ASEAN-US CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION (CTC) AND HRD SUPPORT FROM THE US-ASEAN BUSINESS COUNCIL THE ACTIVITIES OF ASEAN-US CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION ARE ONGOING. ¶G. WORLD CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION ON LAND AND FOREST FIRE HAZARDS THE ASEAN SECRETARIAT HAS SUBMITTED THE PROJECT PROPOSAL TO THE US STATE DEPARTMENT ON 7 NOVEMBER 2001 FOR THE LATTER'S CONSIDERATION OF PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. ASEAN HAS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 00140 02 OF 03 220912Z INVITED THE US TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ON THESE MATTERS, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE PROPOSALS THAT WERE MADE AT THE 16TH ASEAN-US DIALOGUE IN WASHINGTON, DC, THE WORLD CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION ON LAND AND FOREST FIRE HAZARDS PROJECT PROPOSAL, AND SOME OF THE PLANNED PROGRAMMES IN THE AREA OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THAT HAVE BEEN TRANSMITTED UPON EXPRESSED INTERESTS FROM THE U.S. END TEXT ¶4. ATTACHMENT: CERF/IIEC REPORT BEGIN TEXT PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGY IN THE ASEAN REGION A FEASIBILITY STUDY CONDUCTED BY CERF/IIEC OBJECTIVE: PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ASEAN AND THE US-AEP IN EVALUATING THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHMENT A REGIONAL CENTER OR NETWORK FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGIES (EST). OVERALL FINDINGS: -- A REGIONAL CENTER OR NETWORK WOULD STRENGTHEN ASEAN OBJECTIVES IN EST -- EST SHOULD INCLUDE TECHNOLOGIES FOR INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTIVITY, URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND DEVELOPMENT -- LIMITED RESOURCES REQUIRE A COST-CONSCIOUS APPROACH UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 00140 02 OF 03 220912Z LEVERAGING OTHER PROGRAMS -- AN EFFECTIVE EST ASSESSMENT PROGRAM REQUIRES BUY-IN AT THE POLICY LEVEL (THE ASEAN SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIALS NETWORK MAY BE WILLING TO TAKE ON "OWNERSHIP" OF THE PROJECT) -- SUCCESS REQUIRES A CREDIBLE, OPEN, AND OBJECTIVE PROCESS AND INDEPENDENT VOICE -- A FOUNDATION OF EXPERTISE EXISTS FOR THE PROGRAM WITHIN THE ASEAN NATIONS -- LEVERAGING OPPORTUNITIES EXIST: US AGENCIES (EPA, AID, DOE, DOC, TDA, OPIC, ETC.); EXISTING MEMBER COUNTRY PROGRAMS; OTHER COUNTRIES; INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES SUCH AS UNEP, GEF, ADF, ETC.; PRIVATE SECTOR ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES: THE STUDY CONSIDERED ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES FOR THE FOLLOWING FACTORS AND DESCRIBES PROS AND CONS OF EACH: -- NUMBER OF CENTERS - SINGLE, MULTIPLE (4-6),ONE IN EACH COUNTRY, OR A NETWORK WITH NO SPECIFIC CENTER -- FOCUS OF CENTERS/NODES - COMPREHENSIVE (ALL TECHNOLOGIES AND SUB-REGIONS),GEOGRAPHIC SUB-REGIONS, SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA (I.E., AIR, WATER, SOLID WASTE, ETC.) AND ECOSYSTEM (MARINE, URBAN, FOREST, ETC.) -- LOCATION - GEOGRAPHICALLY, ORGANIZATIONALLY (GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC, ACADEMIC, NGO, ETC.) -- ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY - NEW CENTERS, ADD-ON TO EXISTING CENTERS, OR VIRTUAL CENTERS UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8429 PAGE 01 HANOI 00140 03 OF 03 220912Z ACTION EAP-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EXME-00 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 NASA-01 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-01 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /012W -------------- 5B06E0 220913Z /38 R 220856Z JAN 02 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5283 INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY ASEAN COLLECTIVE USDA WASHDC USDOC WASHDC UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 HANOI 000140 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/RSP AND EAP/BCLTV STATE PLEASE PASS USTR FOR HUNTSMAN AND IVES USDA FOR FAS/FAA HUETE, FAS/ITP: THEILER, FAS/ICD: FUSSELL USDOC FOR 4431/MAC/IEP/OKSA/HPPHO -- EST ASSESSMENT METHODS - WHOLE SYSTEMS ANALYSIS, PROACTIVE TECHNOLOGY SEARCHES, PERFORMANCE VERIFICATION (USEPA),ENTA (UNEP),ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS), ETC. -- FINANCING STRATEGIES - INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES, FEE BASED, PRIVATE SECTOR, POOLED FUNDING, ETC. -- RELATIONSHIP WITH EXISTING PROGRAMS -- USEPA, UNEP, EUTEC, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, ETC. -- OTHER ISSUES - JOINT PROJECTS (AMONG ASEAN COUNTRIES OR WITH OTHER COUNTRIES),HARMONIZATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES, REGULATORY TRANSPARENCY AND PREDICTABILITY -- COMMUNICATION OF RESULTS - INTERNET WEB PAGE, CONSISTENT REPORT FORMATS, AUDIENCE TARGETING, OTHER MEDIA NEXT STEPS (BEYOND CURRENT PROJECT SCOPE) -- OBTAIN FEEDBACK ON REPORT AND ALTERNATIVES -- DESIGNATE A POINT OF CONTACT FOR EACH ASEAN MEMBER NATION -- ASSESS NEEDS AND CAPABILITIES IN DETAIL THROUGH MEETINGS AND PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH: UNEP; KEY ASEAN NATIONS; OTHER ASEAN MEMBERS AS APPROPRIATE -- DEFINE SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEVERAGE AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS -- RECOMMEND SPECIFIC STRUCTURE AND APPROACH -- WORK WITH APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATIONS TO ESTABLISH PROJECT DETAILS AND IMPLEMENT FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT WILL KIRKSEY AT WKIRKSEY@CERF.ORG OR 202 785 6425 AND ANITA CELDRAN AT ACELDRAN@CERF.ORG OR 202 785 6466 UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 00140 03 OF 03 220912Z END TEXT BURGHARDT UNCLASSIFIED