OPENING STATEMENT BY

H.E.SENIOR GENERAL THAN SHWE, CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR,

AT THE SIXTH ASEAN SUMMIT

HANOI, 15 DECEMBER 1998

Mr. Chairman,

Your Majesty,

Your Excellencies the ASEAN Heads of State/Government,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish first of all to extend my heartiest congratulations to His Excellency Mr.

Pham Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on his

election as Chairman of the Sixth ASEAN Summit. I am fully confident that

under your wise guidance, Mr. Chairman our deliberations will be productive

and fruitful.

This is the first time that Myanmar is participating in a formal ASEAN Summit

and I look forward to cordial and beneficial exchange of views with my

colleagues.

Mr.Chairman,

The Summit is taking place at a time when our region is facing a number of

unprecedented challenges. The first, and perhaps, the most important challenge

is in the field of economy and finance. It is now over a year since the monetary

and financial crisis took hold of the region and no country in the ASEAN had

escaped its negative impacts. We all are affected, to a varying degree and it is

a situation that will be with us in the immediate future.

However, we in Myanmar are quite confident that our countries will be able to

overcome the present difficulties and that our region will again rise up to

resume its rightful position as the most economically dynamic region of the

world. Our confidence is two fold - the strong economic fundamentals of the

individual nations and the collective commitment of the member countries to

cooperation and integration within the ASEAN system. With a combined

population of nearly five hundred million people, abundance of natural

resources, industries and skilled labour force as well as strong managerial and

technology base, our nations will surely be able to tide over this temporary

setback in our development endeavours. Already some nations are beginning to

show signs of recovery and there has been resumption of some capital inflows

as well as the return of currency stability to the region.

On the other hand, ASEAN as an organization is making strenuous efforts to

introduce new approaches and mechanisms to mitigate the consequences of the

present crisis including the promotion of intra-ASEAN trade through the use of

regional currencies and counter-trade measures. I wish to laud our Economic

and Financial Ministers and Senior Officials who have worked so hard to

achieve regional approach and enhanced cooperation in trying to prevail over

these adverse conditions.

The second challenge which we face today is the strengthening of ASEAN

unity. In an organization composed of 9 nations, and hopefully soon to be 10, it

is only natural that while we enjoy many similarities, there are also differences

in levels of development, as well as political and economic systems and

outlooks. Nonetheless, it is an undeniable fact that in the last 31 years of

existence, ASEAN has successfully achieved substantial integration in the spirit

of unity in diversity and through commitment to the concept of one Southeast

Asia. We remain confident that the solidarity of our Association can be further

consolidated by reaffirming our basic fundamentals and the code of conduct as

laid down in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. The guiding principles of

respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of one

another remain valid today as they were enunciated.

Thirdly, there is the challenge to the ASEAN way of life. There are also some

people, particularly from outside the region, who are denigrating ASEAN

values and ASEAN ways while expressing doubt about the future of the

Association itself. But these people are wrong. The region may currently be

facing financial and economic difficulties and some nations may be readjusting

politically, economically and socially to new circumstances and conditions, but

all ASEAN members remain united in the commitment to ASEAN ideals for

regional integration. The ASEAN way of seeking consensus continues to be

valid today as it has strengthened the relations of the members for more than

three decades. By pursuing quiet diplomacy enhanced positive ...., we shall

surely be able to overcome the pessimists and build an .... worthy of taking its

rightful place in the international community.

Mr.Chairman,

The ASEAN Vision 2020, which we all have adopted at the Informal Summit

at Kuala Lumpur last Year, provides a common goal for the region. It is

therefore most fitting that at this Sixth ASEAN Summit, we shall be issuing the

Hanoi Declaration as well as the Hanoi Plan of Action which delineates in

clear terms the course of action to be followed in implementing our Vision

2020. In this regard, I wish to thank both the Foreign and Economic Ministers

as well as the Senior Officials who have worked so hard to produce a blue print

for ASEAN Vision 2020. I am fully confident that with this Plan of Action our

Association will surely be on the way to realizing the goals set out.

I am also heartened by the fact that timely action is being taken by our senior

officials and our Ministers to look into whether or not the ASEAN Secretariat's

role and function correspond with the additional responsibilities which we will

have tasked them with the adoption of Hanoi Declaration and Hanoi Plan of

Action. Without an efficient ASEAN Secretariat, the goals we leave set to

realize our vision will, indeed, be difficult to implement. At the same time, I

wish to congratulate our senior officials and the ASEAN Secretariat for

streamlining not only the ASEAN Secretariat administrative cost but also for

holding meetings back-to-back wherever possible as a measure of austerity.

The ARF came into existence only four years ago but its importance and

significance for regional security have been recognized by all. As ASEAN

forms the core of the Forum, it is only natural that ASEAN should continue to

exercise leadership and the Chairmanship should remain with the Association.

The expansion and enhancement of functional cooperation in various fields

ranging from health and education to culture and information provide a solid

foundation for strengthening ASEAN awareness and ASEAN identity among

the peoples of Southeast Asia. It is our hope that functional cooperation will be

further consolidated through our joint efforts. In this regard I take note of the

important agreement reached by our ministers for Home Affairs at their First

Ministerial Meeting in Manila when they signed the ASEAN Declaration on

Transnational Crime on 20 December 1997. Believing that cooperation among

the ASEAN countries need to be strengthened to combat transnational crimes,

I am happy to inform that Myanmar is willing to host the Second Ministerial

Meeting on Transnational Crime in Yangon in the coming year.

Mr.Chairman,

Myanmar joined ASEAN last year at the 30th AMM Meeting and since that

time, it has faithfully adhered to ASEAN principles and guidelines and fulfilled

its obligations. Myanmar today enjoys unprecedented peace and stability and a

firm and solid economic foundation is being built. We therefore do not see any

difficulty in meeting the AFTA goals within the designated time-frame of 2008.

Indeed, with regard to the CEPT Scheme, we look forward to fulfilling some of

the obligations, in such fields as Unprocessed Agricultural Products (UAP) well

in advance of the specified period.

With a growing agricultural production and increasing availability of energy

resources, Myanmar in not too distant future can become a reliable source for

region's food and energy security. Allow me to say that Myanmar will not be

failing in its responsibilities to contribute towards regional peace, security and

prosperity.

In conclusion, I wish to say that Myanmar looks forward to working together

with other Member States for the successful implementation of the lofty and

noble goals and tasks set forth in the theme of this year's Summit - "Unity and

Cooperation for an ASEAN of Peace, Stability and Equitable Development".