Chairman's Statement of ARF-8 in Ha Noi

Ha Noi, 25 JULY 2001

1. The Eighth Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was held in Ha Noi, Capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on 25 July 2001. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr. Nguyen Dy Nien, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

2. The Meeting was attended by the Foreign Ministers of all ARF participating countries or their representatives. The Secretary-General of ASEAN was also present. The List of Delegates appears as ANNEX A.

Overview of the ARF Process

3. The Ministers recognised that during the last inter-sessional year, the ARF process continued to make progress and play an important role in maintaining peace and stability in the region, particularly in enhancing and promoting dialogue and co-operation on political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific region. Over the past year, exchanges of views on regional and international issues have become even more candid and inclusive, in view of the full participation of all countries in the ARF