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June 14, 1972

Reference: This Joint Communique is also published in XI DFA TS No. 1, p. 62.

1. At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Korea the Seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Asian and Pacific Council, comprising Australia, the Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of the Philippines, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of Vietnam was convened in Seoul, Korea, from 14 to .16 June 1972. The Ministers warmly welcomed the Observers from the Khmer Republic and the Kingdom of Laos as well as the representative from the Republic of Indonesia as an official guest of the host Government who attended all sessions of the Meeting.

2. His Excellency Park Chung Hee, President of the Republic of Korea, welcomed the visiting delegates and the other participants in the Meeting.

He stated that more than ever before the nations of the Asian and Pacific region were required to reconcile through dialogue and discussion differences that might arise among them, and to sublimate confrontation into harmonious coordination.

President Park stated that ASPAC, which is not a political or military arrangement directed against any other nation or group of nations but is working for peace and progress in the region, would need to explore new avenues of practical cooperation in the economic, technical, social and cultural fields so mat common benefits would multiply for the countries in the region. He called upon other nations in the region to join ASPAC's effort to bring peace and prosperity throughout the region.

3. The Ministers had a frank exchange of views on question affecting the region. Noting particularly the various steps taken recently by the United States in the interest of peace including President Nixon's visits to Peking and Moscow, they recognized that any easing of tension that reduced the danger of conflict would benefit the countries of Asia and the Pacific.

4. That Ministers agreed that ASPAC had a particularly important part to play in the new situation. It provided a forum in which countries from various parts of Asia and the Pacific could come together to discuss the problems of the region as a whole. It also afforded opportunities for them to collaborate this basis on economic, social and cultural projects that were of benefit to all. Among other regional organizations ASPAC had helped encourage the habit of consultation that is essential for effective international cooperation, and made a substantial contribution to the stability and progress of the region.

5. The Ministers expressed grave concern over recent developments in the situation in Indochina in general and in Vietnam in particular. They hoped that the conflict would be settled at the earliest possible date, and reaffirmed their sympathy towards the effort of the Republic of Vietnam to maintain its independence and territorial integrity. The Ministers agreed that the restoration of peace would give new scope for harmonious cooperation and development in the ASPAC region and called on the conflicting parties to engage in more meaningful negotiations in order to settle die conflict.

6. The Ministers welcomed the efforts and initiatives of the Republic of Korea to reduce tension in the Korean Peninsula, including the initiative in the Red Cross talks for mutual visits and reunion of separated families. They hoped that these efforts would succeed and eventually lead to a peaceful reunification of Korea.  They noted that the people of the Republic of Korea are taking an active part in the New Village Movement which is carried out throughout Korea in the spirit of industry, self-help and cooperation. They paid a tribute to the continued progress and development achieved in the Republic of Korea under the inspiring leadership of the President of the Republic of Korea.

7. The Ministers welcomed the endeavours among the ASEAN member countries to maintain peace and  stability in Southeast Asia and took careful note of the efforts of those countries to secure the recognition of, and respect for South East Asia as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, free from any form or manner of interference by outside powers. The Ministers agreed that the Kuala Lumpur Declaration to this effect was a movement towards the creation of a new structure of peace for the region.

8. Emphasizing the necessity for closer relations between ASPAC and other like-minded organizations in the region, the Minister expressed the hope that ASPAC and ASEAN might begin looking into all possible avenues of cooperation in the economic, social, cultural and other functional fields including close cooperation and coordination among the various projects of the two regional organizations.

9. Recognizing that the Angkor Wat Temples constitute an invaluable cultural treasure for humanity, the Ministers sympathetically endorsed the proposal of the Khmer Government to demilitarize and neutralize the Angkor Wat Temple Zone under international control over a view to preserving the area from war damage.

10. The Ministers were pleased to note that ASPAC had made significant contributions toward promoting mutual understanding among member countries and peoples. Cognizant of the need for more active participation of a larger number of countries in regional cooperation, they reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen ASPAC with the following principles and objectives:

a. ASPAC is an organization for regional cooperation pursuing peace and progress in the Asian and Pacific region.

b. ASPAC is not a political or military arrangement directed against other nations.

c. ASPAC will make endeavours to promote cooperation in the economic, technical, social, cultural and other fields.

d. ASPAC is not an exclusive organization; it is open to nonmember countries within the region, ready to make a constructive contribution to its objectives and purposes.

11. Recognizing that economic development is an important factor in

achieving peace in the region, the Ministers agreed that the Standing Committee would study, in collaboration with the Economic Cooperation Centre possibilities of further cooperation in this field, taking into account relevant proposals made at the Seventh Ministerial Meeting.  In this regard, a Sub-Committee of the Standing Committee could be organized as necessary.

12. The Ministers noted the Philippine proposal for a Food Processing

Regional Centre. The Centre is intended to contribute to the development of processed food in the region by means of exchange of technical know-how and experience among the member countries. The Ministers accepted the invitation of the Philippine Government to host a meeting of experts within two months after the Seventh Ministerial Meeting to study the technicalities and other details of the proposed Food Processing Regional Centre.

13. The Ministers recognized that exchange of youth would contribute greatly to promoting mutual understanding among member countries. In the light of the functions of the Cultural Centre, they agreed that  the youth exchange programs be prepared and implemented with due priority by the Cultural and Social Centre. They also expressed their hope that the exchange of peoples be gradually expanded to cover all walks of life so as to foster a regional spirit among peoples in the region and thereby to contribute to peace through harmony in diversity.

14. The Ministers received with gratification the Report of the Standing Committee. They expressed their appreciation to the Standing Committee or their contributions and expressed their satisfaction at the progress achieved in its work. The Ministers endorsed the recommendation of the Standing Committee that the exchange of views on questions affecting the region should be continued as one of the principal activities of future Standing Committee meetings.

15. The Ministers agreed that the practice of informal consultations held among ASPAC member countries at international conferences provided opportunities for member countries to consult one another on various questions discussed at those meetings. These consultations had contributed greatly to coordination and cooperation, wherever possible, among member countries on matters of common concern. They resolved that this practice be continued in the future.

16. The Ministers received with appreciation the reports of the Registry of Scientific and Technical Services, the Cultural and Social Centre, the Food and Fertilizer Technology Centre, the Economic Cooperation Scheme. Noting that the various projects were now performing their functions satisfactorily and playing a significant role in achieving ASPAC objectives, the Ministers agreed to render positive support to the activities of ASPAC joint projects.

They noted with gratification that the Registry of Scientific and Technical Services had now been established in its new premises in Canberra and formally opened on 6 December 1971.

17. The Ministers expressed their satisfaction over the fruitful results of the Experts' Meeting of the Asian and Pacific Maritime Cooperation Scheme held from 24 to 26 November 1971 in Tokyo, where extensive discussions were held over the ways and means of cooperation among the participating countries in the fields of shipbuilding, ship-repairing and related industries of the countries in the region.

18. The Ministers accepted with the appreciation the offer made by the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand to hold the Eighth Ministerial Meeting of the Council in Bangkok in 1973. In accordance with established practice, the Standing Committee will meet in Bangkok under the chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand during the coming twelve months, and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand will act as a clearing house  and provide a Secretariat pending and during  the  Eighth Ministerial Meeting.

19. The Ministers expressed their sincere appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Korea for the excellent arrangements and facilities provided for the meeting and the warm hospitality extended to them and their delegations, as well as for the valuable assistance rendered to them by the Secretariat.