Text: State Dept. Fact Sheet on ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference
(PMC focuses on economic, political, transnational issues)

Following is the text of a State Department fact sheet on the annual Post-Ministerial Conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):

(begin text)

ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC)

Fact sheet released by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
U.S. Department of State, July 21, 2000

In 1977, ASEAN began establishing "Dialogue Partner" relationships with countries with interests in the region. There are now ten Dialogue Partners. ASEAN ministers meet every year with Dialogue Partners at the Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC), held after the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, usually in July.

Since the ASEAN Regional Forum, which focuses on regional security, was established in 1994, the PMC has focused increasingly on international economic and political issues and on transnational issues, such as crime, narcotics, trafficking in persons, environment, and health. The PMC first meets in a "10+10" plenary session, consisting of the 10 ASEAN members and 10 Dialogue Partners. ASEAN ministers then meet with individual Dialogue Partners in the "10+1" format.

ASEAN Members (10):

Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

Dialogue Partners (10):

Australia, Canada, China, European Union, India, Japan, Korea (Republic of), New Zealand, Russia, United States

Total PMC participants: 20

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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