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International
Organisations
ASIA-PACIFIC
ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC)
The
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was formed in 1989
in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific
economies that represent about half of the world merchandise
trade. Malaysia made its role as the APEC Chair for meetings
and activities in 1998. APEC's objectives are to sustain economic
growth of the region and the world; enhance positive gains
by encouraging the flow of goods, services, capital and technology;
develop and strengthen the open multilateral trading system;
reduce barriers; and trade goods and services in consistent
with the General Agreement on Tariff and Trades (GATT) principles.
The
three pillars of APEC are trade and investment liberalisation;
trade and investment facilitation; and economic and technical
cooperation.
THE
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATION (ASEAN)
The
Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) was established
in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration
on 8 August 1967. The members of ASEAN are Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The Secretariat of the ASEAN
is located in Jakarta, Indonesia.
ORGANISATION
OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC)
The
organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is an international
organisation grouping 56 states which have decided to pool
their resources together, combine and secure progress as well-being
of their people and of all Muslims in the world.
The
organisation was established in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco,
on 12 Rajab 1389H (25 September 1969) when the First meeting
of the leaders of the Islamic world was held in the wake of
the criminal Zionist attempt to burn down the Blessed Al-Aqsa
Mosque on 21 August 1969 in the occupied city of Al-Quds.
Six months after that historic event,in Muharram1390H (march
1970), the First Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers was
held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during which the OIC
General Secretariat was established to ensure coordination
among Member States.
The
Conference appointed a secretary general for the organisation
and chose Jeddah as the city to house its temporary headquarters
pending the liberation of Al-Quds Al-Shariff to which the
General Secretariat will then be transferred, as the Permanent
seat of the organisation.
THE
GROUP OF FIFTEEN (G-15)
The
Group of Fifteen (G-15) was established as a Summit Level
Group of Developing Countries in September 1989, following
the conclusion of the Ninth Non-Aligned Summit Meeting in
Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Membership of the Group are Algeria,
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica,
Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka,
Venezuela and Zimbabwe
The
G-15 was established in the firm belief of considerable potential
for greater and mutually beneficial cooperation among developing
countries, especially in the areas of investment, trade and
technology. By acting as a catalyst for South-South cooperation,
it aims at facilitating national efforts for development and
economic progress. Thus this cooperation is expected to lend
a greater cohesion and credibility to developing countries
in their efforts to pursue more positive and productive North-South
dialogue.
The
G-15 will both serve as a forum for regular consultations
among developing countries with a view to coordinating pollicies
and action of South countries at the global level, and assist
in the formulation and implementation of programs cooperation.
A Steering Committee comprising of Foreign Ministers from
the preceding, present and future Summit host countries is
responsible for overseeing and coordinating the work of G-15.
THE
COMMONWEALTH
Malaysia
plays a very active and prominent role in the Commonwealth.
Our contributions to the Commonwealth are varied and wide-ranging.
They include the following: · On the organizational aspect,
Malaysia chaired the High Level Appraisal Group on the Commonwealth
in the 1990s and Beyond which reviewed the roles and structures
of the Commonwealth in the 1990s and beyond, both at the Heads
of Government and senior officials level in 1990. · We also
chaired the first meeting of the Steering Committee of Senior
Officials (SCOSO) in 1993 which was tasked to provide policy
guidance and future strategic direction for the Commonwealth
Secretariat in carrying out the mandates entrusted to it.
In
the political context, Malaysia is committed to reaffirming
the Commonwealth's commitment to the fundamental political
values of the Commonwealth (Harare principles) such as democracy,
human rights, rule of law, independence of the judiciary etc.
as contained in the Harare Commonwealth Declaration.
UNITED
NATIONS (UN)
The
United Nations is central to global efforts to solve problems
which challenge humanity. Cooperating in this effort are more
than 30 affiliated organizations, known together as the UN
system. Day in and day out, the UN and its family of organizations
work to promote respect for human rights, protect the environment,
fight disease, foster development and reduce poverty.
UN
agencies define the standards for safe and efficient transport
by air and sea, help improve telecommunications and enhance
consumer protection, work to ensure respect for intellectual
property rights and coordinate allocation of radio frequencies.
The United Nations leads the international campaigns against
drug trafficking and terrorism. Throughout the world, the
UN and its agencies assist refugees and set up programmes
to clear landmines, help improve the quality of drinking water
and expand food production, make loans to developing countries
and help stabilize financial markets.
European
Union (EU)
North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
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