What is ASEAN Plus Three (APT)?

• The 28th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit was convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 28. 

• The APT countries reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the APT framework, which plays a key role in fostering regional cooperation and addressing emerging issues and challenges. 

• The meeting welcomed the progress of APT cooperation and discussed enhancing cooperation across various sectors.

ASEAN Plus Three

• ASEAN Plus Three (APT) consists of eleven ASEAN Member States and China, Japan and South Korea. 

• The APT cooperation process began in December 1997 with the convening of an informal summit among the leaders of ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea at the sidelines of the 2nd ASEAN Informal Summit in Malaysia.

• The APT Summit was institutionalised in 1999 when the leaders issued a joint statement on East Asia cooperation at the 3rd APT Summit in Manila, the Philippines. 

• The joint statement for the first time determined the main objectives, principles and further directions of APT cooperation. 

• In the joint statement, the APT leaders resolved to strengthen and deepen East Asia cooperation at various levels and in various areas, particularly in economic and social, political and other fields.

• Since its establishment, the APT framework has become an important element for fostering East Asian regionalism. 

• It has evolved as the main vehicle to promote East Asian cooperation towards the long-term goal of building an East Asian Community, with ASEAN as the driving force. 

• APT cooperation continues to be broadened and deepened in a wide range of areas, including political-security, trade and investment, finance, energy, tourism, agriculture and forestry, environment, education, health, culture and arts, etc among others. 

• The APT process has also developed into a full-fledged cooperation framework with 60 mechanisms coordinating APT cooperation.