1. This agreement or the measures taken under this agreement does not affect the rights and obligations of Member States under the existing agreements to which they are parties. 1. In order to complement and strengthen economic cooperation between Member States and to respond to rapidly changing external conditions and trends in the economic and political fields, Member States agree to establish and/or strengthen cooperation with other countries as well as with regional and international organisations and agreements. NOTE that Member States with different economic interests could benefit from sub-regional regulations; This agreement is one of the “covered agreements” covered by Article 1.1 of the 2004 Protocol on the Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism, accompanied by Schedule I. 1. Member States recognise the complementary nature of trade and investment opportunities and, therefore, encourage, among other things, cooperation and exchange between the ASEAN private sector and between the ASean and non-ASEAN private sectors, as well as the review of appropriate policies to encourage increased investment within ASEAN and ASEAN and other economic activities. 3. All Member States participate in the economic arrangements in the ASEAN-ASEAN Committee. However, initially, two or more Member States can implement these economic agreements if other Member States are not willing to implement them. 1. Member States agree to strengthen regional cooperation in the areas of agricultural development, production and promotion to ensure food security and improve information exchange in ASEAN.

1. Member States are strengthening and developing ASEAN`s economic cooperation on capital markets and are developing new measures to strengthen cooperation in this area. 1. Member States are working to strengthen their economic cooperation through an external approach so that their cooperation contributes to the promotion of global trade liberalization. CONSCIENTS of the need to extend the spirit of friendship and cooperation between Member States to other regional economies and to those outside the region that contribute to the overall economic development of Member States; RELATED: Rapid and pervasive changes in the international political and economic landscape, as well as the resulting challenges and opportunities that require more cohesive and effective implementation of economic cooperation within ASEAN countries; 2. Member States respect the principle of mutual benefits in implementing actions or initiatives to promote economic cooperation in the ASEAN Council. TO RENFORCER THE ECONOMIC COOPERATION OF ASEAN in order to maintain economic growth and development of all Member States that are essential to the stability and prosperity of the region; 2. Member States offer room for new forms of industrial cooperation. ASEAN strengthens cooperation in the development of the mineral sector. 2. Member States agree to strengthen joint technical cooperation in the management, preservation, development and commercialisation of forest resources. Member States recognise that sub-regional agreements between themselves or between ASEAN Member States and non-ASEAN economies could complement economic cooperation throughout ASEAN.

1. Member States agree to strengthen cooperation in the areas of research and development, technology transfer, tourism promotion, human resource development and other economic-related areas. Existing ASEAN rules in these areas will also be fully taken into account. 3. Member States are strengthening cooperation in the field of energy, including energy planning, information exchange, technology transfer, research and development, workforce training, preservation and efficiency, exploration, production and supply of energy resources.