UPDATED ON 09-10-2001

MEDIA ADVISORY

 7^th ASEAN Summit 2001 BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
SENIOR OFFICIALS’ MEETING
ASEAN + 3 Summit
ASEAN + the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
5 - 6 NOVEMBER 2001

 1.   Introduction

The 7^th ASEAN Summit will be held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 5 – 6 November 2001.  It will be followed by the ASEAN + 3 Summit where the 10 ASEAN Heads of State/Government will meet the Heads of State/Government of the the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The ASEAN Leaders will also meet separately with each Leader from the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The Summit will be preceded by the ASEAN Senior Official’s Meeting (SOM), 3 November 2001, and also by ASEAN + 3 SOM Meeting and ASEAN + 1 SOM with the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Key dates:

3 November
ASEAN Senior OfficialsMeeting                                    ASEAN + 3 SOM Meeting
ASEAN + 1 SOM with People’s Republic of China, Japan and
the Republic of Korea

5 November
7^th ASEAN Summit
ASEAN + 3 Summit

6 November
ASEAN + People’s Republic of China Summit 
ASEAN + Japan Summit
ASEAN + the Republic of Korea Summit

2.      Accreditation

Members of the media wishing to report the SOM and Summit Meeting are required to be accredited and in possession of a photograph identification (ID) card. The ID card must be WORN AT ALL TIMES at the official venues and will be required for entry.

Media applications for accreditation must be accompanied by a letter of assignment from the editor or a news executive from his/her respective media organisation. Applications without an accompanying signed letter of assignment will not be processed.

Please complete and return the Accreditation Form attached in Annex A on or before 1st October 2001.

Please write the given and family name of the applicant on the back of the print photo.

All media accreditation application forms, photos and letters of assignment should be sent by post or courier to:

(Before 31^st October, 2001)
Media Secretariat
ASEAN Summit 2001
Department of Information
Prime Minister’s Office
Old Airport Berakas
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM BB 3510
Tel:    (+673 2) 383400 / 382550
Fax :  (+673 2) 382242
E-mail : infoweb@brunet.bn

(As of 1 November, 2001)
Media Secretariat
ASEAN Summit 2001
International Media Centre
International Convention Centre
Jalan Berakas
Bandar Seri Begawan
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Tel :   refer to ASEAN Summit website for update
Fax : refer to ASEAN Summit website for update
E-mail : refer to ASEAN Summit website for update

Respective National ASEAN Secretariat are requested to advise the Media Secretariat of the name and contact details of their media contact point for the SOM and Summit Meeting as soon as possible but not later than the time of their Advance Visit or by 5 October 2001. Such information should be sent to The Media Secretariat (address as above).

Collection of Media ID cards 

Media should collect their ASEAN Summit Media ID card from the Media Accreditation Desk, Media Secretariat at the IMC, (Please bring with you photographic proof of identity, for example a passport, driver’s licence or media identification card.  It is strongly recommended that you collect your ASEAN Summit ID card as soon as possible after arrival.  Media who have not pre-registered may face delays while their application are being processed.

For pre-registered media, ID passes will be issued upon arrival by the Media Secretariat.

3.      Media Centre

For the ASEAN Summit 2001 Meetings, an International Media Centre (IMC) will be established in the Brunei International Convention Centre (ICC) – the main venue for the ASEAN Summit 2001 Meetings. It is located 5 kms from the heart of the Brunei capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. The IMC will provide facilities for electronic and print media. The Media Centre, opens daily from 0700 hrs to 2300 hrs beginning 1 - 7 November 2001.

The International Media Centre will contain briefing rooms, and the main Press Conference Hall. There will also be common work areas for an estimated 200 media (desks with local call only/operator connect call phones); a limited number of PCs with Internet access; a Telecom Service Centre with public phones; fax facilities; photo-processing and food service areas.

For Broadcast media organizations, please see details in Host Broadcaster’s information, rate card and booking Form.

Print media organisations may hire work space (booth) and facilities by using the Press Booth order form enclosed in the Host Broadcaster’s information, rate card and booking Form. Because space is limited, media organisations are asked to request only their minimum space requirements.

Further queries can be obtained from

Pg Haji Ismail bin Pg.Hj. Md. Kifli – Engineering Secretariat
E-mail:             rtbengsc@brunet.bn
Fax:                 +673 2 243008
Telephone:      +673 2 241986
Mobile phone: +673 8  725799

4.      Accommodation

Accommodation will be limited for the Summit.  Media organisations are advised to book early if they wish to secure accommodation within a reasonable distance of the International Media Centre.  Accommodation cannot be guaranteed for those who make late requests.

Media who are part of the official delegations have been advised of the accommodation arrangements which have been set aside for them by the ASEAN Summit 2001 Logistics Committee. Media should therefore first check with the appropriate officials in their respective ASEAN national secretariats to avoid duplication in accommodation booking arrangement.

Other media requiring accommodation should refer to Media Accommodation Advisory attached   (Annex B).

5.      Host Broadcaster

Radio-Television Brunei has been appointed Host Broadcaster for the various events and will provide to broadcasters international quality television coverage of designated key events at the ASEAN Summit, along with other services available through the rate card.

For further information on Host Broadcaster and rate card services please refer to Host Broadcaster’s Information, Rate card and Booking form which is attached separately.

Contact:          
ASEAN Summit Host Broadcaster
Radio Television Brunei
Bandar Seri Begawan BS8610
Brunei Darussalam
(Attention: Mr. Haji Aminuddin Hj. Md Sum)
Tel: (+ 673 2) 242241
Fax: (+ 673 2) 241882
Email: rtbnews@brunet.bn

6.   Media Contacts
 

7.      Visas

Brunei Darussalam has waived the ‘work permit’ requirement for media representatives at ASEAN Summit 2001 meetings.  Where a visa is required, media representatives should seek a visitor’s visa.

Nationals of the following countries do not require visas for visits to Brunei Darussalam of between 14 days to 60 days. Check with your nearest diplomatic mission.

The following countries’ nationals require visitor’s visa for entry into Brunei Darussalam:

The People’s Republic of China               Mexico

Chile                                                     Papua New Guinea

Hong Kong SAR – China                        Peru

Chinese Taipei                                       Russia

As a reminder to overseas media, please note that the Immigration Authority requires that your passports be valid for a minimum period of 6 months to enter Brunei Darussalam

8.      Customs Clearance Requirements

Media representatives bringing in equipments into Brunei Darussalam should complete the Customs Temporary Importation Forms in Annex C, detailed inventory including model and serial number of equipments should be listed in the Form, which has to be endorsed by the ASEAN Summit 2001 Logistics Committee and Customs Officer-in-Charge upon arrival and departure. This requirement does not apply for hand carried items such as laptops or similar equipment.

9.      Telecommunications

During the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting, SOM; and Summit Meeting, the following telecommunications services will be available to media personnel at the main meeting venues:

·               Telephone access
·               Fax capability
·               Internet access
·               Satellite service for uplink purpose

Media personnel are requested to provide the ASEAN Summit 2001 Media Secretariat with an indication of the telecommunications equipments that they will use at the ASEAN Summit Meetings and associated meetings in Brunei Darussalam in November 2001.  Media personnel are also requested to provide the ASEAN Summit 2001 Media Committee with the details of radio communication equipments and the frequency bands that will be used in Brunei Darussalam for those meetings so that compatibility with existing radio services in Brunei Darussalam can be assessed.  Media personnel are requested to provide this indicative information on the form provided in Annex D.

Contact:     
BRUNEI TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
Global, Corporate and Internet Business
Old Airport Berakas
Bandar Seri Begawan BB3510
Brunei Darussalam
Telephone: (+673 2) 382382
Fax:  (+673 2) 383800
E-mail: marketmb@brunet.bn

10.      Currency

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into or taken out of Brunei Darussalam.

Most internationally recognised currencies and travellers cheques can be exchanged easily at commercial banks, hotels and at the international airport.  Normal banking hours are from 9.00am to 3.00pm, Monday to Friday; and from 9.00am to 11.00am on Saturday.

Major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and major shopping complexes.  Some credit cards may be used in Bandar Seri Begawan banks’ Automatic Teller Machines (ATM).  Media personnel should make arrangements regarding this with their respective banks.  A foreign exchange facility will be allocated at the venues.

Brunei Darussalam has a decimal system of coinage with B$1.00 = 100 cents.  Brunei Darussalam currency is on par with the Singapore dollar.  For guidance, the following are the exchange rates for some of the Economies’ currencies against 1 (one) Brunei dollar:-
 

(As of  6^th September, 2001)

Subject to a provision in the Customs Import Duties Order 1973, arriving passengers over 17 years of age are eligible for the following concessions:

·               Cigarettes or Cigar or Tobacco    -     200 sticks or 50 stick or 250frams
·               Perfume                                       -     60ml
·               Toilette Water                               -     250ml

11. Alcohol

A non-Muslim over 17 years of age is allowed to bring in not more that two (2) bottles of liquor (about two quarts) and twelve (12) cans of beer for own private consumption.  These items must be declared to Customs upon arrival.  Failure to do so contravenes with the Customs Act and will constitute an offence punishable under the Customs Act.

12.  Drugs

The trafficking and illegal importations of controlled drugs are serious offences in Brunei Darussalam.  Such offence carries the mandatory death penalty.

13. Airport Tax 

The airport tax is B$12.00.

Further information on the clearance of personnel and cargo for ASEAN Summit 2001 may be obtained from the ASEAN Summit 2001 Logistics Committee.

14. Transportation

Media should largely be responsible for their own transport arrangement see Annex E for List of Car Rental Agents which you may contact directly but the following points should be noted:-