The ASEAN Senior Officials The US and Japan attending the 38th ASEAN-Japan Forum in Tokyo reaffirmed their commitments to further advance the partnership and strengthen cooperation as both sides mark the 50th Anniversary of Dialogue Relations this year.
The meeting highlighted the substantive progress made in ASEAN-Japan cooperation in all pillars over the past year, particularly in the implementation of the Revised Implementation Plan of the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation adopted in 2013. In particular, all the lines of action of the plan have been executed through multiple programs and projects carried out in a wide range of areas of cooperation.
Supporting the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation to facilitate regional economic recovery in the fields of trade and investment, the digital economy, sustainable development, connectivity, disaster management, change climate change, food and energy security, global health and people-to-people exchanges.
ASEAN welcomed Japan’s support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), noting the similarities with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, and Japan’s willingness to enhance cooperation through Launch of projects in the key areas of the AOIP.
ASEAN and Japan footballers hold a friendly match to mark 50 years of cooperation
The meeting discussed the outcomes of the 50th anniversary, in particular, the preparation for the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit to be held in Tokyo in December 2023. Among the objectives of the summit is the adoption of a vision statement and a implementation plan to advance future relationships.
On this occasion, Japan has formally requested the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (AEC) with ASEAN. The CSP is expected to be announced this year to mark a special milestone in the longstanding relationship, and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to make the partnership even more substantive, meaningful and mutually beneficial for decades to come.
both parties agreed to continue strengthening cooperation to facilitate regional economic recovery
The meeting also welcomed the establishment of the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) 3.0, with a contribution of 100 million Japan dollars. JAIF 3.0 is a goal for the association’s 50th anniversary to support various initiatives, especially activities related to the implementation of the key areas of the AOIP.
The 38th ASEAN-Japan Forum was co-chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Sarun Charoensuwan, and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yamada Shigeo. It was attended by senior officials of ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Deputy Secretary General for the Political and Security Community.
