“Indonesia hopes that concrete, mutually beneficial and inclusive cooperation in the Indo-Pacific can be prioritized in the ASEAN-Japan partnership,” said the foreign ministerRetno Marsudi, at the ASEAN-Japan ministerial meeting, in Phnom Penh on August 4.
The Indonesian minister stated that the ASEAN perspective on the Indo-Pacific has prioritized four areas of cooperation: maritime, connectivity, achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and trade and investment.
This concrete and inclusive cooperation is expected to contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.
In addition to concrete cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, Indonesia also stressed the importance of continued cooperation between ASEAN and Japan in building regional health resilience.
50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation
In this context, Japan has collaborated with ASEAN to establish the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergency and Emerging Diseases (APCHEED) with centers in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Greater cooperation is needed in the operation of these centres.
Regarding health cooperation, several priority sectors are investment, research, training of health personnel and strengthening of the health industry.
The Indonesian foreign minister also welcomed the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations, which will be celebrated next year.
This concrete and inclusive cooperation is expected to contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.
The meeting agreed on a logo and slogan to celebrate 50 years of ASEAN-Japan relations. Minister Retno Marsudi expressed her hope that the anniversary will serve as a boost to strengthen cooperation.
The ASEAN-Japan 50th Anniversary Summit will be held in Tokyo under the theme “Golden Friendship, Golden Opportunities” in 2023, during Indonesia’s ASEAN Presidency.
Both sides also agreed to adopt the concept paper for the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Summit, to be held in 2023.
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