The Significance of the Visit by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to Countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

18 December 1996

I. Background (Building Closer and More Mature Relations Between Japan and ASEAN)

A. The countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are friendly neighbor nations of Japan, and have longstanding close relations with Japan. ASEAN is located in a major sea route for transport of raw materials and other cargo to Japan. ASEAN is also a major trading partner for Japan, amounting to approximately 16 percent of Japan's total trade. Furthermore, ASEAN is an important partner which supplies approximately 10 percent of the petroleum which Japan imports, and 80 percent of Japan's natural gas imports. Likewise, Japan is an important partner for ASEAN in terms of trade investment and Official Development Assistance (ODA), and Japan has contributed to nation-building efforts in all ASEAN countries.

B. In 1997, ASEAN marks its 30th anniversary. Since achieving accelerated growth and dramatic economic development, particularly from the latter half of the 1980s on, ASEAN has moved forward with regional economic cooperation beginning with the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). Furthermore, through strengthening dialogue across a variety of levels, ASEAN has achieved even greater unity, and is continuing efforts to realize even greater development. Besides, against the background of the dramatic economic development of recent years, ASEAN has advanced active foreign policies, evidenced in the progress achieved in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) process, and the holding of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Moreover, with the end of the Cold War, and the realization of peace in Cambodia, the difficult situation which once divided Southeast Asia has disappeared, and the Heads of State of the ASEAN members have confirmed their intent to expand ASEAN to include all ten countries of Southeast Asia, and to continue to contribute to securing stable development in that region.

C. Together with such dramatic growth in ASEAN, the importance of the relations between Japan and the members of ASEAN has grown tremendously deeper both in terms of ODA-centered cooperation and trade and investment. This has resulted in a deepening of mutual dependence. Furthermore, relations have matured beyond the level of the bilateral dimension, and now span a broad spectrum, including cooperation in the international community.

II. The Significance of the Visit

A. The first visit to ASEAN countries by the Hashimoto Administration.

Since becoming Prime Minister, Prime Minister Hashimoto has visited Thailand, an ASEAN member nation, to attend the ASEM Leaders' Summit, and to another member, the Philippines, to participate in the APEC Leaders' Meetings. This will be the first official visit by the Prime Minister to the other ASEAN countries. During this visit, Prime Minister Hashimoto will once again stress the importance of ASEAN in Japan's foreign policy. The Prime Minister will also strive to deepen understanding for the basic policies of the Hashimoto Administration in his meetings with the leaders of the ASEAN countries, while engaging in a thorough exchange of views on the future of Japan-ASEAN relations and on the international situation. The top priority of this visit is to strengthen the individual relations of trust between the leaders.

B. Strengthening the relations between Japan and ASEAN

During this visit, the Prime Minister will again confirm Japan's intent to enhance cooperation in the international community with ASEAN, which in recent years has made efforts to achieve regional political stability and to enhance its economic strength in order to create a single community, and has actively pursued diplomatic initiatives. Further, ASEAN's importance as an economic partner will be confirmed, as the Prime Minister will confirm Japan's intent to enhance exchange of people, aiming to promote understanding of the diversity and commonalities of Asia, with a view to creating an international community comfortable to all. Further, the countries of ASEAN, which have continued to cooperate to create a regional community in the form of a loose association, have developed policies based on their respective ideas and views, and have long since cultivated traditional relationships of friendship and cooperation with Japan. This visit will further deepen the relations of trust and cooperation between Japan and the nations of ASEAN.

Brunei Darussalam

This is the first visit by the Prime Minister of Japan to Brunei Darussalam since the official visit by then-Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa in 1993. This visit will further strengthen the friendly and cooperative relations between Japan and Brunei, which is a stable supplier of energy resources.

This visit will also strengthen Japan's economic relations with Brunei, which is "graduating" from the status of ODA recipient. It is also hoped that the visit will contribute to diversifying the economy of Brunei.

Malaysia

During this visit, Prime Minister Hashimoto will strive to build stronger personal relations with Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, who is advancing policies of his own initiatives, including the Look East Policy and the various measures being adopted with the goal of bringing Malaysia into an advanced nation by the year 2020.

This visit will strive to strengthen cooperation with Malaysia, which continues to fulfill a positive role in the international community through the provision of cooperation for peace-keeping operations (PKO) at the time of the conflict in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and through such measures as initiatives for the Mekong River. At the same time the leaders will exchange views on a wide range of subjects, including the regional and international situations.

While in Malaysia, which is currently the Chair of ASEAN, Prime Minister Hashimoto will discuss future relations between Japan and ASEAN, which will mark its 30th anniversary in 1997.

Republic of Indonesia

Prime Minister Hashimoto will have a wide ranging exchange of views with President Soeharto, who exerts great influence as a leading figure of the region and of the non-allied states, covering measures to further promote the friendly relations between Japan and Indonesia. The leaders will also discuss the regional and international situations.

The Prime Minister will seek to enhance cooperation with Indonesia, a major power in the region, at such international fora as the United Nations and APEC.

The Prime Minister will indicate Japan's readiness to continue to contribute to nation-building efforts in Indonesia through ODA and the promotion of trade and investment. At the same time, the Prime Minister will confirm the importance of greater liberalization of trade and investment in Indonesia, which has a population of 200 million.

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

Prime Minister Hashimoto will renew Japan's commitment to support Viet Nam's "doi moi (renovation)" policies that center on transition to the market economy and openness, and encourage the country's constructive participation in the international community.

The Prime Minister will seek to further expand the bilateral relations, which have so far been promoted mainly in economic fields, by trying to strengthen dialogues and exchanges on political and security issues, as well as cultural issues.

Building on the momentum boosted by mutual exchange of visits by leaders (visit to Japan by Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet in March 1993, visit to Viet Nam by then-Prime Minister Murayama in August 1994, and visit to Japan by Secretary General of the Communist Party Do Muoi in April 1995), the Prime Minister will take this chance to further strengthen the future-oriented and broad-ranging bilateral relations of cooperation toward the twenty-first century.

Singapore

Prime Minister Hashimoto will reconfirm the importance of strengthening Japan's cooperation in the international community with Singapore, which although a small nation, has greatly contributed to the international community in such instances as making a proposal for ASEM, and hosting the WTO Ministerial Conference, and, as an opinion leader, strives to strengthen cooperation both within ASEAN and between ASEAN and other countries.

The Prime Minister will seek to expand the relations between trade and investment with Singapore, which is increasing its capacity as a regional business center and a financial center.

This visit will also strengthen third-country cooperation with Singapore, which is "graduating" from the status of ODA recipient.