Japan-ASEAN Relations
Meeting between Foreign Minister HAYASHI and Secretary-General of ASEAN
August 5, 2022
On August 5, commencing at 1:00 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with Dato H.E. Lim Jock Hoi，Secretary-General of ASEAN, during his visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia to attend the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Introduction
Minister Hayashi expressed his respect to Dato H.E. Lim Jock Hoi for his five-year efforts as the Secretary General, and also his appreciation for Secretary General Lim’s preparations for the success of ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings this time. Minister Hayashi expressed his expectation to Secretary General Lim’s leadership based on his rich experiences, and to the active participation and cooperation of the ASEAN Secretariat in the commemorative activities to give a boost for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation next year. - Review of ASEAN-Japan cooperation and future directions
Minister Hayashi stated ASEAN-Japan relations had made significant progress through comprehensive cooperation in line with the four Partnerships, namely: Partner for Peace and Stability, Partner for Prosperity, Partner for Quality of Life, and Heart to Heart Partner since then-Prime Minister Abe and ASEAN Leaders adopted the Vision Statement at the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit for the 40th Year of Friendship and Cooperation in 2013.
Minister Hayashi welcomed the Revised Implementation Plan of the Vision Statement already had been fully completed. He also mentioned that Japan had been consistently supporting ASEAN centrality and unity, and had been the first to announce its support for AOIP. He explained that Japan had been implementing concrete cooperation projects towards the realization of both FOIP and AOIP. In addition, he also reiterated Japan’s intention to hold a Commemorative Summit that marks the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan relations and to jointly announce a vision for future ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation on that historic occasion.
In response, Secretary General Lim expressed that he highly valued Japan’s cooperation in the field of Politics and Security, Economy, Social and Cultural issues, as well as Japan’s contributions to ASEAN’s community building efforts. He also expressed his appreciation for Japan's assistance to the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED), economic recovery from COVID-19 pandemic, the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) and technical cooperation. He also expressed his hope that a vision which would be announced at the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of Friendship and Cooperation, would further strengthen ASEAN-Japan cooperation. - Situation in Myanmar
Minister Hayashi stated that Japan seriously deplored that the execution of detainees including former NLD lawmaker had been carried out by the Myanmar military. He also mentioned that Japan would continue to fully support ASEAN's efforts including humanitarian aids through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).
In response, Secretary General Lim expressed his appreciation for Japan's humanitarian assistance to Myanmar and his will to continue to work closely with Japan on the issue.