Japan-ASEAN Relations

1. ASEAN-Japan cooperation

1. The meeting began with an opening remark by Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia and chairman of the meeting. At the beginning of her remarks, Prime Minister Takaichi expressed her deep condolences to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother of Thailand. Then Prime Minister Takaichi expressed her appreciation for the warm welcome and efforts of Prime Minister Anwar and the Malaysian government as the ASEAN Chair, as well as for the cooperation of Prime Minister Wong of Singapore as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-Japan. She then stated as follows:

   i. I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Gusmao on Timor Leste’s official accession to ASEAN.

   ii. It is an honor for me to meet with ASEAN leaders on my first foreign visit as Prime Minister. Japan and ASEAN have built a relationship as "Trusted Partners" with "heart to heart" connections through long-standing cooperation in a wide range of areas.

   iii. Japan advocates for a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)" and consistently supports the " ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)," which shares fundamental principles with FOIP. It is very gratifying to adopt a joint statement with ASEAN leaders today (October 26) which affirmed the synergy between FOIP and AOIP and confirms our will to promote further cooperation between Japan and ASEAN.

   iv. Next year marks the 10th anniversary since then-Prime Minister Abe launched FOIP in 2016. We will use this opportunity to reposition FOIP as a pillar of Japanese diplomacy and evolve it in line with changes in the times. We would like to further strengthen our collaboration with AOIP to make Japan and ASEAN stronger and more prosperous.

   (2) Prime Minister Takaichi then shared with the ASEAN leaders the progress Japan and ASEAN have made in line with the three pillars outlined in the 2023 Joint Vision Statement for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
   i. “Partners for Peace and Stability”
   - Japan has been supporting the strengthening of ASEAN's maritime security through Official Development Assistance (ODA). Japan has initiated cooperation with some countries through Official Security Assistance (OSA) and will expand it to other ASEAN countries and vigorously promote cooperation in areas such as disaster response, in addition to maritime security.
   - We will also strengthen our efforts through initiatives such as the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Policy Meeting and the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC) , along with cooperation to combat transnational crimes, including organized fraud.
   
   ii. “Partners for Co-creation of Economy and Society of the Future”
   - We will strengthen cooperation in many areas such as digitalization including AI, green initiatives including decarbonization, sustainable agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, supply chain resilience including the automotive sector, connectivity, and regional financial cooperation.
   - Japan proposes the launch of Japan-ASEAN Co-creation Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (AI). We aim to jointly build a safe, secure, and trustworthy AI ecosystem through model development, human resource development, and co-creation of solutions.
   - We will strengthen international joint research and researcher exchanges in cutting-edge fields such as AI, quantum technology, and semiconductors.
   - To respond to increasingly frequent and severe disasters and provide humanitarian assistance, Japan will continue to support the activities and human resource development of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre). Japan is also dispatching experts to support the establishment and capacity building of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED).
   
   iii. “Heart-to-Heart Partners across Generation”
   - We will steadily and effectively implement the WA Project ("WA Project" and its successor, “Partnership to Co-create a Future with the Next Generation: WA Project 2.0,)” consisting of “NIHONGO Partners”(assistant Japanese language teachers), with approximately 3,000 participants, as well as intellectual and cultural exchanges.
   - There are active youth exchanges through programs such as JENESYS and the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program, which will celebrate its 50th voyage next fiscal year. Student exchanges facilitated by associations of former international students in Japan, remain active.
   - The Attachment Program, which is funded by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), began accepting participants from Timor-Leste this year. This program dispatches young civil servants to the ASEAN Secretariat. Additionally, a new initiative has commenced to support program graduates in studying at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Japan.
   - Working closely with ASEAN Member States, we will further develop existing ASEAN-Japan cooperation and advance initiatives to make Japan and ASEAN stronger and more prosperous together. Together with ASEAN, we are committed to safeguarding peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
   
   (3) The ASEAN Member States successively expressed congratulations on Prime Minister Takaichi's appointment and welcomed her ttendance at the ASEAN-Japan Summit.
   They also praised Japan's cooperation in various fields. They expressed particular appreciation for Japan's support of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and welcomed the adoption of the "Joint Statement of the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit on Further Promotion and Implementation of the AOIP."
   Furthermore, they expressed high expectations for strengthening cooperation with Japan in new areas, such as digital and green technologies, and for promoting economic partnerships through the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP), among others.
   Many countries also welcomed the launch of the Japan-ASEAN AI Co-creation Initiative proposed by Prime Minister Takaichi.
   Additionally, they expressed high regard and expectations for Japan's cooperation in cultural and youth exchanges, education, and science and technology. This includes the WA Project, JENESYS, the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program,.
   
   (4) In response to the ASEAN leaders' remarks, Prime Minister Takaichi proposed forming a working group to strengthen Japan-ASEAN economic relations and discuss various measures, considering ASEAN's interest in digital and green issue.

2. Regional and International Issues

1. Concerns about the situations in the South China Sea, the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the importance of denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions and resolution of the abductions issue, and appreciation for Japan's humanitarian assistance for Myanmar were mentioned in the meeting.
2. In response, Prime Minister Takaichi made the following remarks:

   i. General principles
   The free and open international order based on the rule of law is currently facing challenges, and the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region is becoming increasingly severe. Attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion must not be tolerated anywhere in the world.

   ii. The East China Sea, the South China Sea, Taiwan:
   In the East China Sea, activities that infringe upon Japan's sovereignty, as well as provocative military activities, continue and are intensifying. In the South China Sea, militarization and coercive activities continue and intensify, causing serious concern. Any unjust maritime claims and activities that are not based on the UNCLOS cannot be accepted. Japan consistently supports the rule of law at sea and reaffirms the importance of resolving disputes peacefully based on international law. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are important issues, which directly impact regional security.

   iii. North Korea
   North Korea conducted the ballistic missile launch on October 22. North Korea has steadily enhanced its nuclear and missile capabilities, funded by its cryptocurrency thefts, and gained combat experience through military cooperation with Russia. Japan is seriously concerned about these actions that heighten regional tensions. The complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions is essential. Japan reiterates its call for the full implementation of these resolutions and for coordinated action. Furthermore, the immediate resolution of the abductions issue by North Korea is an urgent matter. Japan calls for the continued understanding and cooperation from the ASEAN countries toward the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.

   iv. Situation in Myanmar
   Japan is deeply concerned about the situation in Myanmar. We strongly urge the Myanmar military to immediately stop the violence and start political dialogue.

   v. Middle East Situation:
   Peace and stability in the Middle East are of the utmost importance to Japan. We strongly urge all parties to faithfully and steadily implement the agreement for the ceasefire and the release of hostages. Japan will play an active role in improving the humanitarian situation, supporting early recovery and reconstruction, and realizing a two-state solution, working together with ASEAN including through the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD).

   vi. Russia's aggression against Ukraine
   Russia’s aggression against Ukraine constitutes a grave violation of international law. It is crucial that all nations, united as a global community, engage in diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine

3. Closing Remarks:

In closing, Prime Minister Takaichi expressed gratitude once again for the warm welcome extended by the ASEAN leaders. She made the following remarks:

i. Hearing the enthusiastic statements from ASEAN countries about strengthening cooperation with Japan has renewed our commitment to strengthening our relationship

ii. Japan will continue to support ASEAN's efforts to promote integration based on the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and to mainstream the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

iii. Furthermore, she expressed her gratitude to the ASEAN Member States and the Secretariat for their participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, which concluded earlier this month. The Expo was a great success and deepened our friendship with each country.

iv. Going forward, we will continue to work closely with leaders of ASEAN countries to strengthen both bilateral relations and ASEAN-Japan relations. As a "Trusted Partner," we aim to pass on a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" and a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future to the next generation.