Japan-ASEAN Relations

1. On December 16, from 19:15 p.m. to 20:45 p.m., Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and his spouse, Mrs. KISHIDA Yuko, hosted a banquet at the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace, for the ASEAN Leaders, their spouses and other guests who visited Japan to attend the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. The summary of the banquet is as follows.
2. The banquet was attended by Prime Minister Kishida and his spouse, Mrs. Kishida, as well as the ASEAN Leaders, the ASEAN Secretary-General and their spouses.
3. At the beginning of the banquet, Prime Minister Kishida made a speech titled "Peace and Prosperity through Co-creation based on Trust. In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Kishida reflected on his predecessors' engagements over the past 50 years, and stated that the core of ASEAN-Japan relationships is mutual trust; that in an era of compound crises, Japan and ASEAN would find solutions based on a strong relationship of trust and grow together as partners to co-create a society and economy in which people from all walks of life can achieve and enjoy the middle-class dreams; and that what Japan and ASEAN have pursued is "peace and prosperity". He also stated that the co-creation and expansion of better economies and societies will further secure a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
   Prime Minister then called on the ASEAN Leaders to present to the world a vision for the future that will last for generations to come at the Commemorative Summit on the following day.
4. The banquet also featured a performance of Japanese traditional drums and a demonstration of the making of sushi, a food culture that Japan is proud of, as well as the sophisticated traditional craftsmanship in the making of “amezaiku” candy that was offered as gifts to the ASEAN Leaders.

［Reference Material］
　Speech by Prime Minister Kishida at the banquet (PDF)