Japan-ASEAN Relations

1. Japan
   - Mr. Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan (Co-Chair)
2. ASEAN Member States
   - H.E. Mr. Ir. H. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia (Co-Chair)
   - H.M. Mr. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, King of Brunei Darussalam
   - H.E. Mr. Ferdinand R. Marcos, President of the Republic of the Philippines
   - H.E. Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore
   - H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
   - H.E. Mr. Dato’s Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia
   - H.E. Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Lao People’s Democratic Republic
   - H.E. Mr. Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia
   - H.E. Mr. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Thailand
3. Timor-Leste
   - H.E. Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (Observer)
4. ASEAN Secretariat
   - H.E. Mr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN Secretariat

1. Session 1
   • Opening
   • Agenda 1: Review of ASEAN-Japan relations
   • Agenda 2: Partners for Peace and Stability & Regional and International Issues
2. Session 2
   • Agenda 3: Heart-to-Heart Partners across Generations (Working Lunch)
   • Agenda 4: Partners for Co-creation of Economy and Society of the Future
   • Adoption of the Outcome Documents
   • Others (Remarks by Timor-Leste)
   • Closing

1. Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan hopes to pass on to the next generations the trust which ASEAN and Japan have fostered through cooperation as true friends with ‘‘heart-to-heart’’ connections, and that Japan would like to review ASEAN-Japan relations over the past half century and have frank discussions to set out a new vision and concrete cooperation for the future.
2. Next, the Co-Chair, President Joko of Indonesia, made opening remarks and stated that Japan is the trusted partner and expressed his expectation that ASEAN would remain a center of regional growth in cooperation with Japan and peace and stability would be maintained under the partnership of new generations.
3. Then, Secretary-General Watanabe of ERIA and Secretary-General Hirabayashi of the ASEAN-Japan Centre, who attended the opening as guests of the Chair, delivered their remarks.

1. Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan has assisted ASEAN countries over the years and that Japan will continue to work for the mainstreaming of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), sharing fundamental principles with ASEAN and consistently and strongly supporting ASEAN Centrality and unity as well as the AOIP.
2. ASEAN Member States highly valuated the development of ASEAN-Japan relations over the years and Japan's wide range of cooperation with ASEAN, referring to individual cooperation projects.

1. Prime Minister Kishida reiterated Japan’s position on regional and international issue, saying that maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law is essential. Furthermore, Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan would like to strengthen its cooperation with ASEAN as "Partners for Peace and Stability" in a wide range of fields.
2. ASEAN Member States expressed their expectations for further strengthening cooperation with Japan. They also expressed their respective positions on regional and international issues.
3. In summing up the discussions, Prime Minister Kishida stated that he was encouraged that through the frank exchange of views with the Leaders, he was able to reaffirm that Japan and ASEAN share the vision of a world where all countries can pursue peace and prosperity and the principles such as democracy, the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights and fundamental freedom are respected. ASEAN and Japan also agreed to further strengthen our cooperation as "Partners for Peace and Stability’’.

1. Prime Minister Kishida looked back a wide range of people-to-people exchanges of nationals thereafter, introducing the record of various exchange programs and the commemorative events for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation held this year. Then, he announced new initiatives to connect ‘‘hear-to-heart’’ relations to the next generation.
2. The ASEAN Member States expressed their high appreciation for the long-standing ASEAN-Japan cooperation in promoting exchanges of culture, education, sports, and people-to-people connection, including those listed above. They also expressed high expectations for Japan's new initiatives.
3. In response to these exchanges, the importance of further deepening exchanges, specifically among the youth generation who will lead the next generation of ASEAN-Japan relations, was reaffirmed.

1. After the opening remarks by the Co-chair, President Joko of Indonesia, Prime Minister Kishida emphasized that it is important to work together to find solutions based on long-standing trust, saying that the keyword for future cooperation is ‘‘co-creation’’ in the face of various challenges including climate change, infectious diseases and disaster management.
2. ASEAN Member States expressed their appreciation for Japan's contributions over the years to ASEAN's economic and social development, community building and enhanced integration, including connectivity. They also expressed hope for further cooperation.
3. In response, Prime Minister Kishida stated that he could reaffirm that ASEAN and Japan share understandings in many respects, and he expressed the intention to promote the effort based on the initiatives launched at the ministerial level this year. Prime Minister Kishida then introduced new initiatives.

Prime Minister Kishida announced the adoption of “Joint Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation” and its “Implementation Plan.”

• Joint Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation -Trusted Partners- (PDF)
• Implementation Plan of the Joint Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation -Trusted partners- (PDF)

Then, Prime Minister Gusmao of Timor-Leste, who attended the meeting as an observer, made remarks. Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan has consistently supported Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN.

Following the Co-chair, President Joko, Prime Minister Kishida closed the meeting by stating that Japan looks forward to working on concrete cooperation to pass ont the "trust" to the next generation, work to address common challenges and "co-create" a peaceful, stable and prosperous regional and global future where the order based on the rule of law and "human dignity" are upheld.