Japan-ASEAN Relations

At the outset, Minister Kamikawa stressed the importance of maintaining and reinforcing the free and open international order based on the rule of law in order for the region to remain the center of stable economic growth in the Indo-Pacific region and the world. Minister Kamikawa emphasized that, at the Trilateral Summit held at the end of May, the three countries expressed strong support for ASEAN centrality and unity and reaffirmed our commitment to an international order based on the rule of law and international law. Minister Kamikawa also stressed that Japan was actively implementing initiatives in many areas in line with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the ASEAN+3 Cooperation Work Plan and placed particular importance to the following three areas: economic and financial cooperation, sustainable society, and peace and security.

1. Plus Three counties remarked on their commitment to continue to promote ASEAN+3 cooperation. In response, the ASEAN countries welcomed the holding of the Trilateral Summit, and remarked on their priority areas of cooperation including their own initiatives, health, food security, financial cooperation, digital transformation and green transformation.
2. In response, Minister Kamikawa spoke on the following three areas of cooperation.
   Firstly, on economic and financial cooperation, Minister Kamikawa welcomed the agreement on the establishment of a “Rapid Financing Facility” to further strengthen the functions of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM). Minister Kamikawa also stressed the importance of ASEAN+3 countries implementing the RCEP Agreement in a transparent manner.
   Secondly, on cooperation toward a sustainable society, Minister Kamikawa spoke on Japan’s continued support for strengthening food security through the ASEAN+3 Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR), leadership on strengthening the organization of the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS), and full support for the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED).
   Thirdly, on cooperation regarding peace and security, Minister Kamikawa showed her willingness to press forward with cooperation on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), underlining the importance of women's participation and leadership in disaster response, disaster prevention and mitigation.

1. Minister Kamikawa underscored that the stability of the Korean Peninsula as well as the realization of North Korea's complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement (CVID) of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges are in the common interest of all ASEAN+3 countries, and showed Japan’s willingness to strengthen cooperation for the full implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Furthermore, Minister Kamikawa emphasized that the abductions issue is critical to the sovereignty of Japan and the lives and safety of its citizens, and asked for the continued understanding and cooperation of ASEAN+3 countries for the immediate resolution of the issue.
   Minister Kamikawa expressed serious concern over the situation in Myanmar. She once again urged the Myanmar military to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and said Japan will continue to offer maximum support to the ASEAN’s efforts.
2. Other participating countries pointed out the importance of peaceful resolution of regional issues such as the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

In the end, Minister Kamikawa stated that the Meeting reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in line with the principles of the AOIP and its four priority areas under the ASEAN+3 framework. She expressed Japan’s commitment, as the Chair of the Trilateral Process, to communicating closely with China and Korea to meet the expectation of the ASEAN.