Japan-ASEAN Relations

At the outset, Minister Motegi expressed his gratitude for warm welcome of Prime Minister Anwar and the Malaysian Government. Then after expressing his deep condolences to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother of Thailand, Minister Motegi stated as follows:

1. ASEAN+3 was established in Kuala Lumpur in 1997 against the backdrop of the Asian financial crisis. Since then, ASEAN+3 has advanced practical cooperation centered on building regional safety nets, making significant contributions to regional stability and prosperity. Beyond its traditional financial and food security cooperation, ASEAN+3 cooperation has great potential in addressing common challenges facing the region and the international community in recent years, such as disaster response, declining birth rates and aging populations and organized crime.
2. Japan has led the ASEAN+3 Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) initiative. Japan will also continue to lead discussions on enhancing cooperation with regard to food security, including the strengthening of the organizational capacity of the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS). Furthermore, Japan-led Rapid Financing Facility (RFF) was established under the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) in May this year. Additionally, Disaster Risk Financing (DRF) led by Japan contributes to the swift recovery of affected countries.
3. Through such initiatives, Japan will contribute to regional stability and prosperity, and promote a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). Japan fully supports the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which shares many fundamental principles with FOIP. Japan will also advance initiatives that contribute to the mainstreaming of the AOIP within the ASEAN+3 framework.
4. Japan currently chairs the Japan-China-Korea Trilateral Summit process. Japan will continue to work closely also with China and Korea to promote future-oriented cooperation that is also beneficial to ASEAN, with the Trilateral Summit to be held in mind.

1. Minister Motegi expressed Japan’s strong support for this year's Chair theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, as well as Japan’s full support for the “ASEAN Community Vision 2045” and its commitment to furthering the ASEAN+3 cooperation in line with the Vision. Minister Motegi outlined the three areas of Japan’s focus in his remarks as follows:
   
   
   • First is financial cooperation. The importance of regional financial cooperation is increasing amid growing uncertainty about the global economic outlook. Japan expects the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) to play a vital role under the leadership of Director/CEO Watanabe, and will promote initiatives in view for regional economic growth and financial stability. From this perspective, Japan supports the Chair's proposal of the “ASEAN+3 Leaders' Statement on Strengthening Regional Economic and Financial Cooperation”.
   
   
   • Second is cooperation for a sustainable society. Japan will actively contribute to strengthening APTERR's initiatives and lead efforts to enhance the organizational capacity of AFSIS from a perspective of the regional food security. Amid increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, Japan hosted the Working Group of the Network of East Asian Think-Tanks (NEAT) on disaster risk reduction and produced a set of recommendations. Japan will continue to advance broad cooperation on disaster risk reduction based on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The rapid aging and declining birth rates seen in Japan, China, and Republic of Korea are also the challenges that ASEAN countries are to face. Japan will strengthen cooperation, including the sharing of insights and experiences of the plus three countries.
   
   
   • Third is cooperation for public safety. Organized crime is a serious issue causing significant economic loss to ASEAN+3 countries and jeopardizing the safety of their citizens. Japan is implementing cooperation in this region, including through international organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to enhance law enforcement capabilities. Japan will also address countermeasures against organized fraud. Japan also wishes to strengthen coordination within ASEAN+3.
2. Other participating countries expressed their determination to further promote cooperation within the ASEAN+3 framework, and spoke on their undertaking initiatives and priority areas of cooperation, including economic and financial cooperation, food security, health, digital and energy transitions.

1. Referring to the ballistic missile launch on October 22, Minister Motegi pointed out that North Korea had steadily enhanced its nuclear and missile capabilities, funded by its cryptocurrency thefts, and gained combat experience through military cooperation with Russia, and expressed serious concern over such actions that heighten regional tensions. Minister Motegi underscored the importance of the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and reiterated Japan’s call for the full implementation of these resolutions and for coordinated action. Furthermore, Minister Motegi stated that the immediate resolution of the abductions issue was an urgent matter and called for the continued understanding and cooperation of the ASEAN+3 countries.
2. Other participating countries remarked on the importance of the denuclearization of North Korea.