Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Visit the Philippines, Attend ASEAN + 3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, ASEAN-PMC, and ARF Ministerial Meeting, and Visit Viet Nam

June 29, 2004

1. Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, will visit the Philippines, Indonesia and Viet Nam from June 29 (Tue) to July 5 (Mon) to attend the inauguration ceremony of the President of the Philippines, to take part in the ASEAN + 3 (Japan, China and the R.O.K.), ASEAN-PMC (ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference) and ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum) Ministerial Meeting and to exchange views with leaders of the relevant countries.
   
   
   
2. During her stay in the Philippines, on June 30 (Wed), Ms. Kawaguchi will attend the inauguration ceremony of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who won the Presidential election which was conducted on May 10 this year after an interval of six years.
   
   
   
3. In Indonesia, Ms. Kawaguchi will attend the ASEAN + 3 (Japan, China and the R.O.K.), the ASEAN-PMC (ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference) and the ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum) Ministerial Meeting to be held on July 1 (Thu) and 2 (Fri) in Jakarta.
   (1) Foreign and other ministers of the 10 ASEAN countries, Japan, China, and the R.O.K. will take part in the ASEAN + 3 to exchange views on the promotion of regional cooperation in East Asia such as the review of the ASEAN + 3 cooperation and development and the future direction of ASEAN + 3 cooperation.
   (2) The ASEAN-PMC will exchange views on wide-ranging fields, with a view to strengthening mutually friendly relations between the ASEAN and 10 dialogue countries including Japan, the U.S. and Russia.
   (3) At the ARF Ministerial Meeting, 23 countries and one organization, including Pakistan, which is expected to be approved as a new participant at this meeting, will have a wide-ranging exchange of views on the regional security situation, the future direction of the ARF and other matters, and issue statements on the international terrorism and on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
   (4) On these occasions, a ceremony for Japan's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia will be held.
   (5) There will also be bilateral meetings with chief representatives of some countries and an organization.
   
   
4. During her stay in Viet Nam, Ms. Kawaguchi will meet with her counterpart, Mr. Nguyen Dy Nien, on July 3 (Sat) in Hanoi to exchange views, about the bilateral relations and international issues of mutual interests.

Related Information (Japan-ASEAN Relations)
Related Information (Japan-Philippines Relations)
Related Information (Japan-Viet Nam Relations)