Press Releases
Meeting between Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA and Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN
October 24, 2023
On October 24, 2023, commencing at 10:45 a.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN. The overview of the meeting is as follows:
- At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Kamikawa welcomed Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, followed by the lighting ceremony of the countdown board for the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in the presence of the Secretary-General.
- At the meeting, Minister Kamikawa expressed her gratitude for Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn 's efforts, including his three visits to Japan this year, to strengthen ASEAN-Japan relations. She also noted that it is 53 days to go before the Commemorative Summit in December, and said she would like to work closely with him for its success.
In response, Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn expressed his appreciation for Japan’s cooperation with ASEAN over the years and said that he would cooperate for the success of the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. - Minister Kamikawa touched on her visit to Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos early this month, and mentioned that the visit had reminded her that Japan and the ASEAN are friends with "heart to heart" relations, and the importance of aligning FOIP and AOIP (ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific), supporting connectivity, cooperating in new areas such as GX, DX, and countermeasures against infectious diseases, as well as in science and technology, promoting the mainstreaming of women, peace, and security (WPS), and people-to-people exchanges.
- Furthermore, Minister Kamikawa expressed Japan’s will to jointly set out a new vision for cooperation at the Commemorative Summit in December, building on the progress and accomplishments of predecessors made to date. She also stated that Japan would like to send a message worldwide that Japan and ASEAN are trusted partners and together build a free and open international order based on the rule of law, and a sustainable and prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific and the world.
In response, Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn spoke highly of Minister Kamikawa’s early visit to ASEAN countries after assuming the office. - Minister Kamikawa also reiterated Japan’s consistent and strong support for ASEAN centrality and unity. She then explained the significance of the “Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Connectivity Initiative” announced by Prime Minister Kishida in September, saying that strengthening connectivity, one of the priority areas of the AOIP, is essential for ASEAN to overcome disparities and promote integration in the region. She also spoke on the importance of strengthening the functions of the ASEAN Secretariat and stressed that the cooperation of the ASEAN Secretariat in forming concrete projects in various areas is indispensable.
In response, Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn thanked Japan for its cooperation for AOIP. He stated that the Secretariat would continue to cooperate to further promote Japan-ASEAN cooperation in a wide range of fields, including initiatives in new areas, response to climate change and natural disasters, and various exchange initiatives to strengthen "heart to heart" connections that are the foundation of trust between Japan and ASEAN.