The Fifteenth ASEAN Plus Three Commemorative Summit 2012

 The Fifteenth ASEAN Plus Three Commemorative Summit was held on November 19th, 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Prime Minister Noda attended the meeting. The following is a summary of Prime Minister Noda’s statement delivered during the Summit.

1. Opening Remarks
   Prime Minister Noda began his statement by addressing that the Asia Financial Crisis of 1997 gathered momentum for a stronger regional cooperation in East Asia, developing the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation into a framework that promotes practical cooperation including on finance and economy and contributes to regional stability and growth.
2. Financial Cooperation
   Prime Minister Noda stressed that Japan’s efforts in the stability of the regional financial market through cooperation among ASEAN Plus Three members were made in the wake of the Asian Financial Crisis fifteen years ago and were materialized in the Chiang Mai Initiative of 2000 and have produced tangible results such as the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization Agreement. He stated that the effort to double its total size of the Chiang Mai Initiative this year as a positive measure and was delighted that Japan was able to contribute in the establishment and progress of a regional financial safety net.
3. Food Security
   Prime Minister Noda welcomed the coming into force of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve Agreement (APTERR) on July 12th of this year, noting that this effort began when Japan assisted Indonesia with government reserved rice in 1998, and bore fruit through the results of a research on the establishment of a rice reserve system that Japan proposed during the ASEAN Plus Three Agricultural Minister’s Meeting in 2001. He expressed his heartfelt delight that APTERR was realized and promised to actively contribute to this effort by sending experts and other assistance in order to ensure the smooth implementation of cooperation stipulated in the agreement.
4. Economy and Trade
   Prime Minister Noda welcomed the launch of the RCEP during this ASEAN Related Summit and hoped to continue contributing to the realization of a comprehensive and high-quality RCEP.
5. ASEAN Plus Three Connectivity Partnership
   Prime Minister Noda stated that enhancement of ASEAN Connectivity is of great importance to the building of the ASEAN Community and regional development. Noting the importance of the role the ASEAN Plus Three can play, he emphasized that Japan will strengthen its efforts focusing on the enhancement of “People-to-People Connectivity,” including on education and tourism.
   The Prime Minister noted that Japan prioritizes in promoting tourism, which contributes to increase in mutual understanding among states, strengthening of friendship and stimulating regional economy. Currently, over 10 million tourists from Japan are annually visiting the ASEAN Plus Three region, and he hoped that even more tourists will come visit Japan to further promote mutual exchange.