(Provisional Translation)

Congratulatory Message by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for the 27th ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting,
organized by Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)

October 4, 2001, Tokyo
Japanese

Distinguished delegates representing business circles in Japan and the ASEAN countries,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations on the holding today of the twenty-seventh ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting. The leaders of business circles in Japan and the ASEAN countries have come together once a year for more than a quarter of a century to engage in intensive discussions. I am very pleased that the first gathering in the twenty-first century of this significant forum is taking place here in Tokyo. I would like to pay my deepest respect to Chairman Yotaro Kobayashi and everyone else at the Keizai Doyukai for their efforts in organizing this meeting.

I am certain that this meeting will provide a good opportunity for meaningful discussions to promote accurate understanding by the business circles of both sides of each other's economic conditions and to further strengthen the business partnership between Japan and ASEAN in the new century.

Just as the recent slowdown of the world economy was beginning to exert an unfavorable impact not only on the Japanese economy but also on the Asian economy, which had been thought at last to be getting onto the track of recovery, the world was shaken by the terrorist attacks. There is concern that these terrorist attacks will have an impact on the world economy. Japan, in cooperation with other countries, is responding to changes in the situation and taking appropriate measures so that confusion does not occur in the world or in the Japanese economic system.

Since my appointment as Prime Minister in April of this year, I have proclaimed the rebirth of the Japanese economy as the most important issue for my cabinet. From the perspective that the ups and downs of the Japanese economy exert a major impact on the economies of ASEAN and other Asian countries too, I firmly believe that there can be no rebirth or development of the Japanese economy without structural reform. Therefore, I will continue to make the utmost efforts to achieve structural reforms in the economic and fiscal fields.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In order to tackle the issues of the strengthening of competitiveness of ASEAN industry as well as the correction of disparities within the ASEAN region itself, which are serious challenges for ASEAN, Japan intends to actively support ASEAN efforts, including the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). Japan will continue to provide support for the development of the human resources that are really necessary for ASEAN's development. I encourage efforts to further promote Japan-ASEAN economic relations by both sides.

Also, Japan is actively promoting intraregional cooperation such as promoting cooperation with ASEAN in the field of information technology, holding the Asian Cooperation Conference on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships and proceeding studies on Mekong subregion development. Japan intends to continue promoting such cooperation in a wide range of fields and in an effective manner from now on, too.

Because of the large-scale terrorist attacks that occurred recently in the United States, I have had to postpone my scheduled visit to ASEAN countries in September. I am very sorry about this, because I saw my visit as a wonderful opportunity to discuss the strengthening of Japan-ASEAN relations with the leaders of ASEAN countries. In the beginning of November, the summit meeting with ASEAN leaders will be held in Brunei Darussalam. I very much look forward to meeting all the ASEAN leaders on that occasion and holding frank discussions with them on the strengthening of Japan-ASEAN cooperative relations in a wide range of fields in the new century.

Finally, I would like to end my speech by offering best wishes for the success of this meeting and for the good health and fruitful activity of all participants. Thank you.

Junichiro Koizumi
Prime Minister of Japan