ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit
(Evaluation)
December 2003
1. Schedule
(1) December 11 (Thursday)
Morning: Japan-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (Venue: Imperial Hotel)
Afternoon: First day of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit (Venue: Akasaka State Guest House)
December 12 (Friday)
Morning: Second day of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit (Venue: Akasaka State Guest House)
Afternoon: Joint Press Conference (Venue: Akasaka Prince Hotel)
Evening: ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year Reception and performance of "Rainbow of Dance Part 8"
(2) Bilateral summit meetings and bilateral foreign ministers' meetings were also held between the leaders and between the foreign ministers of Japan and the respective 10 ASEAN countries. (As for Singapore, a Ministerial Review Meeting on the Agreement between Japan and the Republic of Singapore for a New-Age Economic Partnership was held.)
2. Documents
(1) The following documents were issued as a result of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit
(a) "Tokyo Declaration for the Dynamic and Enduring Japan-ASEAN Partnership in the New Millennium" and "The Japan-ASEAN Plan of Action" (These documents were signed by Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi and all ASEAN leaders.)
(b) Declaration on Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia by Japan, and the accession by other Dialogue Partners of ASEAN (signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Noer Hassan Wirajuda of the Republic of Indonesia)
(2) The following documents were issued as a result of the bilateral meetings
<Economic Partnership Agreements>
(a) Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement - Task Force Report
(b) Joint Announcement of the Japanese and the Thai Prime Ministers on the Initiation of Negotiations for Establishing the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement
(c) Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement - Joint Coordination Team Report
(d) Joint Announcement of the Japanese Prime Minister and the Philippine President on the Initiation of Negotiations for Establishing the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement
(e) Japan-Malaysia Economic Partnership - Joint Study Group Report
(f) Joint Announcement of the Japanese and the Malaysian Prime Ministers on the Initiation of Negotiations for Establishing the Japan-Malaysia Economic Partnership Agreement
(g) Joint Statement of the Japanese and Singapore Ministers at the Ministerial Review Meeting on the Agreement between Japan and the Republic of Singapore for a New-Age Economic Partnership
<Others>
(h) Japan-Indonesia Partnership Programme
(i) Final Report of the Japan-Viet Nam Joint Initiative
(j) Japan-Thailand Partnership Programme in Technical Cooperation (Phase 2)
(k) Japan-Laos Technical Cooperation Treaty
3. Significance and results
(1) Overview
(a) The ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit has a historical significance, as it is the first time all ASEAN leaders met in a country outside the region for a summit meeting with a leader of a country outside the region. The leaders not only reflected on the relations of amity and cooperation that Japan and ASEAN had been maintaining over a period of more than 30 years and reaffirmed their special ties, but achieved some significant results in setting out, at a summit level, the directions that Japan and ASEAN should follow in enhancing their relations over a broad range of areas. In particular, the leaders shared the view that cooperation and partnership should be enhanced not only in the areas of economy and development, but also in the political and security fields.
(b) Japan reaffirmed its intention to continue to give priority to ASEAN in its various policies, and was welcomed and applauded by all ASEAN leaders. In turn, the ASEAN leaders reiterated their perception of Japan as an important partner.
(2) Japan's economic assistance for the development of ASEAN
The ASEAN leaders expressed their high appreciation of the contribution of Japan's official development assistance (ODA) to the economic development of ASEAN and Japan clarified its intention to continue to give priority to ASEAN countries in its ODA programs. Also, Japan announced that it is ready to provide more than US$ 1.5 billion in cooperation for human resource development over the next three years and plans to implement programs for exchange of about 40,000 people between Japan and ASEAN over the next three years. Furthermore, Japan announced its intention to support ASEAN's enhanced integration through measures such as cooperation for development in the Mekong region (approximately US$1.5 billion over a period of three years) and Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
(3) East Asian Community
Japan and ASEAN shared the view that in order to promote the creation of an East Asian community, they need play a central role in deepening East Asia cooperation.
(4) "Tokyo Declaration" and "Action Plan": Shared Values and Principles
The ASEAN and Japan leaders set out the direction of their relations in the new era, acknowledged as its basic principles "the rule of law," "promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of all peoples," "just, democratic and harmonious environment" and "the importance of the Asian traditions and values," and issued the "Tokyo Declaration," which outlines the further promotion of comprehensive economic partnership and the creation of an East Asian community. At the same time, the leaders adopted "The Japan-ASEAN Plan of Action" annexed to the "Tokyo Declaration" that incorporates approximately 120 concrete measures for ASEAN-Japan cooperation. Thus the leaders demonstrated their determination to go beyond fundamental principles and implement concrete measures to enhance and deepen ASEAN-Japan cooperation.
(5) Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia
Japan signed the Declaration on Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia and clearly demonstrated its commitment to the relations of amity and cooperation under the principle of "acting together, advancing together."
(6) Economic Partnership
At bilateral summit meetings, Japan reached an agreement with its partners, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, to initiate official negotiations for bilateral economic partnership agreements.
(7) North Korea
Japan explained its intention to work towards normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea by comprehensively resolving the various outstanding issues between the two countries, including the nuclear issue, the missile issue, and the abduction issue. The ASEAN leaders expressed their understanding of Japan's position and stated that, from the perspective of maintaining stability in the entire region, peaceful solution of the various issues of the Korean Peninsula is in the high interest of all ASEAN countries.
(8) Iraq
Japan explained its policy of dispatching Self-Defence Forces (SDF) for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq, and gained the understanding of the ASEAN leaders regarding Japan's position to provide assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq.
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