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The ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit: Objectives

November 2003
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Commemorative Summit meeting will be held in Tokyo at the State Guest House in Tokyo on December 11th and 12th, 2003 and will be attended by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and all ten ASEAN leaders.

The significance of the Summit.

  1. The ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit is the crowning event of the ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year 2003. The Summit will be a historical occasion where all ASEAN leaders will come together outside of the region for the first time.
  2. Japan will announce its unwavering support for ASEAN and will promote sincere and open partnership with ASEAN to 'act together and advance together' in the new era.

Concrete results.

  1. 'ASEAN-Japan Basic Document (tentative title)'
    ASEAN and Japan will agree on a statement which will reaffirm the basic direction of future ASEAN-Japan cooperation and give a broad guideline of ASEAN-Japan relationship.
  2. 'ASEAN-Japan Joint Action Plan (tentative title)'
    In line with the Basic Document, the specific measures to be implemented in the near future will be compiled.
  3. Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
    Efforts will be made to initiate formal negotiation with Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Main themes.

  1. The importance of ASEAN-Japan relationship
  2. Cooperation in political-security relations
  3. Cooperation in economic relations
  4. Cooperation in development relations
    IAI (Initiative for ASEAN Integration)
    Mekong Region Development
    BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area)
  5. Co-operation in social and cultural relations

ASEAN-Japan relations.
The History of ASEAN-Japan relations.

1967: Establishment of ASEAN
1977: The First ASEAN-Japan Summit (Fukuda Doctrine: 'Heart to Heart Understanding')
1997: The Asian Financial crisis (Japan announces assistance of USD 80 billion)
  The Third ASEAN-Japan Summit. (Since then the Summit has been held every year)
2002: Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to the ASEAN countries. (Prime Minister Koizumi's speech in Singapore: sincere and open partnership with ASEAN to 'act together and advance together' and the five initiatives)

XASEAN-Japan relationship today.

For ASEAN, Japan is the largest trading partner along with the US (2001. USA21.0%, Japan 20.2%.)
For Japan, ASEAN is the second largest trading partner following the US (2002. US 23.4%, ASEAN 14.2% (JPY13.4 trillion).)
For ASEAN, Japan is the largest source of investment in ASEAN (1995-2001. Japan 21.6%, EU 16.8%. Since 1951, Japan has invested JPY11.2 trillion.)
For ASEAN, Japan is the largest donor among DAC Member countries (2001. Japan 60%, US 8.2%.)
28.3% of Japan's bilateral ODA is destined for ASEAN (2001. USD2.1billion.)
For ASEAN, Japan is the largest source of tourists from outside the region (2002. Japan 15% (3.7million), China 11%, US 8%.)

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