JOINT STATEMENT
AT THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN FOR AN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

1. We, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 13th December, 2005, and discussed candidly how our two countries should work closely to fulfil our shared responsibility to contribute to the stability, security and prosperity of our two countries and the East Asia region as well as the international community as a whole.
2. We believe that closer economic partnership between Malaysia and Japan will accelerate sound economic development, promote the well being of the peoples and contribute to the capacity building of both countries as well as the region. We also recognise the need to remove unnecessary barriers to cross-border flows of goods, persons, investment and services, and realise the necessity to work together and co-operate further in order to maximise the benefits of globalisation for all.
3. We, recognising that globalisation presents many new economic and strategic challenges and opportunities to us, affirm our determination to strengthen our economic and political relationship based on the idea of "acting together and advancing together." Today, by signing the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Malaysia for an Economic Partnership (hereinafter referred to as "the Agreement"), we have stepped forward to a new stage of our bilateral economic relationship and started a new chapter of our strategic partnership.
4. The Agreement will increase the cross-border flows of goods, persons, investment and services and strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries. Furthermore, it provides for the protection of intellectual property, controlling anti-competitive activities, improvement of business environment as well as co-operation in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and plantation, education and human resource development, information and communications technology, science and technology, small and medium enterprises, tourism, and environment. Statements on sustainable forest management and co-operation are attached to this Joint Statement.
5. We hope that, by signing the Agreement, Japan and Malaysia will make the most of our respective competitive edge and promote the development of our economies which will bring about prosperity and stability to peoples in both countries and lay an important foundation for building an East Asian community.
6. We, representing the Governments and peoples of both Japan and Malaysia, now celebrate the signing of the Agreement which will take our relationship in economic and political areas to a new height.

Kuala Lumpur, December 13, 2005

Junichiro Koizumi Prime Minister of Japan

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Prime Minister of Malaysia

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Attachment 1

SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT AND TRADE IN LEGALLY OBTAINED TIMBER

Desiring to further promote fruitful co-operation between the two countries through bilateral and multilateral frameworks such as the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Asia Forest Partnership (AFP), and sharing the view that trade in illegally obtained timber would undermine the confidence in the efforts of both countries to promote sustainable forest management, the two Prime Ministers decide to establish a bilateral expert group under the framework of co-operation in the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and plantation related commodities in relation to the Agreement, which will hold consultations in order to promote sustainable forest management in both countries on:

(a) measures in promoting sustainable forest management in both countries;

(b) enhancing trade in timber and timber products from sustainable resources;

(c) research and development and transfer of technology on innovative measures and technologies on forest and wood utilisation; and

(d) international frameworks concerning forest and timber including ITTO and AFP.

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Attachment 2

CO-OPERATION

1. Taking into account Malaysia's National Development Policy and Japan's policy of economic and financial co-operation for Malaysia, the two Prime Ministers affirm that Malaysia and Japan will promote co-operation under the Agreement.
2. Koizumi-Abdullah Training Programme for Economic Partnership (Economic Partnership Programme: EPP)

   (a) Recognising that Malaysia's "Look East Policy" has played a vital role in its socio-economic development and establishment of its industrial basis, and believing that there is a need to upgrade the co-operation to meet the new challenges of economic globalisation, the two Prime Ministers have decided to set up a new training programme, namely "Koizumi-Abdullah Training Programme for Economic Partnership (Economic Partnership Programme: EPP)".

   (b) Taking into account the main objectives of co-operation provided for in the Agreement, the EPP will provide courses which contribute to the development of human resources in Malaysia and to the promotion of mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries.

   (c) Under the EPP and other existing schemes between the two countries, Japan will accept about 1,000 students and trainees over the next ten years from relevant Malaysian institutions in relevant institutions, universities and private companies.

3. Co-operation Projects and Programmes

   (a) Malaysia and Japan will implement the projects and programmes specified in the Appendix, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Agreement, as expeditiously as possible after its entry into force.
   JP Comment: The purpose of this insertion is to make it clear that the projects and programmes will be implemented within the framework of JMEPA.

   (b) The projects and programmes will be periodically reviewed at the Sub-Committee on Co-operation.

   (c) Any matter that may arise from the implementation of the projects and programmes will be discussed at the Sub-Committee.

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Appendix

Projects and Programmes

	No.	Projects and Programmes
Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Plantation	1	Development of animal feed from agriculture waste
	2	Co-operation and assistance to the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) to be the testing body for the national certification system for wood based industry in Malaysia
	3	Co-operation and technical assistance to Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) in establishing a national certification system for wood based industry in Malaysia
	4	Understanding of Japan's Animal Health Safety
Education and Human Resource Development	5	Support to set up an Institute for Special Education
	6	Capacity building for social welfare services - Supporting programme for Malaysian people with disabilities
	7	Strengthening and enhancing the capabilities and capacities of DOSH to enforce the laws related to occupational safety and health in Malaysia
	8	HELP (Higher Education Loan Fund Project) and Look East Policy
	9	Holding of Seminars and Training Courses in Japan under JICA scheme
		- food processing and preservation technology - agricultural mechanization for sustainable farming system
		- utilisation and preservation techniques for animal products
		- seminar on training management in vocational training institutions - seminar on human resources development administration
		- intellectual disabilities - occupational safety management in construction industry
		- environmental risk management in the workplace
		- Information Technology for School Teachers and Staffs - web application specialist for e-government promotion
		- seminar for staff training on evaluation management of national R&D project - research on standards material reference and evaluation for industry
		- technical support for SMEs promotion (biotechnology / polymer technology / organic chemistry / inorganic chemistry &metal materials)
		- seminar on project appraisal for industry and SMEs development
		- tourism promotion & marketing - sustainable tourism development
		- industrial pollution control engineering - environment policy and environmental management system
		- biodiversity information system - urban transportation and environment
		- air pollution control - air quality management policy
		- operation and maintenance of urban water supply system - comprehensive waste management technique
Information and Communications Technology	10	Dispatch of advisor for Information and Communications Technology
	11	Enhancement of R&D cooperation between the NICT and MMU
	12	Co-operation in Tsunami Early Warning Technology
Science and Technology	13	Hyper-fine Technology on Natural Rubber for Global Carbon Cycle
	14	Synthesis of novel palm products based polyols for visco-elastic polyurethane forms
Small and Medium Enterprises	15	Support to export promotion of handicraft products
	16	Nurturing of SMEs - Promotion of supporting industry
	17	Trade Tie-up Promotion Programme
	18	Continuation of current cooperation in the field of automobile industry (dispatch of experts)
	19	Development of human resources for small and medium industries -Capacity building project for SMIDEC-
Tourism	20	Strategic Tourism Promotion in Malaysia
	21	Development study on formulation of a master plan to promote Eco-Tourism
Environment	22	Promotion of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects
	23	Co-operation on research concerning methods for an assessment of environmental impact by free trade
	24	Improvement of planning capability in sewerage sector

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