Overview and Evaluation of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's Visit to Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand

January 2000
Asian Affairs Bureau

Overview

(1) Cambodia (January 10 to 12; the first visit by a Japanese prime minister in 43 years)

Audience with King Norodom Sihanouk; meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen; courtesy call on President of the Senate Chea Sim and President of the National Assembly Prince Norodom Ranariddh; visit to the memorial of the late Superintendent Haruyuki Takada (civilian police officer) and Atsuhito Nakata (United Nations volunteer); tours of the land-mine site at Siem Reap and of the Angkor monuments, where Japan has been participating in restoration activities.

(2) Laos (January 12 to 13; the first visit by a Japanese prime minister in 33 years)

Courtesy call on President Khamtay Siphandone; meeting with Prime Minister Sisavath Keobounphanh; informal talk with members of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers.

(3) Thailand (January 13 to 15; the first official visit by a Japanese prime minister in 7 years)

Audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej; meeting with Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai; discussion with Thai youths.

Evaluation

(1) The main purposes of the recent visits to the three countries were to demonstrate the stance that Japan will continue to provide support for the development and prosperity of the expanded Association of South East Asian Nations and to explain Japan's approach to the upcoming G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit meeting and listen to the opinions of the countries-especially, Thailand, which currently chairs ASEAN--so that the views of Asian countries will be reflected at the Summit meeting.

(2) At the meetings with the national leaders, Prime Minister Obuchi laid out the concrete plans of Japan's support for the respective countries, following the prime minister's announcement at the November 1999 ASEAN+3 Summit meeting in Manila of Japan's intention to take the initiative in developing human resources and correcting economic disparities among ASEAN countries. Toward the Cambodian and Laotian prime ministers in particular, Prime Minister Obuchi expressed Japan's firm support for the two countries, which have recently joined ASEAN and are vigorously undertaking domestic reforms in order to take active part in the international society; he also expresses that Japan would provide every possible assistance in such areas as policy formulation and human resources development. His remarks were highly evaluated and were received with gratitude.

(3) It is particularly significant that, at a time when talks between Cambodia and the United Nations over the issue of the Khmer Rouge trial have reached the final stages, Prime Minister Obuchi made a direct appeal to Prime Minister Hun Sen for a breakthrough in the situation in line with international expectations. It is also significant that both President Khamtay and Prime Minister Sisavath of Laos showed positive attitudes toward Japan's intellectual support in drawing up economic policies for Laos, a program on which agreement was reached in 1999, just as this support was about to begin in earnest.

(4) Concerning the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit, Prime Minister Obuchi explained to the three countries' leaders that Japan, while maintaining a global perspective, hopes to send out an optimistic and confident message that takes full account of Asian interests. In response, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen gave his thoughts on the issue of economic disparities among countries in Southeast Asia and among those of the Greater Mekong Subregion, which are feared to widen further in the globalization process, while Laotian Prime Minister Sisavath commented on the importance of developing human resources in order to cope with globalization. Prime Minister Chuan of Thailand, the country currently holding the ASEAN chair, pointed out the importance of harmonizing the policies of such international organizations as the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization, taking into consideration the situations of developing nations. Also, as head of the host country for this year's U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, he strongly requested that Prime Minister Obuchi, as the head of the country chairing this year's G8 Summit meeting, attend the upcoming UNCTAD conference in February.

(5) Prime Minister Obuchi received a heartwarming welcome in each of the three countries. There is no doubt that this visit has greatly contributed to furthering Japan's friendly relations with Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Through this visit, moreover, Prime Minister Obuchi was able to paint a more substantial picture of Japanese policies that give weight to the interests of Asia, and in particular of ASEAN; this has served to further strengthen the relationship of mutual trust between Japan and ASEAN member countries, which was bolstered through the assistance that Japan extended on the occasion of the Asian financial crisis in 1997.