Countries & Regions

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Brunei Darussalam to attend ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, held a meeting with H.E. Dato' Sri Anifah bin Aman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, for approximately 30 minutes from around 11:10 a.m. (local time) on Monday, July 1. The outline of the meeting is as follows.

1. Opening

   Minister Kishida congratulated Minister Anifah on his reappointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, and Minister Anifah thanked him in response. The ministers shared the view that they would continue to strengthen bilateral relations in light of the opportunity presented by the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.

2. Bilateral Relations

   In the field of the economy, the ministers confirmed that they would promote cooperation related to infrastructure construction in Malaysia. Minister Anifah welcomed the participation of Japanese companies in various fields.

   Minister Kishida stated that it was important for Malaysia’s Look East policy to be developed in a manner that would appropriately reflect a new age. The ministers confirmed the need to promote cooperation under the Look East policy, and shared the view that their countries would develop the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), which could be called a culmination of the Look East policy, as a regional center for science and technology education.

   Furthermore, Minister Kishida stated that Japan hoped to invite a number of Malaysian youths to Japan through the JENESYS 2.0 program. He communicated that Japan had restarted exemptions of visas for nationals of Malaysia holding ordinary passports on July 1 in order to promote tourism exchange. Minister Anifah expressed his gratitude, and showed his expectation for deepening people’s exchange of both countries.

3. Regional Situations

   The ministers shared the view that they would closely collaborate to ensure good outcomes from ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings. They also had an exchange of opinions on situations in the Asia-Pacific region.