Japan-Brunei Relations
Japan-Brunei Summit Meeting
November 13, 2017
pool photo
pool photo
On November 13, commencing at 12:40 p.m. (local time, 1:40 p.m. Japan time) for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, during his visit to Manila, Philippines to attend the ASEAN-related Summit Meetings, held a Japan-Brunei summit meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam. The overview is as follows.
1 Bilateral Relations
Prime Minister Abe expressed congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah this year, and stated that he intends to further strengthen bilateral relations, noting that Japan hopes to cooperate on Brunei’s economic diversification. He also expressed appreciation for Brunei’s cooperation as the coordinating country for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with Japan and stated that he intends to engage in close cooperation towards the further development of Japan-ASEAN relations.
In response, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah stated that Brunei would like to further develop bilateral cooperation in the energy field and also in matters relating to trade and investment relations. He noted that Brunei had cooperated for approximately three years as the coordinating country for ASEAN with Japan and stated that from the beginning of ASEAN Japan had been involved as the organization’s most important dialogue partner and that he hoped to continue close cooperation in the future.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah also expressed appreciation for Japan’s leadership in the forum of the TPP Ministerial Meeting, which had led to an agreement in principle at the ministerial level. Prime Minister Abe responded that he will continue to cooperate towards the early entry into force of the TPP.
In response, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah stated that Brunei would like to further develop bilateral cooperation in the energy field and also in matters relating to trade and investment relations. He noted that Brunei had cooperated for approximately three years as the coordinating country for ASEAN with Japan and stated that from the beginning of ASEAN Japan had been involved as the organization’s most important dialogue partner and that he hoped to continue close cooperation in the future.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah also expressed appreciation for Japan’s leadership in the forum of the TPP Ministerial Meeting, which had led to an agreement in principle at the ministerial level. Prime Minister Abe responded that he will continue to cooperate towards the early entry into force of the TPP.
2 Regional Affairs
The two leaders engaged in an exchange of views on regional affairs, including North Korea and the South China Sea, and confirmed that Japan and Brunei will work closely together on regional issues. In particular, with regard to North Korea, Prime Minister Abe stated that he would like to cooperate in sending out a strong message from the ASEAN-related Summit Meetings about the importance of using all means to place maximum pressure on North Korea, including the full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions. He also noted that the abductions issue is a matter of concern for the entire international community. In response, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah stated that Brunei has minimal relations with North Korea and that he fully understands Japan’s strong desire to resolve the abductions issue.