Jakarta, June 21, 2022— Senior officials from ASEAN and Japan underlined their resolve to further improve collaboration and expand their partnership as the ASEAN-Japan relationship celebrates its 50th anniversary next year.
The Senior Officials met via videoconference yesterday at the 37th ASEAN-Japan Forum. The summit acknowledged the significant progress made in ASEAN-Japan collaboration in the four pillars. They are- peace and stability; prosperity; quality of life; and heart-to-heart relationships during the previous year.
What is ASEAN?
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional organization that brings dissimilar neighbors together to discuss economic and security challenges. But its influence is limited.
Nonetheless, The ASEAN countries have a combined population of 662 million people [PDF] and a gross domestic product (GDP) of $3.2trillion. The organization has been a driving force behind Asian economic integration.
Moreover, It helps in participating in discussions to construct the world’s largest free trade pact. It works for negotiating six free trade agreements with other Asian nations.
ASEAN-Japan Collaboration
Notably, all action lines in the Revised Implementation Plan of the 2013 Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Collaboration have been addressed. It is with numerous activities taking place across all fields of cooperation.
As a matter of fact, ASEAN praised Japan’s assistance in creating the ASEAN Community and combating the COVID-19 epidemic. Actually, It is particularly Japan’s major contribution to the founding of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.
Furthermore, ASEAN and Japan emphasized the need for strengthening cooperation in areas. The areas are peace and stability, commerce and connectivity, health security, digital transformation, smart cities, environmental protection, sustainable development and resilience, and people-to-people interaction.
In accordance with the Joint Statement of the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit on Collaboration on the AOIP, both parties resolved to deepen practical cooperation in key areas of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
The two sides decided to declare 2024 the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. With both sides hosting a series of activities throughout the year.
Furthermore, a memorial summit will be convened in December 2024. The preparations for the milestone year began with the organization of a logo design and catchphrase contest. It drew hundreds of entries from ASEAN Member States and Japan.
Senior officials also discussed regional and international topics of mutual concern and interest. The meeting co-chaired by Thailand’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Thani Thongphakdi and Japan’s Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Yamada Shigeo.
Senior officers from ASEAN member states, as well as representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, were in attendance.
