Half a century of building a trusted partnership between ASEAN and Japan

Marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of relations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan adopted a Joint Statement on the Establishment of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Jakarta, Indonesia in September 2023. Building on the achievements, ASEAN and Japan aim to strengthen cooperation and continue to actively contribute to peace , stability and sustainable prosperity in the region.

ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS)

Regarding the relationship between ASEAN and Japan, at the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio stated that the two sides share a trustworthy partnership, closely linked from heart to heart. At the Summit, the head of the Japanese Government expressed his desire to continue participating and making active and effective contributions to ASEAN-led mechanisms. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio also affirmed his consistent support for ASEAN's solidarity and central role, as well as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo- Pacific (AOIP), which shares fundamental principles with Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), based on pillars including the rule of law, peace and prosperity in the region. Leaders of ASEAN member countries and Japan maintain close dialogue through various channels and forums, including the ASEAN-Japan Summit, Ministerial Meetings, Senior Officials and Experts Meetings. At the same time, Japan actively participates in many mechanisms and activities chaired by ASEAN, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF)... Over the past 50 years, ASEAN-Japan relations have developed comprehensively and dynamically in all fields. As the second largest foreign direct investor and fourth largest trading partner of ASEAN, Japan is considered one of the Association's "most reliable" economic partners. The Japanese Government supports ASEAN's solidarity, unity and central role, and has carried out many practical cooperation activities to support ASEAN in building its community. According to Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN Kiya Masahiko, the values that ASEAN and Japan share are peace, trust and mutual respect. One of the important pillars for the achievements of cooperation between the two sides is the attention that both ASEAN and Japan pay to people-to-people and cultural exchanges, especially among young people and intellectuals. Aiming to build a solid foundation for solidarity in the region, since 2007, the Japanese Government has initiated the Japan-East Asian Countries Exchange for Youth and Students (JENESYS) Program. Through the Program, Southeast Asian youth are invited to Japan and Japanese youth to countries in the region for exchanges and activities with the aim of contributing to deepening mutual understanding among the generation of young people who will take on the responsibility of building the country in the future. To date, the total number of members of the Association of Southeast Asian Alumni in Japan (ASCOJA) is more than 50,000. By establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership, ASEAN and Japan aim to maintain and promote trade and investment exchanges, stabilize production and supply chains, and effectively implement the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). At the same time, the two sides shared the orientation to promote cooperation in disaster management, innovation, digital transformation, climate change response, clean energy transition, green growth, etc. As an active and proactive member of ASEAN, Vietnam always supports the strong development and closer connection in ASEAN-Japan relations. According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu, the newly established Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership foundation will actively contribute to further promoting ASEAN-Japan relations, bringing practical benefits to the people of Japan, Vietnam and ASEAN. The Ambassador emphasized that over the past half century, ASEAN and Japan have become indispensable partners, bringing great benefits to both sides. The upcoming 50th Anniversary Summit in Tokyo is an opportunity for ASEAN and Japan to review the past journey, the achievements of cooperation and set out directions, creating new momentum, and jointly developing stronger bilateral relations in the future.

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