ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo, Japan on 14 December 2013

    Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong attended the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo, Japan today to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations.  The meeting was co-chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and was attended by the Leaders of ASEAN Member States and Japan, as well as the ASEAN Secretary-General.

    The Leaders reviewed existing cooperation under the ASEAN-Japan Plan of Action 2011-2015 to Implement the Joint Declaration for Enhancing ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership for Prospering Together and discussed ways to strengthen the ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership.  In line with the objective of the ASEAN-Japan 10 Year Strategic Economic Cooperation Roadmap (2012 – 2022) to double the flow of goods, services and investments by 2022, the Leaders announced the substantial conclusion of the negotiations on the Services and Investment Chapters of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement.  

    The Leaders expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Abe's Five New Principles for Japanese Diplomacy, which outlined Japan’s renewed engagement with ASEAN, including the promotion of people-to-people exchanges.  In this connection, the Leaders agreed to explore the possibility of concluding an ASEAN-Japan Air Services Agreement.  The Leaders also emphasised the importance of working towards a disaster resilient ASEAN Community and welcomed Japan’s proposal to strengthen ASEAN-Japan disaster management cooperation. 

     The Leaders adopted the “Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation: Shared Vision, Shared Identity, Shared Future” and its accompanying Implementation Plan, and issued the “Joint Statement of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit: Hand in hand, facing regional and global challenges”.  The Leaders affirmed the strong and close ties forged over the past 40 years and looked forward to the next phase of ASEAN-Japan relations. 

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SINGAPORE

14 DECEMBER 2013