Japan reveals 90 per cent of ASEAN cooperation programmes are underway

Jakarta (ANTARA) - More than 90 per cent of the 130 action points within the Japan-ASEAN cooperation programme, as detailed in the Implementation Plan of the ASEAN-Japan Joint Vision Statement on Friendship and Cooperation, have been executed or are currently in the process of implementation. This statement was delivered by the Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN, Yonetani Koji, during an interview with ANTARA as part of the International Corner programme in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to Yonetani, this achievement was confirmed during a joint evaluation conducted through a joint committee in May 2024. “We have jointly confirmed that more than 90 per cent of the action points have been implemented or are in the process of implementation,” said Ambassador Yonetani.

He noted that the 130 action points agreed upon during the Summit commemorating the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations cover three pillars: heart-to-heart partnership across generations; partnership for co-creating economies and societies for the future; and partnership for peace and stability.

Ambassador Yonetani stated that the implementation of these various programmes demonstrates that the relationship between Japan and ASEAN has evolved from one based on mutual understanding to a strategic partnership realised through concrete actions. “I can say that the heart-to-heart relationship we have built has now evolved into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and Japan. This partnership is translated into concrete actions and practical cooperation that we plan, execute, and evaluate together on a regular basis,” he remarked.

In 2023, ASEAN and Japanese leaders announced the Joint Vision Statement during the Summit commemorating 50 years of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. This statement subsequently served as the foundation for the implementation plan containing the 130 action points.

Yonetani added that the progress in implementation is inseparable from the foundation of trust built by Japan and ASEAN over several decades. He emphasised that trust is the most significant achievement in the relationship between the two parties. “The most significant achievement in our relationship with ASEAN, and I can say this with full confidence, is the trust we have built over the years,” he said.

He noted that Japan and ASEAN have worked together since 1977, building a foundation of mutual trust, respect, and understanding. This relationship has continued to grow through shared experiences, including navigating the Asian financial crisis, major earthquakes in Japan, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking ahead, Japan and ASEAN will face new challenges, including transformative technological developments such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and climate change. Japan, he noted, considers cooperation to address these opportunities and challenges to be increasingly vital.