Japan seeks sinere partnership in East Asia

Japan seeks sinere partnership in East Asia

Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister, Japan

Part 2 of 2

Japan-ASEAN cooperation must extend its reach globally. I
believe we should increase our cooperation on such issues as
peace and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan, measures for
disarmament and non-proliferation and reform of the United
Nations. We have a role to play in the world, and we should play
it. In particular, I hope to see active participation on the part
of the countries of ASEAN at the Ministerial Conference on
Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan to be held in Tokyo on
Jan. 21-22. In the recent past, the people of Southeast Asia have
suffered from war and violence; so they well understand the
hardship that the people of Afghanistan have endured for so many
years.

A third area of cooperation between Japan and the countries of
ASEAN relates to the future. I would like to propose initiatives
in five areas.

One, we must focus on education and human resources
development, which form the foundation for national development.
I would like to dispatch a governmental mission to ASEAN
countries to promote exchange and cooperation between
universities. Some Japanese universities have already opened
courses in English as well as Japanese language courses for
students in ASEAN by utilizing the Internet. Through such efforts
I expect that university exchanges will develop. I would also
like to continue the training of information and communications
technology engineers in both Japan and ASEAN in order to enhance
practical opportunities in the region. In addition, I emphasize
the importance of the institution building and capacity building
in governance, as well as the promotion of supporting industries.

Two, I propose that 2003 be designated as the Year of Japan-
ASEAN Exchange. We should present a number of ideas to stimulate
exchanges in all areas, including intellectual and cultural. I
also believe it would be useful to strengthen the network that
links research institutions in Japan and ASEAN countries.

Three, I would like to propose an Initiative for Japan-ASEAN
Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Of course, we will cooperate
in the new round of multilateral trade negotiations under the
WTO. At the same time, we must strengthen broad ranged economic
partnership by stretching further than trade and investment -- to
such areas as science and technology, human resource development
and tourism. The Japan-Singapore Economic Agreement for a New Age
Partnership, which was signed yesterday, is an example of such
economic partnership. I would like to see us generate concrete
proposals for endorsement at the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting.

Four, in order to pursue development in a new era, I propose
the convening of an Initiative for Development in East Asia
meeting. Based on East Asia's development experiences to date, my
hope is that such a meeting would provide an opportunity for us
to reexamine where we are and to consider together future models
for development-thus raising the standard of living for the
peoples of the region.

Five, I propose that Japan and ASEAN security cooperation,
including transnational issues such as terrorism, be drastically
intensified. Now, more than ever, we realize that one's own
security is at stake when a neighbor's wall is ablaze. I believe
we need an agreement for regional cooperation on piracy, and I
will promote consultation to achieve that end. We must band
together to eradicate the plague of piracy. I would also like to
strengthen cooperation between the Coast Guard of Japan and ASEAN
counterparts. I also wish to promote regional cooperation in
strengthening energy security, in light of the gap between rapid
increase of energy demand and lagging energy supply within Asia.

Finally, let me turn to how cooperation between Japan and
ASEAN should be linked to cooperation with all of East Asia. I
believe that East Asia's whole can be greater than the sum of its
parts.

If you took a poll of the world's economists and asked them
what region of the world they believe to have the greatest
potential in the immediate future, I have no doubt of their
answer. They would say East Asia. By cooperating, I believe we
can gain the critical mass to advance this potential.

Our goal should be the creation of a "community that acts
together and advances together." And we should achieve this
through expanding East Asia cooperation founded upon the Japan-
ASEAN relationship. While recognizing our historical, cultural,
ethnic and traditional diversity, I would like to see countries
in the region become a group that works together in harmony. Our
pasts may be varied and divergent, but our futures can be united
and supportive of each other. The realization of such a group
needs strategic considerations in order to produce positive
consequences. And in order to contribute to global challenges, we
must play a role in linking our region to the world.

Certainly, such an objective cannot be achieved overnight.

The first step is to make the best use of the framework of
ASEAN+3. We should promote cooperation on the broad range of
areas that I have been discussing today, in order to secure
prosperity and stability in our region.

The deepening of Japan's cooperation with China and the
Republic of Korea will also be a significant force in propelling
this community. The Trilateral Meeting of the leaders of Japan,
China and the Republic of Korea set some wonderful precedents. I
would like to highly praise the active role China is willing to
play in regional cooperation. With its wealth of human resources
and huge economic potential, China will surely make an enormous
contribution to regional development.

In addition, I would like to express my respect for the
Republic of Korea's dynamic initiatives in promoting regional
cooperation. I can confirm that the three leaders of Japan, China
and the Republic of Korea are resolved to cooperate with each
other; because we all know that our trilateral cooperation will
make great contribution to prosperity of the region.

An important challenge is strengthening economic partnership
in the region. The Initiative for Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive
Economic Partnership that I mentioned earlier will be an
important platform for this purpose. I expect that the ASEAN-
China Free Trade Area and moves toward economic partnership
between ASEAN and Australia and New Zealand will make similar
contributions.

If one considers the specific challenges to be tackled in the
region, it is only natural that these countries will deepen their
partnerships with each other.

Through this cooperation, I expect that the countries of
ASEAN, Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New
Zealand will be core members of such a community.

The community should be by no means an exclusive entity.
Indeed, practical cooperation in the region would be founded on
close partnership with those outside the region. In particular,
the role to be played by the United States is indispensable
because of its contribution to regional security and the scale of
its economic interdependence with the region. Japan will continue
to enhance its alliance with the United States. Cooperation with
Southwest Asia, including India, is also of importance, as is
cooperation with the Pacific nations through APEC, the Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation group, and with Europe through ASEM,
the Asia-Europe Meeting. APEC and ASEM are important tools to
link our region to other regions.

Through such efforts, the community can take meaningful
actions for regional cooperation. I believe that this in turn
will benefit global stability and prosperity.

Let me summarize by using an analogy. I am a great fan of
opera. To me, the appeal of opera lies in the fact that a myriad
of singers and instruments, each possessed of different qualities
of voice and sound, against the backdrop of a grand stage and
beautiful costumes, come together in one complete and impressive
drama. The community that I have outlined today is exactly such a
creation. As we "act together and advance together," let us in
concert compose a harmonious community of many voices raised for
the greater good.

The above is based on the address of the Prime Minister at
Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies on Jan. 14.