Ratifying amity and co-operation

The Tokyo Declaration and the ASEAN-Japan Plan of Action contain a host of measures to enhance relations and co-operation between the two sides, ranging from human trafficking and terrorism to drugs and piracy.

Since the first ASEAN-Japan Summit in 1977 which produced the Fukuda Doctrine of heart-to-heart diplomacy, Japan has been a vital presence in the development of the ASEAN region. It has been the largest source of ASEAN's foreign direct investment and tourists, and its second largest trading partner. Japan has also been the region's biggest donor of aid, and it channeled US$80 billion (RM304 billion) to help ASEAN countries recover from the 1997 financial crisis.

However, after 25 years, the special relationship between ASEAN and Japan needed to be taken a step further and its future direction plotted. The Commemorative Summit produced positive signs that the ties between the two sides are heading towards new levels. It is significant, for example, that Japan has finally signed ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Co-operation, the regional non-aggression pact ratified in 1976, after years of resistance.

Malaysia can be expected to pay special attention to the progress of free trade talks with Japan, which have been scheduled to begin early next year, the establishment of the Malaysia-Japan Technical University, and the development of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-West ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). It is also hoped that Japan will respond positively to the Prime Minister's appeal to Japan to provide assistance to the proposed anti-corruption academy and that the other ASEAN members will support the regional anti-graft center.

While Japan has long been a model and inspiration to Malaysia, it is hoped that the Commemorative Summit will mark a new watershed in ASEAN-Japan relations.

-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur