Ratifying amity and co-operation

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