ASIATODAY.ID, TOKYO – ASEAN and Japan have agreed on a number of shared visions and plans for implementing future partnerships.
As partners in peace and stability, ASEAN and Japan continue to be committed to maintaining peace through inclusive collaboration, respect for the rules of international law, and strengthening ASEAN centrality.
“ASEAN leaders also expressed their appreciation for Japan’s full support for the implementation and prioritization of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and welcomed the planned Trilateral Mechanism Summit between Japan, China and South Korea as a form of habit of dialogue,” said the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. (Jokowi) when delivering a press statement with Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Fumio Kishida, in the series of High Level Conferences Celebrating 50 Years of ASEAN-Japan Friendly Relations and Cooperation, at The Okura Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, December 17 2023.
President Jokowi also said that the ASEAN-Japan partnership for 50 years has fostered trust in ASEAN and Japan’s partnership relations. President Jokowi believes that the ASEAN and Japan partnership will continue to contribute to maintaining regional stability and peace.
“In the spirit of friendship, I believe that the ASEAN and Japan partnership can continue to contribute to maintaining stability and peace, bringing people closer together, and driving economic growth in the region and the world,” said President Jokowi.
In addition, President Jokowi said that ASEAN-Japan also agreed to increase cooperation in the fields of education, research development and the digital economy.
Meanwhile, as cooperation partners in the economic and social fields, ASEAN and Japan will strengthen cooperation in two priority sectors.
In the food and energy security sector, strengthening is carried out through agricultural technology cooperation and encouraging investment and technology transfer.
“Accelerating digital transformation through efforts to upskill and reskill human resources, as well as increasing digital connectivity, especially for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,” he said.
Apart from that, Jokowi also expressed ASEAN’s hopes for Japan to support ASEAN’s digital economic framework and optimize the use of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
“As well as a fairer and more sustainable energy transition,” he added
Stability and Peace
Meanwhile, at the ASEAN-Japan Summit, President Jokowi emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and peace to make ASEAN the center of world economic growth.
According to Jokowi, ASEAN has strong capital with economic growth of 4.5 percent which makes it the highest globally and the world’s 3rd largest population, half of which is under 30 years old.
“However, these modalities will be in vain if stability and peace are not maintained, so the ASEAN-Japan partnership must be part of the solution to maintain stability and peace,” said President Jokowi.
On this occasion, President Jokowi conveyed three ways to maintain stability and peace.
The first is inclusive collaboration where ASEAN wants the Indo-Pacific region to be seen as a potential for cooperation that supports peace.
“Therefore, the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and other inclusive collaboration initiatives need to continue to be encouraged. “I welcome the plan for the Trilateral Mechanism Summit between Japan, China and South Korea as a form of habit of dialogue that needs to continue to be fostered,” said President Jokowi.
Second, respect for the rules of international law. President Jokowi said that the humanitarian tragedy in Palestine and the conflict in Ukraine were the result of non-compliance with international law.
“We must prevent open conflict in the region by complying with international law and rules, including UNCLOS 1982 and regional norms,” said President Jokowi.
Third, strengthening ASEAN’s centrality as an anchor of regional peace and stability that has been tested and must continue to be maintained. Therefore, Japan’s support as an ASEAN partner continues to be needed, including in resolving the Myanmar issue through the implementation of the troika mechanism.
President Jokowi also believes that joint efforts by ASEAN and Japan can achieve common goals towards security, stability and shared prosperity in the region.
“Let’s continue to strengthen collaboration and cooperation for the prosperity and welfare of our people,” said President Jokowi. (AT Network)
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