[Title] Chairman's Statement of the Tenth ASEAN-Japan Summit

1. The Tenth ASEAN-Japan Summit chaired by the H. E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines, was successfully convened on 14 January 2007. The Heads of State/Government of the ASEAN Member Countries held a productive meeting with H.E. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan.

2. We expressed satisfaction on the overall progress in the Plan of Action to Implement the Declaration for the Dynamic and Enduring ASEAN-Japan Partnership in the New Millennium adopted in Tokyo in 2003 on the occasion of 30th year anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations.

3. We recalled the Joint Statement of the Ninth ASEAN-Japan Summit reiterating Japan's support for the realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015. We underscored the importance of narrowing the development gap in ASEAN. The ASEAN Leaders thanked Japan for its support to the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and welcomed the establishment in March 2006 of the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).

4. We welcomed Japan's fresh grant of US$52 million to help bridge the development gap in ASEAN through the promotion of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic partnership. We noted Japan's assistance to the development of the Mekong region as well as Japan's new initiative to expand its ODA to the Mekong region for the next three years.

5. We reiterated our deep commitment to strengthen cooperation in addressing the problem of the avian influenza and other pandemic diseases. We noted with satisfaction that the regional stockpile of 500,000 courses of Tamiflu and 700,000 sets of personal equipment were completed as a JAIF project. We welcomed Japan's new pledge to provide assistance of US$67 million over the US$150 million contribution already disbursed based on the pledge made at the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza held in January 2006 in Beijing.

6. We welcomed Japan's support in the area to disaster mitigation efforts in the region. We look forward to the constructive participation of ASEAN Member Countries and Japan in the International Forum on Tsunami and Earthquake to be held in Kobe this month.

7. We called for follow-up action on an earlier decision to initiate joint flagship projects in culture, human resources development and small and medium industries. The ASEAN Leaders welcomed Japan's initiative on human resource development for peace-building. Japan also reaffirmed its commitment to fund exchange programs, including vocational and higher education.

8. We welcomed Japan's large-scale youth exchange initiative totaling US$315 million over the next five years, which would include the invitation to 6,000 young people annually from ASEAN and other EAS member countries to Japan. We also welcomed Japan's proposal for an "East Asia Youth Ship" project to commemorate the ASEAN's 40th anniversary.

9. The Leaders of ASEAN commended Japan's commitment to enhance its support for other sub-regional development endeavors, such as the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).

10. We reiterated our determination to conclude a satisfactory and mutually beneficial ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement by April 2007, as scheduled. The ASEAN Leaders expect the AJCEP to be more than a compendium of Japan's bilateral Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with individual ASEAN Member Countries. We instructed our Economic Ministers and Senior Officials to exert all efforts to achieve this objective.

11. We noted the significant recommendations of the ASEAN-Japan Eminent Persons' Committee on the reform of the ASEAN-Japan Centre and instructed our relevant Ministers and Senior Officials to undertake the reform of the ASEAN-Japan Centre as highlighted in the Third Executive Report on the Progress of Implementation of the ASEAN-Japan Plan of Action.

12. We welcomed the launching of the ASEAN-Japan Counterterrorism Dialogue in June 2006, and also welcomed Malaysia's offer to host the Dialogue in 2007.

13. The Leaders of ASEAN thanked Japan for strengthening cooperation in maritime security through capacity-building for ASEAN Member Countries, including the provision and sharing of modern equipment, ships, and training.

14. We agreed to establish the ASEAN-Japan Eminent Persons' Group to elaborate the concept of the Joint Statement entitled "Deepening and Broadening of the Strategic Partnership" adopted by the Leaders of 9th ASEAN-Japan Summit in Kuala Lumpur and to explore ways to translate the concept into action.

15. We exchanged views on regional and international developments. We expressed grave concern over the recent developments on the Korean Peninsula. We condemn the recent missile launches and the nuclear test conducted by North Korea, and urge North Korea to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs and to work towards the expeditious implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions 1695 and 1718. We urge North Korea to take concrete and effective steps toward the full implementation of the Joint Statement of 19 September 2005. We also urge North Korea to respond to the humanitarian concerns of the international community, including the abduction issue.

16. We noted with satisfaction the progress in East Asia cooperation. We reiterated the importance of advancing East Asia cooperation under the ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit and other frameworks in a mutually complementary manner. We also noted with satisfaction the holding of the 1st East Asia Gender and Equality Ministerial Meeting and the Informal Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology. We agreed to a Track II study of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA). We welcomed Japan's proposal to establish an Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).

17. We welcomed Japan's recognition of its support for ASEAN as being in its national interest. We shared Japan's sentiment that ASEAN-Japan strategic partnership is important to the stability and prosperity of the region.

18. Finally, we commended Japan's initiative called "Asia Gateway," comprising three concepts: Towards and Open Japan, Working Together Towards an Open Asia, and Respect for a Diverse Asia.

19. We look forward to the convening of the Second East Asia Summit (EAS) on 15 January 2007 in Cebu, Philippines.