[Title] CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT OF THE 18TH ASEAN-JAPAN SUMMIT,

OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VISION

The 18th ASEAN-Japan Summit, chaired by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Honourable Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, was held on 22 November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Summit was attended by all Heads of State/Government of ASEAN Member States and the Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Shinzo Abe.

2. Japan welcomed the establishment of the ASEAN Community, which is a culmination of a five-decade long effort of region-building towards a politically cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible Community. The ASEAN Leaders encouraged Japan to contribute towards the realisation of the ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together.

3. We reiterated the importance of the long-standing friendship between ASEAN and Japan, and reaffirmed the importance of the ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership, which has contributed to regional peace, stability and prosperity. The ASEAN Leaders appreciated Japan's continued support for ASEAN's central role in the evolving regional architecture through ASEAN-led processes, in particular the ASEAN Plus Three, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum as well as Japan's support for the strengthening of the East Asia Summit as it commemorates its 10th anniversary in 2015.

4. We noted with satisfaction the steady progress in the implementation of the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and its Implementation Plan adopted in Tokyo, Japan in 2013 on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations. The ASEAN Leaders recognised the important contribution of the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF 2.0) and the Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund towards the implementation of various projects under ASEAN-Japan cooperation.

5. We noted that Japan remained ASEAN's third largest trading partner and the second largest source of FDI for ASEAN. Two-way trade between ASEAN and Japan reached US$229.1 billion in 2014, accounting for 9.1 per cent of ASEAN's total trade. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow from Japan to ASEAN amounted to US$13.4 billion, accounting for 9.8 per cent of total FDI inflow into ASEAN. We reiterated our commitment to double trade and investment flows by 2022 and recognised the significance of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) in deepening further economic integration between ASEAN and Japan. We applauded the conclusion of negotiations on Trade in Services including the Financial and Telecommunication annexes and Movement of Natural Persons (MNP) Chapters under the AJCEP Agreement and called for the conclusion of the investment negotiations within the year. We encouraged the immediate implementation of these outcomes.

6. We welcomed the progress made under the ASEAN-Japan 10-year Economic Cooperation Roadmap in various areas and welcomed Japan's proposal to support the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region, including expediting discussions on a credit guarantee system in the ASEAN-Japan region in cooperation with relevant organisations. We further welcomed the initiative to review the Roadmap in 2016 to take into account the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025.

7. We reiterated the importance of the ASEAN-Japan Public Private Dialogue, including with the Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN (FJCCIA), and recognised the important contribution of industry and academia to the Economic Cooperation Roadmap.

8. The ASEAN Leaders valued Japan's support for the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity. Recognising the critical need for infrastructure funding, the ASEAN Leaders welcomed Japan's initiative of Partnership for Quality Infrastructure, which would contribute to financing quality infrastructure in Asia and enhancing regional connectivity. We appreciated Japan's continued cooperation in the areas of land and sea connectivity and strongly encouraged Japan's support for better air connectivity, including the early conclusion of a more liberal and mutually beneficial ASEAN-Japan Air Services Agreement.

9. We also recognised that regional integration and narrowing the development divide are priorities in the ASEAN community-building process and towards that end, looked forward to Japan's continued cooperation and support for narrowing the development divide in the region, including through the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan II and its successor document. We also agreed to enhance sub-regional cooperation through implementation of the Tokyo Strategy 2015 for Mekong-Japan Cooperation and its Action Plan.

10. We recognised the importance of promoting research, development and distribution of leading low carbon technologies in realising low carbon growth and took note that clean coal, including high efficiency coal-fired power generation would contribute towards energy security and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

11. The ASEAN Leaders appreciated Japan's contribution in the area of disaster risk reduction and management, and welcomed its continued support for the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) and encouraged enhanced cooperation on the Implementation of the Work Program for the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Responses (AADMER).

12. The ASEAN Leaders appreciated Japan's support for promoting health development in the region and enhancing cooperation in the field of healthcare, including through the ASEAN- Japan Health Initiative.

13. The ASEAN Leaders welcomed Japan's consistent promotion of student exchanges between ASEAN and Japan. We also underscored the importance of closer collaboration for joint research through the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS), the launch of the ASEAN-Japan Joint Research Centres this year in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, and the inaugural Japan-ASEAN Exchange Program for Young ASEAN Officials Working in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).

14. We underscored the importance of promoting people-to-people contacts and noted with satisfaction the progress of various exchanges under the Japan East-Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths 2015 (JENESYS 2015), "WA-Project" and Sport for Tomorrow.

15. We attached great importance to enhancing our cooperation in the field of ICT through the ASEAN Smart Network Initiative and appreciated Japan's support for promoting ICT development in the region. We also recognised that cyber security is a growing global challenge which requires collective cooperation and noted with appreciation the activities agreed to in the Joint Ministerial Statement of the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Policy Meeting on Cybersecurity Cooperation.

16. Recognising the growing threat of terrorism, we reaffirmed our commitment to combat terrorism and transnational crime and looked forward to the implementation of the Work Plan for Cooperation to Combat Terrorism and Transnational Crime. The ASEAN Leaders also welcomed Japan's efforts in promoting peace and moderation through a High-Level Seminar on Peace-building, National Reconciliation and Democratisation in Asia, which was held in Tokyo, Japan on 20 June 2015.

17. ASEAN Leaders welcomed Japan's current efforts under Proactive Contribution to Peace based on the principle of international cooperation, in particular its intention to participate more actively in and enhance cooperation with the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and towards that end, took note of its new law entitled Legislation for Peace and Security of Japan and the International Community, adopted in September 2015.

18. We reaffirmed our support for the maintenance of peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and underscored the importance of maritime security, unimpeded commerce, freedom of navigation and over-flight in the region, as well as ensuring resolution of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

19. We shared the concerns expressed by some Leaders over recent and on-going developments in the South China Sea, which have eroded trust and confidence amongst parties, and may undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea.

20. We underscored the commitment of ASEAN Member States and China in ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, as well as to work towards the early establishment of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

21. We also underlined the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability on the Korean Peninsula and called for the denuclearisation of the Peninsula through peaceful dialogue. We called on all parties concerned to fully comply with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and to fulfil their commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. We also emphasised the importance of addressing issues of humanitarian concern, including the abduction issue.

22. We expressed appreciation to the ASEAN-Japan Centre for its continued contribution and emphasised the need to further utilise the Centre to promote trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between ASEAN and Japan. We noted the appointment of the new Secretary-General for the ASEAN-Japan Centre in September 2015 and looked forward to the further development of its activities.