[Title] CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT OF THE 20TH ASEAN-JAPAN SUMMIT, "Partnering for Change, Engaging the World"
1. The 20th ASEAN-Japan Summit was held on 13 November 2017 in Manila, Philippines. The Summit was chaired by H.E. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Republic of the Philippines. The Summit was attended by all Heads of State/Government of ASEAN Member States and H.E. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan. The Secretary-General of ASEAN was also in attendance.
2. ASEAN Leaders acknowledged Japan's unwavering support, especially in the first decade of ASEAN's formation, and valued the long-standing friendship and cooperation between ASEAN and Japan. We recognised that ASEAN-Japan relations have matured into a strategic partnership for peace, stability, prosperity, quality of life and mutual trust and understanding. We traced the beginnings of today's robust ASEAN-Japan relations to 1977 when the Fukuda Doctrine veered Japan's foreign policy approach towards a "heart-to-heart" relationship with the ASEAN region based on equal partnership.
3. We cited the role of the ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership in maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity. We noted with satisfaction the steady progress in the implementation of the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation adopted in December 2013 on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations and its revised Implementation Plan adopted in August 2017.
4. ASEAN Leaders welcomed Japan's intention to contribute even more proactively to securing peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the international community, under its policy of "Proactive Contribution to Peace" based on the principle of international cooperation, including "Legislation for Peace and Security", which took effect on 29 March 2016.
5. We reiterated our grave concern over the escalation of tensions in the Korean Peninsula and condemned the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 3 September in addition to its previous nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches. We strongly urged the DPRK to fully and immediately comply with its obligations under all relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Concrete actions on the part of the DPRK would be important steps for returning to serious denuclearization dialogue. Japan stated that we should not seek dialogue for the sake of dialogue but instead should maximize pressure against DPRK so that it commits itself to abandoning its nuclear and missile programs and then asks for dialogue. We reiterated our support for the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner. ASEAN Leaders reiterated ASEAN's readiness to play a constructive role in contributing to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. We emphasized the importance of addressing humanitarian concerns, including the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.
6. We underscored the importance of maritime security and safety by, inter alia, maintaining and promoting a free and open sea lines of communication in the region, in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. ASEAN noted Japan's constructive contributions to development and regional cooperation, including through its "Free and Open Indo- Pacific strategy". We noted the importance of enhancing cooperation among maritime law enforcement agencies, such as capacity building assistance, joint exercises, information sharing including Maritime Domain Awareness.
7. We discussed concerns on some matters relating to the South China Sea and took note of the positive developments in ASEAN and China relations. We are encouraged by the adoption of the framework of the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea (COC), and urged the Parties to conclude a substantive and effective COC at the earliest opportunity. We welcomed the announcement of the start of substantive negotiations on the COC with China by Leaders of ASEAN and China at the 20th ASEAN-China Summit.
8. We reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, maritime safety and security, rules-based order and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea. In this regard, we further reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, emphasized the importance of non- militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the DOC that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea, and stressed the need to adhere to the peaceful resolution of disputes, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
9. ASEAN Leaders noted the advancement of defence cooperation under the "Vientiane Vision: Japan's Defence Cooperation Initiative with ASEAN" between ASEAN and Japan, including discussions at the 3rd ASEAN-Japan Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting in October 2017.
10. ASEAN Leaders welcomed Japan's support for efforts against terrorism and violent extremism. Recognizing the growing threat of terrorism in Asia, we reaffirmed that we would continue to further deepen cooperation through the ASEAN-Japan Counter-Terrorism Dialogue to enhance counter-terrorism measures. We reiterated the urgency of countering violent extremism and renewed our commitment to promoting moderation in cooperation with civil society and communities to address terrorist and violent extremist propaganda. We looked forward to the development of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC)-Japan Work Plan for Cooperation to Combat Terrorism and Transnational Crime (2018-2022) to renew our commitment to countering terrorism and transnational crime together. We also discussed enhancing close cooperation in this field through the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).
11. We noted the Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement (TCA) by Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines for initiatives such as the Trilateral Maritime Patrol and Trilateral Air Patrol. We highlighted the need to strengthen international and regional cooperation and constructive dialogue to address security challenges in the region, including piracy, armed robbery against ships, abduction of innocent civilians by armed groups, other transnational crimes, and terrorism through ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF), ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), ADMM-Plus, as well as other acknowledged regional mechanisms such as the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). We also applauded the establishment of the ASEAN Regional Training Center for Vessel Traffic Services [Operators] (ARTV) in Malaysia, funded by Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), in order to improve the safety and efficiency of navigation in the region and highlighted the importance of the regional cooperation for ensuring the safety of maritime traffic.
12. We shared the view that we would continue working together for a Drug-Free ASEAN, particularly by supporting the implementation of the ASEAN Work Plan on Securing Communities Against Illicit Drugs 2016-2025 through meetings, trainings, seminars, and information exchanges while respecting the sovereign right of countries in deciding the most appropriate approaches to address their national drug situations.
13. We acknowledged the importance of security of and in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the necessity of measures against various threats in cyberspace. We emphasised our common interest in strengthening cooperation in cybersecurity, which is referred to in "ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together", and the necessity of awareness raising and capacity building in order to promote safety and stability in cyberspace. In this regard, we welcomed the establishment of the ARF Inter-sessional Meeting on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ARF ISM on ICT Security) at the 24th ARF Ministerial Meeting in August 2017.
14. We welcomed cooperation under the ASEAN-Japan Information Security Policy Meeting and the implementation of ASEAN-Japan cybersecurity cooperation hub (Step1) utilizing the JAIF in 2017. We attached importance to enhancing our cooperation in the field of ICT, including the promotion of Internet of Things (IoT) and the upgrade of ICT infrastructure in accordance with the "ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2020" and ASEAN Smart Network Initiative. We welcomed Japanese initiatives to enhance ASEAN cybersecurity cooperation including the feasibility study on the proposed ASEAN Cybersecurity Hub.
15. We highlighted the significance of ASEAN and Japan economic cooperation in achieving mutually beneficial economic growth. With total merchandise trade reaching USD 201.9 billion, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows from Japan to ASEAN amounted to USD 11.5 billion, we noted that Japan ranked as ASEAN's fourth largest trading partner and ASEAN's second largest source of FDI in 2016.
16. As we seek to double our trade by 2022, we underscored the importance of ensuring that our work remains in tune with current business practices and industrial development. We therefore welcomed the progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN-Japan 10-year Strategic Economic Cooperation Roadmap in various sectors, including activities promoting human resources development, micro small and medium enterprise (MSME) development, infrastructure, innovation and transfer of technology. We noted that the Roadmap would enhance the economic integration of ASEAN in various sectors, namely intellectual property, standards, customs and trade facilitation initiatives. We agreed on the usefulness of the Industrial Human Resource Development Cooperation Initiative in building greater capacity for our businesses. We recognised that initiatives such as the ASEAN-Japan Women Empowerment Fund encourages female entrepreneurs to contribute to the social advancement of women, poverty reduction, job creation and economic growth. We noted the importance of ASEAN-Japan cooperation to realise inclusive and innovation-oriented growth through the operation of ASEAN-Japan Innovation Network. We lauded the advances made in cooperation on intellectual property through the ASEAN-Japan Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Meeting.
17. We were pleased that the ASEAN Economic Ministers Roadshow to Japan was successfully held during the 50th Founding Anniversary of ASEAN under the chairmanship of the Philippines. This event generated significant outcomes, such as the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the ASEAN-Japan Innovation Network (AJIN), and business matching for ASEAN start-ups and Japanese corporations, among other results. We commended AJIN, a private-sector led initiative, on its work to promote innovation across sectors and industries, including digital business platforms for MSMEs and emerging industries and appreciated the contribution of the Roadshow towards strengthening economic and industrial cooperation in line with the implementation of the renewed ASEAN-Japan 10-Year Strategic Economic Cooperation Roadmap. We were pleased with the successful implementation of the Roadmap, which continues to support the on-going economic integration initiatives of ASEAN, particularly in promoting inclusiveness and innovation by providing various technical and capacity building exercises geared towards capacitating our MSMEs; promoting the culture of innovation; facilitating trade and investment through e-commerce and institutionalizing enabling policies; developing new industries; and promoting human resources development. We also appreciated the supplementary budget of USD 18 million extended by the Government of Japan in 2016 for the AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) activities. We encouraged broader ASEAN-Japan engagements in innovation as well as initiatives to help ASEAN's MSMEs connect with the global value chain including through lasting business partnerships.
18. We reaffirmed the importance of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement, which contributes to enhancing regional economic integration and prosperity through the benefits of increased trade and investments. We welcomed the finalization of the Protocol to Amend the AJCEP Agreement to Incoporate the Chapters on Trade in Services, Movement of Natural Persons and Investment. We looked forward to its signing in early 2018.
19. We noted the progress made by our joint efforts in advancing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations. In view of the large potential of the RCEP to promote global trade and growth, we reaffirmed our strong commitment to bring the RCEP negotiations to a conclusion.
20. We commended the ASEAN-Japan Centre for its significant role in promoting trade, investment, and tourism as well as cultural and ASEAN awareness. We thanked the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) for contributing to our close economic partnership and for Japan's contribution to the Institute, including the commitment to providing USD 100 million over 10 years in support of ASEAN integration and East Asia integration.
21. ASEAN Leaders appreciated Japan's contributions towards ASEAN Community-building, including its assistance for enhancing connectivity and narrowing development gaps through official development assistance and JAIF. In this regard, the ASEAN Leaders valued Japan's support for the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, including through public-private partnerships, and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan III. The ASEAN Leaders expressed appreciation for Japan's continued support towards the human resources development of CLMV officials through the attachment programmes at the ASEAN Secretariat. They also welcomed Japan's collaboration with institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, which has been implementing Japan's initiatives, including the "Partnership for Quality Infrastructure", "Expanded Partnership for Quality Infrastructure" and the G7 Ise-Shima Principles for Promoting Quality Infrastructure Investment and reiterated the importance of developing "quality infrastructure".
22. We noted that Japan's "Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy" reinforces the ASEAN-centered regional architecture. It also complements the MPAC 2025 which calls for cooperation in establishing a rolling priority pipeline list of potential ASEAN infrastructure projects, enhancing trade routes and logistics as well as in digital data governance, among other areas. We encouraged Japan to explore synergies between these two frameworks to build a well-connected, competitive and resilient ASEAN and Indo-Pacific region.
23. We welcomed the sound progress in various cooperation projects and activities under the four policy pillars of transport facilitation, transport infrastructure, efficient and sustainable transport, and human resources development in the Pakse Action Plan, in pursuit of "Quality Transport" in ASEAN. We reaffirmed the importance of enhancing the ASEAN-Japan aviation relationship and noted the progress made at the 2nd ASEAN-Japan consultation on Regional Air Services Agreement in Manila, Philippines, in February 2017. We looked forward to the successful conclusion of a more liberal and mutually beneficial ASEAN-Japan Regional Air Services Agreement with a view to enhancing the air transport relationship between Japan and each ASEAN Member State.
24. ASEAN Leaders valued Japan's contribution to sub-regional cooperation. We appreciated the progress made in various projects after launching the "Japan-Mekong Connectivity Initiative" and the "Work Programme" under the Mekong Industrial Development Vision last year, including those related to "soft connectivity" such as customs clearance facilitation and human resources development. They also commended Japan's strong commitment to assist the Mekong region in realizing "quality growth", as well as "Green Mekong" through climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction.
25. We welcomed the energy efficiency initiatives under ASEAN-Japan energy cooperation such as energy efficiency technology training and energy managers' accreditation, and called for more focused efforts on transfer of energy sustainability knowledge, good practices, and technology. We also underscored the importance of continued investments in energy projects and the continued efforts to promote high quality energy infrastructure to ensure future energy security.
26. We reaffirmed the importance of strengthening regional cooperation in the area of disaster management and joint emergency response. Towards this end, we acknowledged the great importance of further encouraging the use of ICT in this area, and appreciated Japan's continued support for the project to establish an Integrated ICT system to strengthen the operation of ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre). In this regard, we appreciated Japan's valuable contribution through JAIF of over USD 26 million for supporting AHA Centre's projects and activities. In efforts to enhance the region's joint disaster emergency response capacities, the ASEAN Leaders commended Japan's continued support towards the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) Transformation Plan, the Disaster Emergency Logistic System for ASEAN (DELSA) Project as well as the AHA Centre Executive (ACE) Programme for disaster management officials in ASEAN. The ASEAN Leaders also encouraged strengthened cooperation with Japan in implementing the ASEAN Declaration on One ASEAN, One Response. Further to addressing the correlation between disaster risk reduction and climate change, the ASEAN Leaders appreciated Japan's assistance toward the development of the Work Plan for Strengthening Institutional and Policy Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation and expressed their support for its implementation.
27. We noted the continued growth of cooperation on environmental issues, particularly in addressing issues relating to environmental protection and sustainable development. In this regard, the ASEAN Leaders welcomed the ASEAN-Japan Environmental Cooperation Initiative which aims to advance environmental cooperation in areas including climate change, waste management, biodiversity conservation, chemical pollution management, wastewater management, and quality environmental infrastructure development for sustainable cities, as well as cooperation in Sustainable Development Goals.
28. We acknowledged the progress in our cooperation on rural development and poverty eradication, particularly in promoting a community-driven development approach to delivering social protection, as well as conducting evidence-based policy research on food price spikes to inform the development of social protection measures. We appreciated the robust partnership on promoting active ageing and enhancing the welfare of older persons, and looked forward to the development of a regional plan of action to implement the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Ageing: Empowering Older Persons in ASEAN.
29. We emphasised the importance of ASEAN and Japan's heart-to-heart partnership to strengthen the foundation of our future cooperation, including through the promotion of people-to-people contacts, especially youth participation in collaborative programs of sports and cultural exchanges. We noted with satisfaction the progress in various programs including Japan East-Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS)", "WA-Project," "Sport for Tomorrow", the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program, "Inter-University Exchange Program" and the exchanges through ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA).
30. We welcomed the 1st ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting on Sports held on 11 October 2017 in Nay Pyi Taw and shared the view that we would deepen cooperation based on the "ASEAN Work Plan on Sports 2016-2020" with focus on increasing participation of women and girls in sports, advancing sports for persons with disabilities, anti-doping campaign, and development of physical education teachers and coaches.
31. We noted the holding of the 2nd ASEAN-Japan Television Festival in Manila as a commemorative event for the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN. We reaffirmed the importance of promoting the exchanges of content between ASEAN Member States and Japan. We also discussed cooperation in strengthening ASEAN's media industry, especially in the areas of broadcasting and in promoting media and information literacy among our peoples.
32. We were pleased with the ongoing work to implement the ASEAN-Japan Health Initiative, especially programmes aimed at human resources development, promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing diseases and raising healthcare standards. We also welcomed the Asia Health and Well-being Initiative initiated by Japan that would support Asian countries, including some ASEAN Member States, to create vibrant and healthy societies in the region and suggested that health officials discuss this further. In this regard, we welcomed the conduct of the ASEAN-Japan Health Ministers' Meeting on Universal Health Coverage and Population Ageing on 15 July 2017 in Tokyo, recognising the growing trend of ageing populations in the region and reaffirming the need to put in place evidence-based policies and strategies, including programmes that address the emerging needs of ageing populations by encouraging community-based integrated care and functional recovery care of elderly people including human resources development.
33. We appreciated the current progress in capacity strengthening and networking on Disaster Health Management as part of the ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda, through the Project on Strengthening ASEAN Regional Capacity on Disaster Health Management, which aims to enhance the health sector response to the immediate medical and health care needs of populations affected by disasters, through the development of mechanisms for the coordination and deployment of emergency medical teams, and trainings on disaster health management. We attached high importance to this cooperation, supported through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which will substantially contribute to the realisation of the One ASEAN, One Response Declaration adopted during the 28th and 29th Summits, as well as the implementation of the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Disaster Health Management adopted during the 31st ASEAN Summit.
34. We also acknowledged the significant contribution of Japan in the realisation of the ASEAN Plus Three health cooperation which reinforces the achievement of the objectives of the ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda as reaffirmed during the 7th ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers Meeting on 7 September 2017 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, particularly on common issues of concern such as universal health coverage, ICT for healthcare, non-communicable diseases, traditional and complementary medicine, active ageing, human resources for health, responding to communicable and emerging health threats and food safety.
35. We appreciated Japan's generous contributions over the years, especially through JAIF which has supported over USD 650 million worth of projects and activities.
36. We welcomed the launching of the negotiations on the Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the Government of Japan and ASEAN to support our efforts towards further integration as agreed in August 2017, and expressed our hope for the conclusion of the Agreement at the earliest time.
37. We noted the Executive Report on the Progress of the Implementation Plan of the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and the Revised Implementation Plan of the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and agreed that the future of ASEAN-Japan relations remains bright.
38. We noted that the 45th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations next year presents opportunities to hold celebratory activities to mark this important milestone.
39. ASEAN Leaders conveyed their deep appreciation to Prime Minister Abe for his personal efforts to strengthen ASEAN-Japan relations.