[Title] CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT OF THE 26TH ASEAN-JAPAN SUMMIT
1. The 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit was held on 6 September 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Summit was chaired by H.E. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia. The Summit was attended by ASEAN Member States, H.E. Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, and the Prime Minister of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as an Observer. The Secretary-General of ASEAN was also in attendance.
2. We reiterated our support for Indonesia's ASEAN Chairmanship under the theme "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth" and were encouraged by the progress made in the realization of ASEAN's priorities in 2023, aimed to strengthen ASEAN as an organization that is robust and agile, equipped with strengthened capacity and institutional effectiveness to address today's challenges and to remain relevant for its people, the region, and the world while continuing to serve as the region's epicentre of growth and prosperity.
3. We welcomed the significant progress of ASEAN-Japan partnership and cooperation, including through the full and effective implementation of the Revised Implementation Plan of the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation: Shared Vision, Shared Identity, Shared Future.
4. We agreed to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) between ASEAN and Japan that is substantive, concrete, meaningful and mutually beneficial in the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, through the adoption of the Joint Statement on the Establishment of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to mark this milestone.
5. We welcomed the joint activities conducted by both the public and private sectors to commemorate the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and looked forward to the upcoming commemorative events and programs to be organized until the end of the year.
6. We looked forward to the successful convening of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation on 16-18 December 2023 in Tokyo and its substantive deliverables, including the adoption of a new Joint Vision Statement and its Implementation Plan to set out direction for the partnership in the coming decades.
7. We underscored the importance of multilateralism, regionalism and upholding international law in contributing to global and regional peace, stability and prosperity. ASEAN welcomed Japan's support for ASEAN centrality and unity as well as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which shares relevant fundamental principles in promoting peace and cooperation with Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision. We appreciated Japan's contribution of USD 100 million to the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) 3.0 established in March 2023 to support ASEAN's efforts in mainstreaming the AOIP.
8. We further reaffirmed our commitment to reinforce ASEAN-Japan partnership through enhanced practical cooperation and collaboration in the four priority areas of the AOIP based on the Joint Statement of the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit on Cooperation on the AOIP. Towards this end, we welcomed Japan's support and active contribution to the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum: Implementation of the AOIP held in Jakarta, 5-6 September 2023.
9. We welcomed the progress made in the defence cooperation between ASEAN and Japan under the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), including the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group (EWG) on Peacekeeping Operations under the co-chairmanship of Viet Nam and Japan in the 2021-2024 cycle. We looked forward to the successful flagship event in September in Ha Noi, and co-chairmanship of Japan and the Philippines in the ADMM-Plus EWG on Maritime Security in the upcoming 2024-2027 cycle. We also acknowledged Japan's contribution to enhance the capacity of defence authorities of ASEAN Member States through the "Vientiane Vision 2.0: Japan's Defense Cooperation Initiative with ASEAN". We appreciated the Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum, as well as the operationalization of the ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure (ADI) between Japan and ASEAN Member States.
10. We appreciated Japan's continued support to address humanitarian aspect of landmines and explosive remnants of war in the region, including through support in capacity-building and the work of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC).
11. We agreed to continue enhancing cooperation in addressing security issues of common interest and concern, including transnational crime, maritime security, and international economic crime. We welcomed the adoption of the renewed ASEAN Plus Japan Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC + Japan) Work Plan on Cooperation to Combat Transnational Crime (2023- 2027) under the ASEAN Plus Japan Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC + Japan) Consultation framework and underlined the need to ensure its timely and effective implementation. We underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation between ASEAN and Japan in combating illicit drugs in the region, particularly under the framework of ASEAN Plus Japan Senior Official Meeting on Drug Matters (ASOD + Japan) Consultation. We welcomed Japan's continued support for capacity building activities in the field of cyber security for ASEAN Member States through the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC) and the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (ASCCE) and encouraged enhanced cooperation in countering cyber threats. We noted Japan's support for the Southeast Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) especially for combatting IUU (Illegal Unreported and Unregulated) fishing.
12. We welcomed initiatives undertaken by ASEAN and Japan to further strengthen its cooperation in the field of law and justice such as the holding of the ASEAN- Japan Special Meeting of Justice Ministers, the ASEAN-G7 Justice Minister's Interface and the ASEAN-Japan Special Youth Forum for Promoting the Rule of Law on 5-7 July 2023. We encouraged the implementation of the outcomes of these meetings, particularly the Joint Statement and ASEAN-Japan Work Plan on Law and Justice under the spirit of friendship, cooperation, and equal partnership, and committed to elevating the ASEAN-Japan cooperation in the field of law and justice to the next phase.
13. We welcomed the steady growth in ASEAN-Japan economic relations. Japan was the fourth largest trading partner, with two-way merchandise trade amounting to USD 268.5 billion in 2022. Japan was also ASEAN's second largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), with total FDI inflows from Japan, amounting to USD 26.7 billion in 2022. We underlined the need to further deepen and expand trade and investment, including through the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement. We acknowledged the importance of facilitating free flow of data across border, development of digital connectivity, and strengthening of consumer and business trust in the digital economy. We noted the activities carried out by the AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC), the Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN (FJCCIA), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the ASEAN-Japan Business Council (AJBC), and the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) as well as the progress in the discussion towards introducing the electronic certificate of origin (e-CO) for AJCEP Agreement.
14. We are pleased to note that the "Future Design and Action Plan of Innovative and Sustainable ASEAN-Japan Economic Partnership 2023-2033" has been endorsed at the 29th AEM-METI Consultation held on 22 August 2023. We encouraged officials to ensure effective implementation of the initiatives under the Future Design and Action Plan, including future-oriented measures such as the ASEAN-Japan Circular Economy Initiative (AJCEI), to realise the ASEAN- Japan Economic Co-Creation Vision, which pursues the development of a society that is safe, prosperous, and free through fair and mutually beneficial economic co-creation. We also welcomed the progress in regional financial cooperation under the ASEAN+3 Finance process, including the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM), ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI), and Disaster Risk Financing (DRF), especially the progress at the ASEAN-Japan 50th Anniversary Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Special Meeting in May to advance discussions on the regional financial safety net in the ASEAN+3 Finance Process toward the creation of a new rapid financing facility.
15. We commended the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) for its continued research and analysis of key regional economic issues that support ASEAN economic integration agenda and promote effective policy making in the region economic integration. We also acknowledged the contribution of Japan to ERIA, including Japan's support in the establishment of the ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC).
16. ASEAN encouraged Japan to explore potential areas of cooperation with ASEAN and appreciated ongoing cooperation in various projects and activities, particularly in emerging areas such as digital trade, green infrastructure, connectivity, sustainable economy, sustainable development and prosperity, supply chain resilience, human resource development, sustainable forest management, science and technology, energy transition, and rule of law, amongst others. ASEAN welcomed Japan's support in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food security. We looked forward to holding ASEAN- Japan Special Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry in October 2023 to issue ASEAN-Japan MIDORI Cooperation Plan for resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems. We supported ASEAN's efforts to reduce the use of harmful chemicals in agricultural production and promote the use of viable alternatives, which have been proven to be effective and pose less risk.
17. We encouraged further effective implementation of the ASEAN-Japan Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which would further contribute to the ASEAN Community building efforts. We appreciated the ASEAN-Japan Centre for its contribution to the promotion of trade, investment, tourism, and people- to-people exchanges as well as its active participation in the preparation for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
18. We emphasised the importance of enhancing connectivity in the region and looked forward to continued and deeper cooperation in advancing the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 as well as the Joint Statement of the 22nd ASEAN-Japan Summit on Connectivity. We welcomed the implementation of the ASEAN-Japan Connectivity Initiative and took note of Japan's announcement of the new Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Connectivity Initiative. We looked forward to the conclusion of a more liberal and mutually beneficial ASEAN-Japan Air Services Agreement with a view to enhancing air connectivity between Japan and ASEAN Member States. We also took note of the progress of various cooperation projects and activities under the ASEAN-Japan Transport Partnership (AJTP) and welcomed the milestone of the 20th Year of AJTP and Japan's active and continued support in the transportation sector based on the AJTP and expected to strengthen the partnership through the new action plan for the next decade to be adopted at the ASEAN-Japan Transport Ministers Meeting in November 2023 on the occasion of the 20th year of the AJTP.
19. We appreciated Japan's active and continued support for the ASEAN Smart Cities Network through Smart City supported by Japan ASEAN Mutual Partnership (SmartJAMP) and the convening of the annual ASEAN-Japan Smart Cities Network High-Level Meetings. We welcomed the plan to hold the 5th ASEAN-Japan Smart Cities Network High-Level Meeting in October 2023 in Japan.
20. ASEAN appreciated Japan's continued support to narrowing development gap in ASEAN and support for ASEAN's integration and Community-building efforts through the implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan III (2016-2020) and the implementation of the IAI Work Plan IV (2021- 2025). We also welcomed Japan's continued support for the IAI Attachment Programme for Junior Diplomats of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (17th Batch) and 6th Batch of Attachment of Officers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam for AEC and ASCC Involvement at the ASEAN Secretariat, including four additional attachment officers from Lao PDR to support Lao PDR's ASEAN chairmanship in 2024. We looked forward to Japan's further support to ASEAN's sub-regional development efforts, including through the Mekong-Japan cooperation and Initiative for ASEAN Integration to promote inclusive and sustainable development across the region, as well as programmes to foster human resource development, narrow the development gap and promote subregional development among ASEAN Member States.
21. We underscored the importance of cooperation in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening joint efforts for a collective, long term and sustainable recovery. ASEAN appreciated Japan's support for the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) and its commitment of USD 50 million, through the JAIF. ASEAN also appreciated Japan's commitment to further accelerate efforts for its operationalization at the earliest possible. ASEAN welcomed Japan's initiative to maintain and revitalise the economy of ASEAN countries by extending a total of USD 3.34 billion worth of financial emergency support loans. We looked forward to Japan's continued support to ASEAN Regional Reserves of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies (RRMS) and the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF).
22. We acknowledged efforts to strengthen the healthcare and welfare system under the Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative (AHWIN), as well as Japan's new Global Health Strategy to achieve more resilient, equitable, and sustainable Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the region.
23. We encouraged enhancing cooperation to improve health and welfare services for the elderly in ASEAN Member States and Japan, including through 22 cooperation with ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI). We also welcomed Japan's cooperation on social protection, social insurance, skills recognition, and occupational safety and health through various occasions including the annual ASEAN and Japan High Level Officials Meeting on Caring Societies as well as relevant initiatives in the SLOM+3, SLOM-WG, and ASEAN-OSHNET platforms.
24. We commended efforts to foster people-to-people, education, sports and cultural, intellectual, science and technology exchanges, and research collaborations, through various programs, including the ASEAN Corner in Universities, AUN-Southeast Asia Engineering Development Network (AUN/SEED-Net), Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS), WA Project, including support for Japanese language education, Sakura Science Exchange Program, the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP), the exchanges through the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) and ASJA International, Sport for Tomorrow, ASEAN-Japan Actions on Sports, MEXT scholarships, and ASIA KAKEHASHI Project+(Plus). We appreciated Japan's support for the implementation of ASEAN Volunteers project to promote youth leadership in disaster risk reduction (DRR). We looked forward to the extension of the WA project for the coming years and the deployment of youth volunteers in the final quarter of 2023 with technical support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and host organisations in ASEAN Member States. We also looked forward to the conduct of the International Symposium on the Future of Civil Service in September 2023 that will further strengthen the ASEAN-Japan cooperation on civil service matters.
25. We looked forward to further strengthening cooperation on sports through the ASEAN Plus Japan Ministerial Meeting on Sports mechanism through the implementation of the ASEAN Work Plan on Sports 2021- 2025. We welcomed the formulation of the Chiang Mai Declaration on Strengthening ASEAN-Japan Cooperation on Sports towards 2030 to further enhance the advancement of the existing sports initiatives and to explore potential avenues for collaboration until 2030. Further to the 2022 ASEAN Declaration on Leveraging the Role of Sports in ASEAN Community-Building and Achieving the SDGS, we welcomed the implementation of ASEAN Football4SDGs project through funding from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund.
26. We explored the need of enhancing cultural cooperation, including through the implementation of the ASEAN-Japan Work Plan on Cooperation in Culture and the Arts 2022-2025. ASEAN looked forward to the extension of WA project and welcomed initiatives in digital culture and media development in the coming years. We looked forward to enhancing cooperation on the ASEAN Cooperation on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM) through the implementation of the ACCSM+3 Work plan 2021-2025. We stressed our support to achieving gender equality and social inclusion through the implementation the ASEAN Gender- Mainstreaming Strategic Framework (AGMSF) in all three ASEAN Community pillars.
27. We also recognized the need to strengthen our cooperation in improving women's empowerment and gender equality. Therefore, ASEAN wished to explore collaboration with Japan in supporting the advancement of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda in the region, including through the implementation of Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace, and Security (RPA WPS) and its related work plans and initiatives.
28. We appreciated Japan's continued support for the implementation of the ASEAN-Japan Work Plan on Disaster Management, the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme 2021-2025 and its Mid-Term Review, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 as well as the operationalization of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre). We further appreciated Japan's funding supports for the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) Phase III, Strengthening ASEAN's Collective Response Capacity through the Enhancement of the Capacity Building of the Regional ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) Phase II, and Japan's support through the Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF) and Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC).
29. We encouraged further collaboration in addressing marine litter, biodiversity conservation, climate change, and promoting transition to a climate resilient, clean energy, and decarbonized societies and welcomed the endorsement of Strategic Program for ASEAN Climate and Environment (SPACE) in this regard. We welcomed Japan’s support for the development of the ASEAN Climate Change Strategic Action Plan 2025-2030 (ACCSAP) to support prioritised actions identified in ASEAN State of Climate Change Report. We noted the success of the ASEAN-Japan Environment Week held on 22-24 August 2023 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. We further looked forward to advancing practical cooperation on green growth, including through the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change (ACCC), ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC), ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), and ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogues (ACSDSD) in addressing marine pollution, climate change, biodiversity conservation and environmentally sustainable cities.
30. We affirmed the necessity of enhancing energy cooperation and adequate financing to support the acceleration of energy transitions in the region for realising sustainable economic growth and addressing climate change. We noted the Japan-led ‘Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC)' initiative and relevant initiatives such as Japan's ‘Asia Energy Transition Initiative (AETI)', which includes a wide range of support for energy transitions in Asia, and its steady implementation such as various financial supports for demonstration projects to introduce technologies and continuous discussion in the "Asia Transition Finance Study Group".
31. We noted the importance of the establishment of high-quality intellectual property (IP) cooperation through the framework of ASEAN-Japan Heads of IP Offices Meeting and the ASEAN-Japan IP Action Plan.
32. We expressed appreciation to Japan for the commitment in strengthening science, technology and innovation (STI) cooperation including researchers exchange and research collaboration through initiatives with mutual benefits such as ASEAN-Japan STI Coordinator; Japan-ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Platform (JASTIP); and ASEAN-Japan Innovation Week. Through the ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Committee on Science and Technology (AJCCST), we underscored the urgency to shift STI regional cooperation's focus from fundamental to applied research that aims to address pressing global challenges, meets the needs of the region and advance scientific frontiers.
33. We discussed the situation in the South China Sea and recognized the benefits of having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, friendship, prosperity and cooperation. We reaffirmed our shared commitment to safeguarding and promoting peace, security, and stability in the South China Sea, particularly given the recent development, therefore reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would increase tension, complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and reaffirmed the need to pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. We emphasised the importance of non- militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea. We underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the DOC in its entirety and committed to maintaining and promoting an environment conducive to the negotiation of the COC that is consistent with International Law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.
34. With regard to the war against Ukraine, we reiterated our national positions as expressed in other fora, including the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, which, in Resolution No. ES-11/1 dated 2 March 2022 as adopted by majority vote deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and demands its complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine. Most countries strongly condemned the aggression against Ukraine and underscored the need to reach a just, and lasting peace based on the principles of the United Nations Charter, including the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has further aggravated the ongoing food security crisis around the world, especially in developing and least developed countries. We noted with deep concern the adverse impact of the war in Ukraine and stressed that it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy – constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity, and elevating financial stability risks. In this context, the use or threat of use of nuclear weapon is inadmissible. We underlined our shared interest to maintain and strengthen ASEAN as the epicentre of growth for the region and the world.
35. We expressed grave concern over the launch of ballistic missiles, and usage of ballistic missile technology, by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The recent surge in the DPRK's intercontinental ballistic missile testing and ballistic missile launches and tensions in the Korean Peninsula are a worrisome development that threatens peace and stability in the region. We urged all concerned parties to resume peaceful dialogue and continue working towards the realization of lasting peace and stability in a denuclearised Korean Peninsula. Efforts toward this end, including diplomatic efforts for the creation of a conducive environment for peaceful dialogue among all concerned parties, remain our priority. We reiterated our commitment to the full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and noted international efforts to bring about the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner. We emphasised the importance of addressing issues of human rights and humanitarian concerns of the international community, including the immediate resolution of the abductions and detainees issues.
36. We discussed the development in Myanmar, particularly the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) and strongly condemned the continued escalation of violence, causing prolonged suffering for the people of Myanmar, humanitarian crisis, the destruction of houses and public facilities such as schools, hospitals, markets, churches and monasteries, and adverse impacts on regional stability, particularly along the border region.
37. We reiterated our position that the 5PC remains as ASEAN's main reference to address the political crisis in Myanmar, and in that regard, we were gravely concerned by the lack of substantial progress on its implementation by the Authority in Myanmar, despite their commitment to the 5PC in April 2021.
38. We appreciated the ASEAN Chair's efforts and the intensive and inclusive engagements by the Office of the Special Envoy in ensuring concrete progress on the implementation of the 5PC and welcomed the Chair's comprehensive report and assessment in that regard. We welcomed the ASEAN Leaders' Review and Decision on the Implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. We reaffirmed our commitment to continued and sustainable ASEAN's ongoing strategies and approach to help the people of Myanmar find peaceful, comprehensive and durable solutions.