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| At ASEAN-43: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh , along with leaders of other countries, attended the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit. (Photo: Anh Son) |
The 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit adopted a Joint Statement establishing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a new milestone in the 50th anniversary of the establishment of relations. The parties committed to working closely together to successfully hold the commemorative summit in December 2023 in Tokyo.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio emphasized the importance of the close, heartfelt partnership with ASEAN, highlighting the significant achievements made over the past five decades, which have positively contributed to peace , stability, and sustainable prosperity in the region.
The Japanese Prime Minister reaffirmed his support for ASEAN's unity and central role, as well as ASEAN's AOIP Outlook, and pledged to continue actively participating and making positive and effective contributions to ASEAN-led mechanisms.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Kishida expressed his hope to welcome ASEAN leaders to the commemorative summit in Tokyo next December, affirming that this is a golden opportunity to look back on the past 50 years and set directions, creating new impetus to strongly develop bilateral relations in the future.
ASEAN-Japan cooperation has yielded many positive results. Japan is ASEAN's fourth-largest trading partner and second-largest investment partner, with trade turnover reaching US$268.5 billion, an increase of 11.2% compared to the same period last year. Total investment from Japan reached US$26.7 billion, an increase of 27.7% compared to the same period last year.
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| Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit. (Photo: Anh Son) |
ASEAN highly appreciates Japan's contribution of an additional US$100 million to the ASEAN-Japan Integration Fund, supporting ASEAN in establishing and operating the ASEAN Centre for Responding to Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED).
Looking ahead, both sides agreed to maintain and promote trade and investment exchanges, stabilize production and supply chains, effectively implement the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP) and the RCEP Agreement, and strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism and transnational crime, maritime security, disaster management, people-to-people exchanges, youth, innovation, digital transformation, development of electric vehicle ecosystems, energy, climate change response, clean energy transition, and green growth.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that, as a member of ASEAN and a comprehensive strategic partner of Japan, Vietnam is committed to making every effort to contribute to deepening, enhancing the effectiveness, and making the relationship more substantive.
The Prime Minister proposed making economic cooperation the main pillar and driving force behind the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Accordingly, he requested Japan to facilitate ASEAN countries' exports to the Japanese market and support regional businesses in participating more deeply in Japanese and global supply chains.
Affirming that Vietnam and ASEAN countries have been, are, and will continue to facilitate the operation of more than 15,000 Japanese businesses, the Prime Minister expressed his hope that strategic Japanese investors would join hands with ASEAN to further promote emerging and promising areas of cooperation such as the green economy, digital economy, and circular economy.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. (Photo: Anh Son) |
Emphasizing that a comprehensive strategic partnership should be geared towards a sustainable future for the people, the Prime Minister welcomed and affirmed his readiness to realize the idea of building the region into a center of innovation.
At the same time, it is suggested that attention should be paid to developing high-quality human resources, promoting people-to-people exchanges, culture, and tourism, and creating favorable conditions for people from ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, who are working and living in Japan.
The Prime Minister requested Japan to actively cooperate with ASEAN in effectively implementing Japan's energy transition and net-zero emission community initiatives in Asia, and to work with ASEAN to support Mekong sub-region countries in managing and sustainably utilizing water resources and enhancing their capacity to respond to climate change.
ASEAN and Japanese leaders issued a joint statement on cooperation based on ASEAN's AOIP perspective.
All partners affirmed their appreciation for ASEAN, expressing a desire for deep and substantive cooperation to effectively address challenges. The countries also emphasized their aspiration to jointly promote dialogue and cooperation towards an open, transparent, inclusive region that upholds international law, with ASEAN at its center.
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| Overview of the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit. (Photo: Anh Son) |
Discussing regional and international issues, ASEAN reaffirmed its common position on regional and international situations, including issues such as the South China Sea, Myanmar, and the Korean Peninsula. Partner countries acknowledged and positively assessed ASEAN's stance, committing to coordinate efforts to promote satisfactory resolution of emerging issues.
In light of increasingly complex and unpredictable developments in the region and the world, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that ASEAN and its Partners share common interests and responsibilities in ensuring peace, security, stability, and development in the region, including the South China Sea.
This afternoon, September 6th, ASEAN leaders and partners continued to attend ASEAN summits with partners, including the ASEAN+3 Summit (with China, South Korea, and Japan) and the ASEAN+1 Summits with the United States and Canada.
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