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.

The Meeting reiterated the support for Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship under the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” and 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.

The Meeting 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. The Meeting appreciated Japan’s contribution of USD100 million to the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) 3.0 established in March 2023 to support ASEAN’s efforts in mainstreaming the AOIP and Japan’s support for the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) and its commitment of USD50 million, through JAIF.

 Read the full statement here.

Thirteen ASEAN-ERAT members from ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Secretariat and the the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) were deployed to the ASEAN Regional Disaster Response Simulation Exercise 2023 (ARDEX-23) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia as the exercise player. In preparation for that, the AHA Centre, supported by Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) and European Union in ASEAN, organised a refresher course, which aimed to refresh knowledge and enhance preparation of ASEAN-ERAT members before the deployment.

During the course, ASEAN-ERAT also had the opportunity to enhance their understanding on interoperability between ASEAN-ERAT and United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) United Nations OCHA in the event of disaster.

Watch the video here.

The 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) was held in Jakarta, Indonesia on 7 September 2023. The Summit was chaired by H.E. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia. The Summit was attended by ASEAN Member States, Australia, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea (ROK), the Russian Federation, and the United States of America (U.S.), as well as the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as an Observer. The Secretary-General of ASEAN was also in attendance. The Chairs of the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Pacific Islands Forum, as Guests of the Chair, briefed the 18th EAS on their perspectives on the regional architecture in the Indo-Pacific and its contributions to economic growth.

From the review and future direction of the EAS on global health issues and pandemic diseases, the Meeting reaffirmed the role of EAS cooperation in mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing and responding to future health threats. We acknowledged the support and contribution of the EAS participating countries to the ASEAN Member States and ASEAN’s initiatives in addressing COVID-19, among others, the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED); the COVID-19 and Other Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases ASEAN Response Fund; the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies (RRMS); and the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and its Implementation Plan with the support of ASEAN Centres. The Meeting expressed support in scaling up, sustaining, and exploring complementarity of areas of cooperation between these and other ASEAN-led mechanisms and initiatives, including enhancing efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), strengthening coordination between finance and health authorities, that enhance ASEAN’s capacity and capability to better prepare, prevent, detect, and respond to all hazards and emerging and resurgent health threats.

The Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) contributes to the ASEAN Response Funda and supported the ACPHEED with the Detailed Design and Preparation Support for the “ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases” project which was completed in December 2022.

Read full statement here.

On Wednesday, 6 September 2023, ASEAN and Japan Wednesday have officially agreed to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership. This agreement was adopted at the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta.

“During the Summit, the two leaders officially agreed to form a comprehensive strategic partnership as outlined in the Joint Statement on the Establishment of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Retno LP Marsudi said in her statement.

In addition, three documents were discussed during the Summit. They are as follows:

1. Progress Report of the Revised Implementation Plan of the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
2. Future Design and Action Plan of an Innovative and Sustainable ASEAN-Japan Economic Partnership, outlining a 10-year plan in the sectors of cyber connectivity, human resource development, and innovation.
3. ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Vision, outlining the economic vision of the ASEAN-Japan partnership involving the private sectors, business communities, and scholars.

The Minister further said that the state leaders underscored the importance of maintaining a conducive situation in the region, particularly in the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, while encouraging partnership between ASEAN and Japan in several sectors including green infrastructure development, connectivity, energy transition, and digital economy.

Japan also reinforced its commitment to support the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) by providing funding worth USD100 million through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) 3.0.

Let’s take a look at the highlights of the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN) Project Phase 2 that kicked off last year. A heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) and to our dedicated public and private partners across ASEAN for making this journey fruitful.

Also watch the below videos of AMEN mentees to know about their story:

AMEN mentee from Brunei Darussalam, Mr. Mohammad Syafiq Syukri the founder and CEO of Paning Free Company, “Embrace this incredible opportunity with an open mind and a thirst for knowledge. Your journey as an entrepreneur is a continuous learning experience and the AMEN programme is here to empower you with the tools, insights and connections that can elevate your business to new heights.”

AMEN mentee from Cambodia, Ms. Ky Chhorvy the CEO of KK 11 Mini Mart, “Don’t give up your dreams. In order to make your dreams come true, it needs a lot of effort, commitment and energy through a stage of business development until the goal is achieved.”

AMEN mentee from Indonesia, Ms. Trisna Utami Lestari, the founder of Keytabee, “The AMEN Project has been a game changer for me and my business. It has equipped me with practical skills and knowledge, enabling me to grow my business. The biggest impact was the shift in my mindset and perspective towards entrepreneurship. I learned the importance of strategy, planning, and continuous learning in business.”

AMEN mentee from Lao PDR, Mr. Ketsana Seneoudom, the Director of 1213 Ice Cream Company, “AMEN project is very useful and practical for a new entrepreneur who wants to upgrade their business knowledge and build a wider connection with many mentees who join the project as well. It is better to have a lot of business friends to share and help you overcome your difficult situations.”

AMEN mentee from Malaysia, Ms. Noormawani Binti Nordin. Managing Director of NFA Technologies Sdn Bhd., “Don’t stop in terms of learning, be persistent, never give up. Also, failure is just a test for you to stay stronger and, at the same time, to have a mentor really really helps you a lot.”

AMEN mentee from Myanmar, Ms. Kay Khaing Win Maung, founder and managing director of Energy World Co. Ltd., “I would like to encourage the future AMEN mentees to participate well in the AMEN program as it covers all aspects on how to run a successful business; from the 1st stage of planning till the calculating of ROI, which is beneficial for business owners. You will learn many techniques, tools and keywords which can be applied to your businesses.”