The 25th ASEAN-Japan Summit
On 12 November, the 25th ASEAN-Japan Summit, chaired by Mr. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Mr. Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the meeting.
Prime Minister Kishida on his opening remarks, stated that he would like to hold a Commemorative Summit in Tokyo around December 2023 as the next year would mark the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. In response, many countries expressed their support in their remarks. As the Chair, Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed appreciation to the ASEAN Leaders for accepting Japan’s proposal and confirmed that the Commemorative Summit would be held following a regular annual ASEAN-Japan Summit in 2023.
In the area of ASEAN-Japan Cooperation, particularly regarding the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Kishida introduced Japan’s financial support loans of approximately 295 billion JPY in total to ASEAN countries as part of Japan’s support to the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF). He also reaffirmed Japan’s continued commitment to assist the sustainable growth of ASEAN countries. In addition, he also expressed his intention to continue supporting the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) including through the dispatch of Japanese health experts. The Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) supported the projects A Feasibility Study on the Establishment of “ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases” and Detailed Design and Preparation Support for the “ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases”.
In concluding his remarks, Prime Minister Kishida said that he would like to make the Golden Jubilee of ASEAN-Japan relations a golden opportunity to demonstrate golden friendship between ASEAN and Japan as suggested by its official catchphrase.
The Chairman’s Statement is available here where the following projects supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) are acknowledged:
- ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC);
- ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP);
- ASEAN Smart City Network (ASCN);
- ASEAN-Japan Transport Partnership;
- Attachment Programme for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV);
- JENESYS Programme;
- ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme; and
- Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA)
