Chairman’s Statement of the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Minister’s Meeting – Review and Future Direction of ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Cooperation
On the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Minister’s Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 10 July 2025, the meeting reaffirmed ASEAN’s central role in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in East Asia through the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) framework, which includes Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea. Ministers welcomed the progress made under the APT Cooperation Work Plan (2023–2027), emphasising its alignment with ASEAN’s broader goals, including the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). The discussions underscored ASEAN’s commitment to inclusive and practical cooperation across key sectors such as trade, digital economy, energy, and climate resilience.
Japan’s contributions were notably highlighted, especially through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), which continues to support ASEAN’s community-building efforts. The ministers acknowledged JAIF’s role in implementing various projects that enhance regional connectivity, disaster management, and capacity-building. Japan reaffirmed its support for ASEAN-led mechanisms and expressed its commitment to deepening cooperation in areas such as maritime security, sustainable development, and youth exchange programs. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to further strengthen the APT partnership and ensure its responsiveness to emerging regional and global challenges.
The Chairman’s Statement of the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Minister’s Meeting can be accessed here.
