27th ASEAN-Japan Summit
At the 27th ASEAN-Japan Summit in Vientiane, the Lao PDR, Japan’s Prime Minister, ISHIBA Shigeru, emphasized the strong and enduring relationship between Japan and ASEAN, rooted in shared values and mutual cooperation. Japan committed to furthering this relationship through various initiatives, such as dispatching experts to the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre). Japan is also enhancing cyber security, including cooperation through the ASEAN-Japan Cyber Security Capacity Building Center (AJCCBC). The summit highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing emerging issues like Green and Digital Transformation, reinforcing economic security, and strengthening maritime security.
Japan reiterated its support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), aligning it with its own vision of a free and open international order. The summit participants discussed regional security issues, including maritime disputes in the East and South China Seas, North Korea’s nuclear activities, and others. Japan’s consistent support for these principles aims to maintain stability and peace in the region.
Prime Minister ISHIBA also expressed Japan’s commitment to supporting ASEAN’s efforts through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). This fund has been instrumental in enhancing disaster management and resilience across ASEAN, contributing to the setup of frameworks like the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme. The summit underscored the shared vision of building resilient communities and the continued partnership between ASEAN and Japan to navigate future challenges together.
The ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) and the establishment of the ASEAN-Japan Cyber Security Capacity Building Center (AJCCBC) are supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).
