Japan-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Establishment of “New Corona ASEAN Response Fund”

11 September 2020 -

The Japan-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held online for about 70 minutes from 7:45 pm (Japan time) on the 9th. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi co-chaired the meeting.

At the beginning, Foreign Minister Minh welcomed the steady progress of Japan-ASEAN cooperation and stated that he would like to further deepen the relationship between Japan and ASEAN’s strategic partnership. In response, Minister Motegi fully supported the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases as a concrete measure to overcome the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), and as a flagship of Japan-ASEAN cooperation, ASEAN in the future. He stated that Japan would like to grow together with the centre. In addition, he expressed his support and cooperation for the establishment of the “ASEAN Response Fund for the New Corona” for the purpose of procuring medical supplies and developing vaccines, and as a unique contribution of Japan, USD 1 million (JPY 106 million) has been decided.

ASEAN countries thank Japan for its support for ASEAN, including the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases and the contribution to the ASEAN Response Fund for the New Corona, and for future cooperation through the Japan-ASEAN Integrated Fund (JAIF). In response, Minister Motegi explained that Japan had contributed USD 50 million (JPY 5,3 billion) to the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases and stated that he would like to accelerate the study to launch it as soon as possible.

In addition, Minister Motegi will promote the spread of vaccines, resume the traffic of people, and promote various cooperation in measures against the new corona, as well as infrastructure development for economic resilience, digital, disaster response and strengthening of connectivity and strengthening the supply chain.

The Feasibility Study on the Establishment of “ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases” is funded by the Government of Japan through Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).