1 On 13 February, the Commemorative Symposium for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation was held in Jakarta, and H.E. Mr. Hayashi Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, sent a video message to the symposium.

 

2 In the video message, Minster Hayashi stated that Japan is going to cooperate with ASEAN for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) mainstreaming, specifically on three pillars, namely (1) Promoting concrete cooperation projects in line with the 4 priority areas of the AOIP (Maritime Cooperation, Connectivity, SDGs and Economy), (2) Support for the functions of the ASEAN Secretariat for the promotion and mainstreaming of the AOIP, (3) Human resource development of young government officials in ASEAN with a focus on the AOIP.

 

3 Minister Hayashi also stated that Japan will take this opportunity of the 50th commemorative year to strongly promote these efforts in close dialogue with the ASEAN side and based on their needs, and that Japan would like to move forward with the people of ASEAN so that we can lead a new era and grow together.