On July 12, commencing at 3:00 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. Kentaro Sonoura, Advisor to the Prime Minister, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN, at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
 

1. Mr. Sonoura explained Japan’s position on enhancement of the relationship between Japan and ASEAN towards the ASEAN-related meetings to be held in this year and the G20 Summit to be held in Japan next year. In this context, Mr. Sonoura noted that this year marks the 45th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, and introduced the 2^nd ASEAN-Japan Music Festival to be held in Tokyo in October and the appointment of Ms. Melody Nurramdhani Laksani, a former member of JKT48, as the Japan-ASEAN Goodwill Ambassador on Food and Agriculture in this February.
    
2. Secretary General Dato Lim expressed his appreciation to Japan’s cooperation forASEAN so far including Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund（JAIF）. In addition, Secretary General Dato Lim stated that, taking the opportunity of the 45th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, he would like to further strengthen the relationship between ASEAN and Japan, an important partner of ASEAN.
    
3. Both sides exchanged views on North Korea, South China Sea, and Indo-Pacific Strategy. They also confirmed that Japan and ASEAN would continue to cooperate towards an early conclusion of the negotiation on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by the end of this year.