ニュース・プレスリリース

相星ASEAN大使のミンASEAN事務総長への委任状提出とASEAN事務次長等との会談について (プレス･ステートメント)

平成２６年３月１１日

    ３月１０日、相星孝一ASEAN大使は、ASEAN事務局においてレ・ルオ・ミンASEAN事務総長に委任状を提出し、正式に日本のASEAN大使として活動を開始しました。

    委任状の提出後、ミン事務総長と相星大使は約３０分間にわたり懇談しました。相星大使からは、２０１５年のASEAN共同体構築に向けてASEANの取組を積極的に支援するとともに、民主主義・平和国家としての道を歩んできた日本は、ASEANとの長年の友好関係に基づく信頼を基盤としASEANとの関係を一層強化してゆきたい旨を述べました。ミン事務総長からは、日ASEAN特別首脳会議で採択されたビジョンステートメントと実施計画の着実な実施は２０１５年日ASEAN共同体構築に向けた取組として非常に重要であり、これらの取組を含めて日本との協力は不可欠であるとの発言がありました。

    その後の懇談では、これまでの日・ASEAN間の良好な関係が確認されると共に、将来の日ASEAN関係のあり方に向けた協力等について意見交換を行いました。

    懇談終了後、相星大使はプレス･ステートメントを発表し、日ASEAN特別首脳会議の成果を踏まえ、日ASEANの協力関係をさらに強化するために全力を尽くしたいとの決意を表明しました。

    その後、相星大使は、ニャン・リン事務次長、リム・ホンヒン事務次長、AKPモクタン事務次長と会談し、日ASEAN協力についての認識を深めました。

Press Statement by H.E. Mr. Koichi Aiboshi,
Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN
10 March 2014

    Today I had the honor to present a letter of credentials to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Mr. Le Luong Minh, and have assumed the post of the Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN. This is the region that has been becoming more and more significant for Japan, and I feel a great responsibility upon receiving this critical duty. With the support from all of you, I would like to carry out the important task of being a representative of the Japanese Government to ASEAN.

    From 2008 to 2011, I was posted to Vietnam for about three years. What is worthy of special mention is that, during the year 2010, Vietnam was the chair of ASEAN and a series of meetings and activities related to ASEAN were held throughout Vietnam. It was also the time that the preparations for official establishment of the Japanese Mission to ASEAN were being proceeded. Four years has passed since then, and I am filled with deep emotion that I myself have assumed the post of the Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN.

    In 1977, the First ASEAN-Japan Summit Meeting was held and Japan announced the Fukuda Doctrine that aimed at “heart-to-heart” understanding and equal partnership between Japan and ASEAN. Ever since, we have walked together hand-in-hand. During the last year, which marked the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan friendship and cooperation, Prime Minister Abe visited all 10 ASEAN Member States. These visits clearly illustrate that the relationship between ASEAN and Japan has been ever closer and stronger in political and economic areas as well as in the area of cultural and people-to-people exchange. In the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit Meeting held last December, the Vision Statement and its Implementation Plan were adopted, and we confirmed to strengthen ASEAN-Japan cooperation in the fields of “Partners for Peace and Stability”, “Partners for Prosperity”, “Partners for Quality of Life” and “Heart-to-Heart Partners”. I will make sure that there will be steady progress in furthering partnership in these fields.

    It is a matter of course that ASEAN is the region of critical importance for Japan. Peace and stability in the region is indispensable for Japan because the vital sea lanes for Japan are located in this region. As a “Proactive Contributor to Peace”, Japan will contribute to peace and stability in the region.

    ASEAN is Japan’s second largest trade partner in the world and the largest investment destination in East Asia. ASEAN has the population of more than 600 million, and its remarkable economic growth reached approximately three-fold increase in GDP in the past 10 years. Every year, Japan has been investing in ASEAN region more than double of the volume than that of ten years ago. The number of Japanese people living in this region has almost doubled in the last ten years. Today the production network among the Japanese companies has been established in ASEAN with about 7400 Japanese business entities operating and approximately 150,000 Japanese expatriates living here. In the annual survey to Japanese manufactures inquiring their desirable mid-term investment destinations, more and more ASEAN Member States are receiving higher ranks year by year. In the last year’s survey, nine ASEAN countries are ranked within the top twenty, including Indonesia as the top destination and Thailand as the third.

    In the fields of culture and people-to-people exchanges, ASEAN and Japan have been enjoying strong ties. Not only traditional culture such as Sumo wrestling and Wadaiko (Japanese drum) but also Japanese pop culture including animation and fashion are widely popular in ASEAN. Today, more than 13,000 students from ASEAN are studying in Japan and the number will almost double as that of ten years ago. In addition, when large scale tragic natural disasters like earthquake, typhoon, and tsunami occurred, ASEAN and Japan help each other for rescue and reconstruction. In the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred three years ago, ASEAN Member States extended warm support to Japan. When the large scale natural disasters severely hit ASEAN, just like Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines last November, Japan actively offered support both through bilateral channel and through regional and international channels including ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre).

    Aiming at the establishment of ASEAN Community in 2015, ASEAN Member States have been strengthening their cooperation and raising their presence in the international society. The year 2015 is also significant for Japan since it will mark the 70th year after the end of World War II. Japan has been consistently following the path of a democratic and peaceful country. Based on the strong mutual trust nurtured through long-term friendship, Japan, the strategic partner of ASEAN, is expected to proactively support ASEAN’s endeavor to establish ASEAN Community through further collaboration in political, economic, cultural and social areas. I will make my utmost efforts to develop even closer relations and to further promote cooperation here on the front line of ASEAN-Japan diplomatic relations. I wish to have your continued support and cooperation for this endeavor.

プロフィール

	ＡＳＥＡＮ大使 相星　　　孝一 （あいぼし　こういち）
	（昭和３４年２月４日生まれ）
	出身地　　鹿児島県