PRESS RELEASES

Seminar on 40 years of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation

December 26, 2013

    On 23 December, a seminar entitled “40 Years of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation” was held in Bandung, Indonesia, which was jointly organized by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to ASEAN and the ASEAN Study Centre at Universitas Padjadjaran. The seminar was attended by around 90 participants, many of whom were students and young researchers of the university. In the seminar, lectures were conducted by H.E. Mr. Kimihiro Ishikane, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, H.E. Mr. Ngurah Swajaya, Ambassador of Indonesia to ASEAN, and Dr. R. Dudy Heryadi, M.Si, ASEAN Study Centre of Universitas Padjadjaran.

    Ambassador Ishikane introduced the past history of ASEAN-Japan relations, especially from the perspective of economic and people-to-people relationship with some specific examples. He also explained about the future direction of ASEAN-Japan cooperation while introducing the achievements of the ASEAN- Japan 40th year Commemorative Summit held in Tokyo this month with a focus on the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and the Joint Statement on regional and global challenges, adopted by the Leaders. In addition, He referred to three points, namely, heart-to-heart relations, the existence of common interest and political leadership as important elements for ASEAN and Japan to build a future together. With regard to the common interest, Ambassador Ishikane pointed out 1) economically vibrant ASEAN, 2) rule-based, transparent and open regional architecture, and 3) politically-united ASEAN heading for achieving common values as an important factor for both ASEAN and Japan. Lastly, Ambassador Ishikane emphasized that the more difficult challenges ASEAN was going to face as the progress was made for the establishment of the ASEAN Community, the more the need for political leadership for ASEAN would increase, and he pointed out the important role of Indonesia, which has successfully achieved democratization and market-oriented economy by overcoming various challenges thus far, in the context of both the ASEAN and ASEAN-Japan relations.

    Mission of Japan to ASEAN intends to continue outreach activities to raise awareness of people in ASEAN about ASEAN-Japan relations.