[Title] CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT OF THE 16TH ASEAN‐JAPAN SUMMIT
1. The 16th ASEAN‐Japan Summit, chaired by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan and Yang Di‐Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, was held on 9 October 2013 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. The Summit was attended by all Heads of State/Government of ASEAN Member States and H.E. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan.
2. We noted with satisfaction the steady progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN‐Japan Plan of Action (POA) 2011‐2015 to Implement the Joint Declaration for Enhancing ASEAN‐Japan Partnership for Prospering Together. This important instrument would help to further deepen and enhance the ASEAN‐Japan cooperation as well as contribute towards ASEAN's community building targets by 2015. In this regard, we agreed to speed up the full and effective implementation of the POA.
3. As ASEAN is embarking towards an ASEAN Community and an ASEAN Community's Post 2015 Vision, we acknowledged the need to deepen and enhance ASEAN's relationship with its dialogue partners and external parties, and noted Indonesia's idea to promote second generation external relations and dialogue partnership, with the aim of having an equal, mutually beneficial and meaningful partnership.
4. The ASEAN Leaders appreciated Japan's continued support for ASEAN's central role in the evolving regional architecture through ASEAN‐led processes, including the ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)‐Plus and ASEAN Regional Forum in the East Asian community building process. We also expressed appreciation for Japan's contributions to the ADMM‐Plus Humanitarian and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine Exercise that was held in Brunei Darussalam on 17‐20 June 2013.
5. The ASEAN Leaders encouraged Japan to continue to support the implementation of the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009‐2015) and contribute to the ASEAN Community Post‐2015 Vision, as well as to the Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations (Bali Concord III) to bring the ASEAN Community platform on global issues into reality by 2022.
6. We welcomed the various commemorative activities held in ASEAN Member States and Japan to mark the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN‐Japan Dialogue Relations in 2013. We looked forward to the successful convening of the ASEAN‐Japan Commemorative Summit, to be held on 13‐15 December 2013 in Tokyo, Japan which would launch a medium and long term vision to further enhance ASEAN‐Japan dialogue relations. We also took note of Cambodia's proposal to host two commemorative activities entitled "ASEAN‐Japan Youth Leaders Forum: Roles of Youth in the ASEAN‐ Japan relations in the 21st Century" and "ASEAN‐Japan Young Entrepreneurs Forum: Partnership for Growth" by end of 2013.
7. We noted with satisfaction the substantive work undertaken by Japan's Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta and the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), as well as the ASEAN Secretariat, in further strengthening the strategic partnership between ASEAN and Japan.
8. We reaffirmed our commitments to further promote trade and investment between ASEAN and Japan through the implementation of the ASEAN‐Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement. We welcomed the progress in the negotiations on ASEAN‐Japan Trade in Services and Investment Chapters and at the same time, called for the substantial conclusion with further mutual benefit of these Chapters, before the Commemorative Summit to pave the way for the realisation of the AJCEP.
9. We noted with satisfaction the progress of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which would build upon the ASEAN Plus One Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including the AJCEP. We acknowledge that the RCEP would recognise ASEAN Centrality in the emerging regional economic architecture and contribute to economic integration, equitable economic development, and the enhancement of economic cooperation among participating countries. In this regard, we looked forward to its timely conclusion by the end of 2015.
10. We welcomed the progress of the ASEAN‐Japan 10‐Year Strategic Economic Cooperation Roadmap, where 66 activities or 84.6% of the activities have been implemented, especially in the areas of intellectual property, information and communication technology, industrial human resource development and medical collaboration. We reiterate the need for our officials to effectively implement the activities under the Roadmap to help move towards our goal of doubling trade and investment flows by 2022. We also looked forward to the convening of the ASEAN‐ Japan Economic Forum scheduled to be held after the Commemorative Summit for the purpose of gaining insight from industries and academia to further strengthen economic ties between ASEAN and Japan.
11. The ASEAN Leaders acknowledged and highly appreciated the significant contribution of Japan through the Japan‐ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) for the implementation of various projects under ASEAN‐Japan cooperation. As JAIF would expire on 31 December 2013, the ASEAN Leaders encouraged the Government of Japan to consider the continuation of JAIF to fund mutually beneficial cooperation activities.
12. We appreciated the efforts for improving business environments through the dialogue between the Economic Ministers of ASEAN and Japan, the Secretary‐General of ASEAN and the Federation of the Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN (FJCCIA) and recognised that the improvement of business environment in ASEAN would be of mutual benefit to both ASEAN and Japan. In this regard, we underlined the importance of swift conclusion of the negotiations on the expanded product coverage of the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA) to enable a commercially significant outcome by the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in December 2013.
13. We valued Japan's active support for the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC), through the 33 flagship projects identified by Japan under the "Formation of the Vital Artery for East‐West and Southern Economic Corridor" and "Maritime Economic Corridor" for enhancing ASEAN Connectivity. We welcomed the completion of the Master Plan Study and feasibility study on the Establishment of an ASEAN RO‐ RO Shipping Network and Short Sea Shipping and looked forward to the concrete implementation of the development of such networks. We encouraged Japan's Task Force to continuously support ASEAN in its timely and effective implementation of the MPAC. We further encouraged Japan to establish greater maritime connectivity as well as to share its experience in promoting Public‐ Private Partnership (PPP). We also noted with appreciation the support provided by Japan to mobilise financing for ASEAN connectivity, including the convening of a workshop to identify a possible framework for PPP infrastructure development to accelerate the implementation of the MPAC.
14. We welcomed the progress of the ASEAN‐Japan Transport Partnership for enhancement of transport connectivity and the new initiative to further promote "Quality Transport". We looked forward to the new project to strengthen transport connectivity such as a New ASEAN‐Japan Aviation Security Project and the expansion of air services arrangements between ASEAN and Japan.
15. We welcomed the adoption of the Terms of Reference of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC) by the ASEAN Leaders, which would serve as a centre of excellence to encourage efforts to address explosive remnants of war for interested ASEAN Member States, and shall facilitate cooperation with relevant institutions, including the United Nations Mine Action Service and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.
16. We underscored the importance of people‐to‐people contacts and cultural exchanges in order to build mutual understanding and friendship between ASEAN and Japan in a continued manner. The ASEAN Leaders appreciated the active role of Japan in promoting closer ties and nurturing friendship among the youths of ASEAN and Japan, particularly through the Japan‐East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS 2.0), Kizuna Project and the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP). We also shared views on the importance of cultural exchanges between ASEAN and Japan and the ASEAN Leaders took note of Japan's intention to announce its new cultural exchange policy at the forthcoming ASEAN‐Japan Commemorative Summit. We also welcomed initiatives for young leaders to exchange their views on the future direction of ASEAN‐Japan dialogue relations.
17. We reaffirmed the need to enhance human resource development through education cooperation. In this context, the ASEAN Leaders appreciated Japan's positive contributions, especially on the third phase of the ASEAN University Network/Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network (AUN/SEED‐ Net) in March 2013.
18. The ASEAN Leaders expressed their appreciation for Japan's continued support of community building efforts in ASEAN, especially in the narrowing of development gaps. In this connection, we recognised the importance of accelerating efforts towards the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals by involving all relevant stakeholders such as the private sector and civil society.
19. We reaffirmed our support in the strengthening of health systems in providing access to health services and promotion of healthy lifestyle for ASEAN people, and agreed to contribute to the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in line with the ASEAN Strategic Framework on Health Development (2010‐2015).
20. The ASEAN Leaders appreciated Japan's contribution to human resources development, including through the annual Attachment Programme at the ASEAN Secretariat, with the additional Attachment Programme for two officers from each of the CLMV countries in 2013 to gain experience under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio‐Cultural Community (ASCC) pillars at the ASEAN Secretariat.
21. The ASEAN Leaders appreciated Japan's support to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) and looked forward to its further contribution to the implementation of the second phase of the Work Programme of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) 2013‐2015. We welcomed the on‐going work to develop the Disaster Management Network for the ASEAN Region. We also recognised the importance of strengthening international cooperation in disaster reduction and in this regard, looked forward to the 6th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in June 2014 in Thailand and the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in March 2015 in Japan. We also underscored the importance of disaster prevention through information sharing and use of satellite technology for effective early warning systems.
22. We underlined the importance of enhancing our cooperation to fight against terrorism and other forms of organised crime including cybercrime, which threatens the peace and stability of the region. In this regard, we welcomed the launch of the 1st ASEAN+Japan Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (1st AMMTC+Japan) on 18 September 2013 in Vientiane, Lao PDR and the successful convening of the 8th ASEAN‐ Japan Counter‐Terrorism Dialogue on 29‐31 May 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. We also shared our intention to deepen our cooperation to address cybercrime as a new challenge in the region and recognised that capacity building is essential in combating cybercrime. We decided to upgrade the cooperation on countering terrorism and other forms of transnational crime and hold further discussions on concrete measures to be announced at the upcoming ASEAN‐Japan Commemorative Summit. The ASEAN Leaders welcomed the proposal by Japan to work towards the adoption of a Joint Declaration for cooperation in the fight against terrorism and other forms of organised crime and instructed relevant Ministers to work on this matter.
23. We reaffirmed our support for the maintenance of peace, stability and prosperity, and underscored the importance of maritime security, freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce, and to ensure the resolution of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in our Asia‐Pacific region.
24. We welcomed the 2nd Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) which was held back‐to‐back with the 4th ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 2‐3 October 2013, including the agreement to hold the 3rd EAMF in 2014.
25. We reaffirmed the importance of attaining low carbon growth which is key to achieving sustainable economic growth and in this regard, welcomed the outcome of the Second East Asia Low Carbon Growth Partnership Dialogue held in Tokyo, Japan on 18 May 2013 which was co‐chaired by Cambodia and Japan. We also underscored the importance of exchange of personnel, knowledge sharing, and transfer of environmentally‐friendly technology as important tools for achieving low carbon growth in the region. In this regard, Japan briefed the meeting on its promotion of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).
26. We welcomed the successful convening of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE)‐ Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) Seminar on Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy, Non‐ proliferation and Security held on 4‐5 June 2013 in Vietnam, where information on international efforts and experience in national regulatory frameworks in enhancing nuclear security was exchanged.
27. We acknowledged that urbanisation is a potential challenge for ASEAN and Japan, due to the rapid increase of population and economic growth, hence welcomed Japan's interest to further promote this area of cooperation.
28. We acknowledged the important role played by the ASEAN‐Japan Centre in promoting trade, investment, tourism, and cultural exchanges between ASEAN and Japan and agreed to continue our support to the Centre.
29. We stressed the need to maintain peace, security and stability on the Korean Peninsula and called for the denuclearisation of the Peninsula through peaceful dialogue including creating the conditions for the resumption of the Six Party Talks. We reaffirmed our commitments to fully implement the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions to this end. We encouraged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to fully comply with its obligations under all relevant UNSC Resolutions, and commitments under the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement of the Six Party Talks. We also emphasised the importance of addressing humanitarian concerns of the international community, including the abductions issue.