ASEAN-Japan partnership has strengthened and continued to grow more strategic and mutually beneficial. Much of ASEAN’s early industrial development was achieved through successful cooperation, therefore significantly contributing to ASEAN’s manufacturing capacity.
In a titah delivered during the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit at the Jakarta Convention Centre, Indonesia, yesterday, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam also stated that these activities – together with Japan’s efforts to support and promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges – have built a strong foundation of mutual trust and confidence.
As ASEAN and Japan celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Friendship and Cooperation, His Majesty expressed pleasure at the establishment of ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This will provide opportunities to advance ASEAN-Japan’s “Golden Friendship” towards overall peace and prosperity in the region and benefitting the peoples’ continued well-being.
Touching on climate change, His Majesty underscored that it is a critical matter that we all face and it remains an ever-growing challenge especially with extreme weather conditions throughout the region affect the livelihoods and lives of the peoples. However, the issue has strengthened our determination to work together in mitigating its impacts.
Therefore, His Majesty emphasised full commitment in implementing the climate change action agenda towards a clean energy-based, low-carbon society.
At the end of the titah, His Majesty looked forward to working closely with Japan through the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change in shaping policies that drive collective efforts towards achieving the “Asia Zero Emission Community”.
Accompanying His Majesty was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida in a statement highlighted Japan’s commitment to initiatives that will strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and Japan, such as the Japan-ASEAN Connectivity Initiative and Japan’s contribution of USD100 million to the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).
Head of Delegation of Thailand Sarun Charoensuwan, then delivered the ASEAN Common Statement on ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations, promoting the synergies between the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific for the mutual benefit of both sides, as well as the full and effective utilisation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
At the summit, the leaders welcomed the elevation of ASEAN-Japan dialogue relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and outlined key areas of collaboration between ASEAN and Japan such as renewable energy, innovation, connectivity and cybersecurity.
At the end of the summit, the Joint Statement on the Establishment of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was adopted.
