On Dec. 16, the leaders of Japan and ASEAN will gather in Tokyo to commemorate 50 years of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
Our relationship started in 1973 with the launch of a forum on synthetic rubber. Our high-level exchanges were subsequently regularized in the first ASEAN-Japan Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in 1977.
Then-Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda visited the Philippines that year and announced the Fukuda Doctrine, which shaped ASEAN-Japan relations in the following decades. Fukuda called for a heart-to-heart relationship between ASEAN and Japan as equal partners. This was a remarkable declaration, especially at a time when the ASEAN economies were lagging far behind Japan’s. These principles paved the way for a constructive relationship starting with significant Japanese investment in ASEAN’s economic development.
Fifty years on, Japan has grown into one of ASEAN’s closest partners. Japan was ASEAN’s fourth-largest trading partner and second-largest external source of foreign direct investment last year. We share a high-quality Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and Japan and the ASEAN member states are also members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Our cooperation spans many domains, from economic relations to culture and people-to-people exchanges. The ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute Annual State of Southeast Asia Survey has found Japan to be ASEAN’s “most trusted major power” over the past few years.
The breadth and quality of ASEAN-Japan relations today is cause for celebration. However, we cannot rest on our laurels. There is an ever-greater need for a strong and future-ready ASEAN-Japan partnership to meet today’s regional and global challenges, as well as the demands of the future.
As a comprehensive strategic partner, Japan is uniquely placed to work with ASEAN in co-creating solutions to some of these challenges. Our strong economic relationship provides a good foundation for us to meet regional investment needs, such as those in connectivity and infrastructure. We also have many cutting-edge areas to expand to, such as the digital and green economies.
On the strategic front, the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and its four priority areas of maritime cooperation, connectivity, the U.N. sustainable development goals, as well as economic and other possible areas of cooperation, provide a basis for ASEAN to work with Japan to strengthen regional peace and stability and the international rules-based order.
Singapore will chair the ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting in 2024. We will also take over as the country coordinator for ASEAN-Japan relations from 2024 to 2027. We look forward to working with Japan to deepen our existing areas of cooperation, and expand our collaboration in new areas of mutual interest.
Let us work together to build the next 50 years under the catchphrase “Golden Friendship, Golden Opportunities.”
Download the PDFs of this ASEAN-Japan 50th anniversary Special
