Your Excellency Mr. Wong Kan Seng,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Singapore,
Distinguished Delegates of the ASEAN countries,


Ladies and Gentlemen,

I should like to express my appreciation to Foreign Minister Wong Kan Seng for his warm words of welcome, and to thank him for his introduction on the relationship between Japan and ASEAN which is becoming closer in the Asia-Pacific region. I should like to convey to Foreign Minister Wong and all the members of the Singapore Government concerned of Japan's respect and gratitude for their successful discharge of the heavy responsibilities of hosting these Post-Ministerial Conferences. Praise and thanks are also due to Singapore's extensive efforts, as the organising country towards Japan, for the development of Japan-ASEAN relations.

Since I have already stated, in my statement at the General Session, Japan's views on and responses to political and security issues, economic matters in general and other topics concerning the Asia-Pacific region, I will focus my remarks to the state of Japan-ASEAN cooperation in economic, cultural and other fields.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

The international situation is still fluid and uncertain after the demolition of the Cold War order. The basic trend of world economy remained sluggish in 1992, owing mainly to the weak performance by the industrialized economies and the large decline in production levels in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The ASEAN region, to the contrary, continues to enjoy high rates of growth. ASEAN, which celebrated its 25th anniversary, last year, is expected to play a central role in the economic growth of this region as an important stabilising factor in the Asia-Pacific.

It is very gratifying that Japan-ASEAN economic relations are steadily becoming closer. Trade between Japan and ASEAN has consistently expanded since 1986. Its volume last year reached two and a half times that of 1986. In particular, Japanese imports of manufactured products from ASEAN are rapidly increasing. Indeed, the trade balance between Japan and ASEAN turned to a surplus in Japan's favour in 1989, and continues to expand. This surplus, however, can be attributed to ASEAN's consistently high economic growth which is pulled chiefly by domestic demand. It is also due to the large increase in ASEAN imports of capital goods and intermediate commodities. The latter reflects the rapid rise of Japanese direct investment from Japan in the second half of the 1980s, in chiefly the manufacturing sector. Japan believes that such investment will serve to promote ASEAN exports, transfer production technologies and management know-how to ASEAN countries and enhance their industrial structures.

In order to promote investment by Japanese companies in ASEAN countries, it is important to improve their understanding of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). The AFTA Seminar was held in Tokyo last May with the assistance of ASEAN countries, related Japanese economic organizations and institutions, and the ASEAN Promotion Centre on trade, investment and tourism. Some 300 individuals from Japanese companies took active part in useful exchanges of views and information. This indicates the high level of interest and expectations towards ASEAN among Japanese companies. Meanwhile, in order to increase Japan's investment to ASEAN, it is important for ASEAN countries to give consideration to make their investment environment still more attractive to Japanese companies.

The Thirteenth Japan-ASEAN Forum meeting was held in Tokyo last February at the vice- minister level. Following the Japanese proposal at the previous Post-Ministerial Conferences, extensive policy dialogue was conducted at this meeting on political and security issues, in addition to economic issues and economic cooperation. Japan hopes to make still more positive use of the Japan-ASEAN Forum as an opportunity for extensive policy dialogue between Japan and ASEAN.

The ASEAN Promotion Centre on Trade, Investment and Tourism, which Japan and the ASEAN countries established in 1981, is conducting a variety of activities in order to promote ASEAN exports to Japan, Japanese investment to ASEAN countries, and to increase Japanese tourists in ASEAN countries. The Centre is planning to hold an ASEAN Fair in 1995 to which the Japanese Government would like to give all the support possible. Japan hopes this Centre will contribute to an even closer relationship between Japan and ASEAN in all areas.

Turning to the field of economic cooperation, East Asia was designated as the priority region of Japanese assistance in the Japanese ODA adopted and completed last year. This was due to the views that it was important for world economic growth to maintain and enhance that of the East Asia region. Japan's ODA towards ASEAN accounted for 35 % of the entire volume of its bilateral ODA in 1992. Japan determined its 5th Medium-Term ODA Target, and its Funds for Development Initiative which consists of ODA based on the target above and other official flows. This Target and Initiative both aim to increase assistance to developing countries in the coming five years by about fifty percent over their respective preceding schemes. Japan will continue to extend cooperation which matches the levels of development in the ASEAN countries and the various needs which reflect these levels.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

In order to make its relationship of friendship and trust with ASEAN countries still more firm and stable, Japan has strived to strengthen its ties with ASEAN in the areas of cultural and human exchange in addition to the economic field and through economic cooperation. For instance, the Japanese Government held the Southeast Asian Festival 1992 in Japan to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the formation of ASEAN last year. The Festival was organised mainly through the Japan Foundation and the ASEAN Culture Centre, and by working together with local governments. The cultures of the ASEAN countries were actively introduced at this festival. Fully alive to the importance of passing on cultures unique to Asia to posterity, Japan has cooperated in the restoration and preservation of sukhothai inThailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. In mid-October, Japan is planning to bold, in cooperation with ASEAN and other countries, an inter-governmental meeting at the ministerial level among the major interested countries and international organisations on the preservation of the Angkor monuments. Japan is also planning to hold an International Conference on the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture in East Asia in Tokyo this coming November with the attendance of government officials and of the ASEAN countries. Policy discussions would be held on the means to preserve and promote invaluable traditional Asian culture at this Conference.

The Friendship Programme for the 21st Century is a form of technical cooperation whose purpose is to deepen mutual understanding and cooperation between young promising in individuals from Japan and the ASEAN countries. Japan has decided to extend this programme for another five years after the current programme concludes in 1994. Japan looks forward to continued cooperation from the ASEAN countries to ensure effective use of' tied programme. In addition, Japan shall continue to utilise effectively, together with the ASEAN countries, the Japan-ASEAN Exchange Programme, the Japan Foundation, the ASEAN Culture Centre, the Japan Scholarship for ASEAN Youth and other schemes, in order to strengthen still further the relationship of friendship and trust between Japan and ASEAN.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

The maintenance of peace and the achievement of prosperity in Indochina are areas in which Japan and ASEAN need to streng then cooperation.The political situation in Cambodia is moving towards stability after the success of the elections, and the conditions are being set for undertaking rehabilitation and reconstruction in full. As the chair country of the International Committee on the Reconstruction of Cambodia (ICORC), Japan will host the first meeting of the committee at the end of August with a view to bolstering international efforts on reconstruction assistance. In proceeding with such reconstruction assistance, Japan considers it important to utilise the knowledge and experience of the ASEAN countries, which have similarities with Cambodia in their economic and social conditions. This is why Japan is proceeding with the so-called Japan-ASEAN Tripartite Cooperation Project, in which technicians of Japan and each ASEAN country extend together technical cooperation which would facilitate the resettlement of displaced Cambodians who have returned to their country.

Indochina is a region whose member countries are strongly interdependent, for historic and geographic reasons. Therefore, a regional perspective which is unrestricted by national borders is necessary as we now formulate a development strategy. Japan believes that the Forum for the Comprehensive Development of Indochina, whose establishment Prime Minister Miyazawa proposed during his visit to ASEAN countries at the beginning of this year, would prove important as the ASEAN countries and other relevant countries develop common views towards devising a development strategy for the harmonious development of the region as a whole. Japan is making various preparations for a preparatory meeting around this coming November or December to discuss the modalities of the "Forum", and looks forward to active participation from the ASEAN countries.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

Japan is making positive efforts to resolve problems which the world community has to tackle in unity, such as the environment and narcotics.

Japan is taking the lead in further strengthening international efforts to respond to global environmental issues, in particular on assistance to efforts by developing countries. Specifically, Japan attaches importance to transferring technology to developing countries to preserve the environment. For example, the UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre, which Japan invited, has been preparing since its completion last October to begin its activities in full. Japan shall continue to assist the Centre's activities and thereby pursue development and environmental conservation in tandem.

Japan also considers it significant to improve the, capacity of developing countries to tackle environmental problems. In the ASEAN countries, for example, it assisted the establishment of the Environmental Research and Training Centre in Thailand and the Environmental Management Centre in Indonesia. Japan and the United States have begun a concrete study on building a centre in Indonesia to preserve biodiversity. The above illustrate Japan's particular efforts concerning environment-related ODA in the Asia-Pacific region including the ASEAN countries.

As an example of is efforts concerning drugs and narcotics problems, Japan greatly increased its contribution to the UN International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) from 800,000 US dollars in FY 1990 to 4.5 million US dollars in FY 1993, in order to assist the activities of the Programme's Regional Centre in Bangkok. Japan shall continue positive cooperation in this area.

Another task common to humankind is the promotion of democracy and basic human rights. Japan intends to take the approach it deems to be the most pragmatic and effective in light of each circumstance to see that the region will benefit further from these values.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today's meeting provides a precious opportunity for the top decision-makers of foreign policy from Japan and the ASEAN countries to meet once a year. I sincerely hope that Japan and ASEAN, partners who think and act together, will have a constructive exchange of opinions contemplating the future of the international society, on how to enhance their cooperative relationship.

Japan "ODA Charter" recognises East Asia, including the ASEAN countries, as an important region for world economic growth. Japan shall continue positive assistance for the maintenance and expansion of the region's economic development.

Turning to trade, Japan considers, first of all, that efforts to maintain and strengthen the multilateral free trading system through a successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round are indispensable. In this connection, Japan worked together with the US, Canada, and the EC in order to achieve progress in the market access negotiations of the Uruguay Round, and reported the results to the Tokyo G-7 Summit. While Japan intends to continue its utmost efforts for the successful conclusion of the Round before the end of this year, Japan looks forward to a positive contribution by the ASEAN countries at the multilateral negotiations in Geneva.

Moves towards regional economic integration are seen in various parts of the world. Such moves can be expected to revitalize the region's economy and contribute to world economic growth, if they are open in nature. If, on the other hand, they are exclusive, it is clear they will constitute a serious obstacle to economic development both for the region and the world. Thus, the latter case must be avoided.

It is from this thinking that Japan is participating positively in APEC, which bears "open cooperation" as its basic principle. Japan hopes ASEAN and APEC will exist and thrive together, and that they will both contribute to the development of the Asia-Pacific region. Japan will cooperate closely with the ASEAN countries for this end.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

Japan is a country which traditionally attaches importance to relationships. My relationship with Southeast Asia began in 1968, the year after ASEAN was established, when I visited such countries as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia as a member of a delegation of the Japanese house of Representatives to Southeast Asian countries. I have been deeply aware ever since of the importance of relations with the region and have done my best for its development.

I should like to contribute positively to these conferences so that they will produce constructive results for the peace and stability of this region and the whole world, at a time when the international situation remains difficult to foresee. Thank you.