Your Excellency Mr. Wong Kan Seng Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore,

Distinguished Delegates of the ASEAN countries and Dialogue countries,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conferences are attracting ever more international attention as a comprehensive forum for dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region. This is due to the full commencement last year of political and security dialogues at these conferences in addition to discussions on economic, cultural and other topics. At the beginning of this year's conferences, I should like to express Japan's profound respect towards all those concerned of the Government of Singapore for their immense efforts to lead this meeting of increasing international importance to a success.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

When the Cold War structure vanished, many in the world were filled with the great hope of building a peaceful international community towards the twenty-first century. Indeed, earnest efforts to democratise and introduce the market economy are being made in Asia and Latin America and other regions. Historic progress is being made in nuclear disarmament by the United States and Russia.

At the same time, however, the end of the Cold War has thrown various new challenges at us. As seen in Bosnia and Somalia, conflicts with racial, tribal or religious origins have disrupted. The risk of proliferation of nuclear, chemical and other weapons of mass destruction, as well as that of missiles, has become more acute since the Cold War ended.

It has become extremely important for the international community to respond seriously and cohesively to remove such destabilising factors. For example, the suspicions on North Korea's development of nuclear weapons pose a grave threat not only to the security of the Asia Pacific region but to that of the whole world community. In order to arrest its nuclear weapons development, Japan considers it important for the countries concerned in the Asia-Pacific region to show a determined attitude towards North Korea. For the purpose of strengthening the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime, it is necessary to secure universal adherence to the treaty and lead the extension conference of the treaty in 1995 to a success. We should also strongly promote the reduction of nuclear weapons throughout the world. We must strive to increase the number of signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention, and to ensure the Convention's early entry into force. The effectiveness of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms needs to be ensured as an important step towards improving the transparency of and creating restraint in the transfer of conventional weapons.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

The international society fluctuates in a historic period of transition. Its members must strengthen their ties of mutual confidence and enhance their collaboration still further in order to resolve problems one by one and keep their hopes of achieving world peace and prosperity alive. In this region we see developments conducive to the reduction of tensions, such as the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China, and between Korea and the then Soviet Union. On the other hand, unresolved problems remain, such as the Northern Territories issue, the Korean peninsula and territorial issues in the South China Sea. Since each of these have different backgrounds, it is most effective to seek solutions to them through individual frameworks, each of which best matches the particular circumstances of their respective problems.

Japan commends the efforts that the parties concerned are making in relation to the territorial issue over the island groups in the South China Sea. These include the emphasis on the need for a peaceful solution and the call for mutual restraint.

As Japan proposed at the ASEAN-PMC two years ago, the simultaneous promotion of region- wide political dialogue is important, together with efforts to resolve the problems above. These conferences can certainly serve this purpose, being the sole region-wide forum for multilateral political and security dialogue in this region. The Political Declaration of the recent Tokyo Summit states that the G-7 welcomes regional security dialogues in the Asia Pacific region; this was inserted with ASEAN - PMC in mind. Japan intends to take active part in the political and security dialogues which uses the ASEAN-PMC and their senior officials meeting which was held recently for the first time.

The reason why enhancing mutual reassurance is important, in brief, is because feelings of uncertainty and apprehension over the future exist in the Asia-Pacific region. Vague doubts and fears are seen on the extent to which the United States will maintain its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, on the role Japan is trying to play, and on the future balance of military power in this region. I also notice various other causes of unease and concern in this region. Therefore, I believe it is necessary for the future of the Asia-Pacific region to exchange views frankly on such feelings and on the policies of each country, so that the transparency and predictability of policy are enhanced, which in turn would deepen the sense of reassurance among friendly countries.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

The international situation remains fluid after the Cold War. Many in the Asia-Pacific region are showing interest in the importance of the roles to be played by Japan, the US and China, and that of collaborative relations among the three countries, in promoting peace and stability. This interest was reiterated in the joint communique issued at the Twenty-Sixth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting.

First of all, the presence and engagement of the United States are indispensable for the peace and stability of this region. This is now accepted by almost all countries of the region. President Clinton, who recently visited Japan and Korea, indicated his basic ideas to secure peace and prosperity in this region by building a new "Pacific Community". He also emphasized the US resolve to maintain steadfastly its commitments on regional security. I welcome and commend the Clinton administration's attitude which attaches importance to the' Asia-Pacific region. US ideas to employ multiple frameworks in an overlapping manner to meet with the diverse threats and take advantage of the opportunities in this region converge with what Japan has been advocating from the past. Japan thus welcomes that the US has adopted these ideas.

This American thinking is predicted on the presence of US forces in the Asia-Pacific region. The broad cooperative relationship between Japan and US, buttressed by the Japan-US security arrangements, constitutes a particularly important factor in securing the presence of US forces in this region. Japan intends to continue positive host-nation support and to maintain firmly its security arrangements with the United States.

As for relations with China, Japan considers that the maintenance and further development of good and stable relations between the two countries are immensely important for peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Japan will strive for the peace and stability of this region through its dialogue with China.

Further more, Japan considers the maintenance and development of friendly relations between the United States and China as essential for the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

The maintenance of peace and the achievement of prosperity in Indochina are the hope, not only of this region, but the whole international community. As for Cambodia, Japan has contributed positively in personnel to achieve a durable peace there by sending, on the basis of the International Cooperation Law enacted in June last year, a construction unit of the self-defence forces, military observers, civilian police and election monitors to work for UNTAC. UNTAC, in which the authority of the United Nations was at stake, is a very good example of the traditional type of peacekeeping operation which was conducted successfully by adopting methods suited to the political environment of this region. Japan pays high tribute to the efforts by UNTAC personnel and the countries concerned.

Japan also made vigorous diplomatic efforts vis-a-vis the Cambodian parties so that the elections of the Constituent Assembly in May would be held successfully. Japan totally supports the efforts Prince Sihanouk has been making for the construction of a new Cambodia, and strongly hopes that a new government will be established by the Cambodian people themselves. Japan, for its part, shall cooperate positively for the stability and reconstruction of newly-born Cambodia. As the chair country of the International Committee on the Reconstruction of Cambodia (ICORC), it shall attempt to assemble all international efforts to assist Cambodian reconstruction so that mid- and long-term assistance would be implemented effectively and efficiently. Where emergency financial assistance is concerned, Japan will make efforts to promote assistance from the UN and international financial institutions in addition to that on a bilateral basis.

With regard to the entire region of Indochina including Cambodia, Japan regards it crucial for the countries of ASEAN and Indochina to strengthen their organic cohesion and develop as a whole. Japan has proposed the establishment of a "Forum for Comprehensive Development of Indochina" in order to contribute positively to the harmonious development of the entire region. It plans to host a preparatory meeting around this coming November or December for the "Forum".

We must not forget the problem of refugees in Indochina. Japan decided to contribute 15 million US dollars anew to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), in addition to its positive cooperation in the past to reduce the burden of the countries concerned.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ensuring a stable economic life for the people through the promotion of economic development is very important in order to secure political stability and to build peace. As for trends in the world economy, recovery was slow in 1992, owing to the poor performance of the industrialised economies and economic confusion in the New Independent States and elsewhere. The dynamic development of the Asia-Pacific region casts a ray of hope for the twenty- first century amid the world's unstable political and sluggish economic situation. In the Economic Declaration of the recent Tokyo G-7 Summit we stated that the economy of this region is playing an increasingly important role.

Japan considers that making the Asia-Pacific a still more resilient and prosperous region is crucial to securing global peace and stability. Japan shall play a positive role to this end by strengthening its cooperative relations with the ASEAN countries and others in the region.

Japan recently formulated its fifth "ODA Mid-Term Target" as a formula for discharging its responsibilities to maintain sustained and stable growth of the world economy. This target consists of implementing ODA of a total of 70 to 75 billion US dollars over the five-year period from 1993 to 1997, while seeking, among other goals, to improve the quality of this assistance. Japan has also formulated a "Funds for Development" Initiative, in order to expand further the supply of financial resources to developing countries. This programme combines the new mid-term ODA target above and untied official flows other than ODA totalling approximately 50 billion dollars. The new "Target" and "Initiative" both aim to increase the supply of funds by about fifty percent as compared with their respective preceding schemes. Japan's "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. Japan welcomes the agreement by the ASEAN countries at the recent ASEAN Ministerial Meeting that the East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) is a caucus within APEC. Japan would like to discuss with the ASEAN countries the concrete way to proceed with regard to EAEC.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

Japan is a country which traditionally attaches importance to relationships. My relationship with Southeast Asia began in 1969, 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 forsee.

Thank you.