ASEAN, Japan pledge to strengthen partnership

BANGKOK, September 6 (TNA) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan have agreed to strengthen their partnership in four different areas. Thai Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow told journalists of the agreement on Friday, after he attended the 29th ASEAN-Japan Forum in Tokyo from September 3 -4. Sihasak said that participants at the meeting reviewed and followed up progress on the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and the joint statement of ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, agreed in Tokyo last December marking the 40th anniversary of relations between the two sides, which focused on strengthening bilateral partnership in the four areas, including peace and security, prosperity, people's good quality of life and heart to heart partnership. Sihasak said senior ASEAN and Japanese officials participating in the meeting also stressed on the significance of Japan toward promoting peace and security, as well as prosperity in Eastern Asia and on the promotion of cooperation between ASEAN and Japan in various fields, including anti-terrorism and anti-transnational crime and computer criminals, as well as management of natural disasters through existing cooperation framework. On the economic sphere, the senior official noted, ASEAN and Japan agreed to further strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and tourism and to prepare a so-called ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Besides, both sides also agreed to increase Japan’s role in helping reducing disparity on development which is considered important for strengthening the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), set to be formed by 2015. According to the senior official, participants also discussed transport connectivity in the region, aimed at further enhancing cross-border public links and the national economies of countries along the Indian and the Pacific Oceans. (TNA)