Japan PM Abe Vows to Help ASEAN Community

Kuala Lumpur, Nov. 22 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged Japan's active assistance for the ASEAN Community at a meeting with the leaders of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. Japan is determined to contribute to growth in the region by vigorously supporting the envisaged community through "high-quality" infrastructure investments, Abe said at the Japan-ASEAN summit. Earlier in the day in the Malaysian capital, the ASEAN leaders signed a declaration on the establishment of the community by the year-end to promote free flows of goods, services and manpower in the region. The ASEAN region's steady growth as a partner that shares universal values is extremely important for Japan, Abe noted, assuring Tokyo's full support for the region's efforts for socio-economic integration. The Japanese government already announced plans to extend 10 billion dollars in loans to the ASEAN over the next five years and relax conditions on low-rate yen loans to the region. Abe described these measures at the meeting. Learning that the Japanese assistance is aimed in part at promoting the development of infrastructure, such as railway networks, the ASEAN leaders welcomed the move as beneficial for strengthening bonds between the member states. Taking up the issues of China's construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea and repeated intrusion into Japanese waters in the East China Sea, Abe said he is strongly concerned about unilateral moves that could change the status quo. Japan will continue to urge China to become more constructive and cooperative in tackling both regional and global issues while observing international rules, Abe said. END