Japan Supports ASEAN Community Building

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- Japan has given strong support for the ASEAN Community building and cooperation with 10 ASEAN member countries in the economic sector. "A more integrated, stable and prosperous ASEAN is extremely important for the stability and prosperity of the region as a whole," its Foreign Affairs Minister Minoru Kiuchi said. In a statement Wednesday, Kiuchi, who attended the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting here, said Japan-ASEAN cooperation was steadily progressing. He said more than 850 billion yen out of the two trillion yen Official Development Assistance over a five-year period that was announced at the 2013 ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, had been implemented. He said Japan supported the ASEAN Community building this year and integration efforts beyond this year through provision of US$110 billion dollars for infrastructure development in Asia over the next five years. In July, Japan also pledged 750 billion yen of Japan-Mekong cooperation over the next three years, he said. Meanwhile, Kiuchi said Japan would also continue to join hands with ASEAN on maritime security and navigation safety. This cooperation would include support for capacity building of coast guards and the provision of patrol vessels and equipment, as well as cooperate on promoting moderation and measures to counter radicalism. He said Japan intended to proactively contribute to the peace and stability of the region based on the principle of international cooperation, including the legislation for peace and security. The ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting is part of a series of meetings organised in conjunction with the convening of the 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, Post-Ministerial Conferences and Related Meetings from Aug 1 to 6 at the Putra World Trade Centre here. -- BERNAMA