Hatoyama eyes 4 key areas in E. Asia grouping concept+

SINGAPORE, Nov. 15 Kyodo -
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Sunday highlighted four key areas of
cooperation in the East Asian community concept he advocates -- co-prosperity,
a green Asia, human life protection and maritime safety.

In his Asian policy speech in Singapore, Hatoyama indicated the United States
is among potential members of the envisaged regional grouping, saying, ''The
presence of the United States has been playing and will continue to play an
important role in ensuring the peace and prosperity of Asia, including Japan.''
Hatoyama said Japan will speed up negotiations for economic partnership
agreements with South Korea, India and Australia, and study the possibilities
of EPA talks with other countries as a means to pursuing co-prosperity in the
region.
Hatoyama proposed expanding maritime cooperation in Southeast Asia, such as
anti-piracy operations in the Strait of Malacca, to other regions as part of
efforts to build a ''sea of yu-ai (fraternity),'' noting that ''most regional
commerce depends on sea routes.''
''The concept behind my initiative for an East Asian community stems from the
philosophy of 'yu-ai,''' he said. ''Within 'yu-ai,' people respect the freedom
and human dignity of others just as they respect their own freedom and human
dignity. In other words, 'yu-ai' means not only the independence of people but
also their coexistence.''
''I set this goal because reconciliation in the real sense of the word is not
necessarily believed to have been achieved in the region,'' said Hatoyama,
whose two-month-old government attaches great importance to Asian diplomacy.
''This is the current situation, although more than 60 years have passed since
Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries,
particularly on the people of Asian nations.''
The premier expressed hope that developing countries will take advantage of
advanced energy-saving technologies, water purification techniques and other
environmentally friendly technologies owned by Japanese companies as they aim
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while pursuing sustainable growth to achieve
a ''Green Asia.''
He stressed that countries need to ensure the success of a key U.N. climate
change meeting in December in Copenhagen, where the world will try to strike a
deal on a successor to the carbon-capping Kyoto Protocol, which expires in
2012.
Hatoyama said Japan will make a ''proactive contribution'' to encourage
governments and other institutions to register their human and material assets
for disaster relief, which would allow the region to conduct more prompt and
effective rescue and relief activities in the event of disasters.
Along with the four areas, Hatoyama cited nuclear disarmament, nuclear
non-proliferation, urban issues, social security and cultural exchange as
potential fields of cooperation in the region.
''There may also be an opportunity for us to discuss possible political
cooperation in the future,'' he said.
''It may be possible that countries with the will and the capabilities to
cooperate in a particular field may choose to participate in projects
initially, and as their efforts bear fruit, other countries could join later.''
While welcoming Washington's commitment to Asia as stated in U.S. President
Barack Obama's speech in Tokyo on Saturday, Hatoyama carefully avoided speaking
about membership in his concept.
As a framework of future regional cooperation, China envisions a grouping of 13
countries -- Japan, China and South Korea plus the 10 Association of Southeast
Asian Nations members of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Japan envisages a wider grouping including Australia, India, New Zealand, and
possibly the United States.
''After hearing my views today, perhaps you would still like to ask who will be
the members of my initiative for an East Asian community,'' Hatoyama said. ''To
that, my answer is -- people who share these ideals and dreams.''
==Kyodo
2009-11-15 21:59:31