Greetings from DISG Secretariat
Dear readers,
The second half of the year 2023 has begun. This year marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, and various commemorative events are being held in each country in anticipation of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit to be held in December. In this July newsletter, we will report on seven topics with the focus on events held in Malaysia and Thailand. Moving forward, this newsletter will continue to introduce the commemorative events that each country held for the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
- • The First Asia Zero Emission Community Senior Officials Meeting (AZEC SOM) Held
- • Seminar on Malaysia-Japan: Moving Ahead with Trade & Sustainability
- • Thailand-Japan Economic Forum 2023
- • Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN-G7 Justice Ministers’ Interface
- • Electronic EPA Certificate of Origin for Vietnam
- • Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan visit to Indonesia
- • Other Diplomatic Updates
Best regards,
ISHIKAWA Hiroshi
Chair of AMEICC DISG Task Force
Executive Director, JETRO Singapore
Special Advisor to Minister, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan
The First Asia Zero Emission Community Senior Officials Meeting (AZEC SOM) Held
On June 24th, 2023, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), with the support of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), hosted the First Asia Zero Emission Community Senior Officials Meeting (AZEC SOM) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Mr. Minami, Deputy Commissioner and Director general for International Policy on Carbon Neutrality, and Mr. Kobayashi, Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs, both from the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, participated in the meeting as representatives of Japan. They discussed approaches to specifying AZEC’s future cooperation with the senior officials and other stakeholders of the countries that had participated in the AZEC Ministerial Meeting held in March of this year. As a special guest, H.E. Mr. Arifin Tasrif, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.
At the meeting, Japan explained the various assistance that has been provided through Japanese governmental organizations under the framework of AZEC while showing its past achievements, and reiterated its commitment to contribute to decarbonization in Asia. In addition, as specific measures for policy coordination, participants confirmed the implementation of efforts as follows;
[Specific measures for policy coordination].
- ① Creation of a master plan on hydrogen and ammonia
- ② Development of technological standards for CCS
- ③ Further promotion of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)
- The First Asia Zero Emission Community Senior Officials Meeting (AZEC SOM) Held (English) (LINK)
Seminar on Malaysia-Japan: Moving Ahead with Trade & Sustainability
On June 20th, 2023, the Seminar on Malaysia-Japan: Moving Ahead with Trade & Sustainability, organized by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and sponsored by METI, took place in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, attracting over 200 participants.
The purpose of the seminar is to further enhance the trade cooperation between both countries, Malaysia and Japan, through the new opportunities and learning from the existing industry players with focus on going global and sustainability.
The Seminar began with FMM President, Tan Sri Dato’ Soh Thian Lai, highlighting Malaysia's economic transformation in the 1980s and the introduction of the Look East Policy (LEP), the policy that strengthened bilateral relations and boosted trade with Japan. He stated that in 2022, Malaysia implemented regional FTAs, RCEP, and CPTPP, to enhance trade and investment. FMM advocated for FTAs to improve competitiveness and emphasized on enhancing technology transfer and expanding partnerships between Japanese SMEs and Malaysian companies in emerging sectors. Malaysia also aims to learn from Japan's sustainable practices, while strengthening the bilateral relations through collaboration between ministries, agencies, and the private sector.
Followed the welcome remarks made by Mr. Tan Sri Dato’ Soh Thian Lai, H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia delivered the Opening Address and conveyed his appreciation to FMM for organizing the Seminar in collaboration with METI.
The seminar featured presentations on the themes of
- Strengthening Malaysia-Japan Relationship
- ASEAN@56: Future of ASEAN Economic Community Together with Japan Cooperation
- One Year in Review - Malaysia-Japan Relations with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
- Promoting and Supporting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) to Remain Competitive
Additionally, a panel session titled “Panel Session on Youth Entrepreneurs Going Global” was conducted, where youth entrepreneurs shared their insights.
- Event website of the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation (English) (LINK)
- Event page on the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers website (English) (LINK)
Thailand-Japan Economic Forum 2023
On June 20th, 2023, the Thailand-Japan Economic Forum 2023 was held in Bangkok, Thailand organized by the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and Board of Trade of Thailand (BoT) in association with AEM- METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) in order to celebrate the 50th commemorative year of ASEAN-Japan relations and strengthen the economic bond between Thailand and Japan to be stronger and explore new possibilities.
The forum was held to support trade and investment relations between Thailand and Japan to cope with new challenges in the future.
Welcome remarks by Mr. Sanan Angubolkul emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between Thailand and Japan. The two countries had had a long and profound relationship for 136 years, and this event also celebrated the 50th anniversary of friendship and relations between Japan and ASEAN. TCC and BoT, as a Thai private sector, is ready to serve as a focal point in connecting the public and private segments of the two countries. He also highlighted the Thai-Japanese Association, which played a role in strengthening business relationships and society between Thai and Japanese investors. He believed that this seminar would be useful to elevate the cooperation between Thailand and Japan to grow sustainably in the future.
The forum consisted of three panel sessions focusing on exchanging ideas and experiences under the theme of the future direction of economic cooperation and relations between Japan and Thailand and co-creation in the economic field.
[Panel session themes]
- Panel 1: Thailand-Japan's New Dimension of Economic Cooperation
- Panel 2: Thailand-Japan Young Entrepreneurs - Empowering New Generation
- Panel 3: From the Past to the Next, Vision from Pioneer
- Event website of the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation (English) (LINK)
- Event page on the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade od Thailand website (Thai) (LINK)
Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN-G7 Justice Ministers’ Interface
On July 7th, 2023, Prime Minister Kishida attended the opening ceremony for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)-G7 Justice Ministers’ Interface held in Tokyo.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister of Japan welcomed the participation of all countries and international organizations, and referring to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, stressed the need to uphold and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law, and the importance of all countries and regions that share the same principles to strengthen dialogue and work together to uphold values and principles such as respect for fundamental human rights and the rule of law.
Moreover, he also noted that ASEAN plays an important role in Asia as the center of regional cooperation and is the key to achieving a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), and that Japan, together with the G7, supports ASEAN's centrality and unity and will promote concrete cooperation in line with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific that ASEAN has proposed and shares essential principles with FOIP.
In promoting judicial diplomacy, he noted that Japan has built a solid relationship of friendship and trust with ASEAN countries by supporting the development of judicial human resources, drafting of basic laws and regulations, and institutional development of justice-related organizations, and on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, he stated that it is Japan's mission to serve as a bridge between ASEAN and the G7.
He concluded his remarks by saying that the G7 Hiroshima Summit's commitment to strengthen cooperation with regional partners, including ASEAN and its member states, would be put into practice in the legal and judicial fields through this meeting, which he hoped would be a new starting point for further collaboration between ASEAN and the G7.
- Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN-G7 Justice Ministers Special Dialogue (Japanese) (LINK)
Electronic EPA Certificate of Origin for Vietnam
Certificates of Origin (CO) will be shifted to issuance in PDF format for Vietnam under the Japan-Vietnam Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement.
Simplifying and speeding up origin certification procedures will increase the use of the EPA, which is also expected to promote exports of agricultural products.
- Certificates of Origin will be Shifted to Issuance in PDF Format Files under EPA for Viet Nam (English) (LINK)
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan visit to Indonesia
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan made an official visit to the Republic of Indonesia. Their Majesties traveled for 7 days from June 17th, and returned to Japan, on June 23rd safe and sound. During their stay in Indonesia, Their Majesties received warm welcome from President Joko, and other distinguished persons. Their Majesties heartily enjoyed the opportunities of exchanges with the people of Indonesia.
It is truly a matter for congratulation that a great contribution has been made to the advancement of friendly relations between Japan and Indonesia by Their Majesties’ visit. It is expected that this visit will strengthen friendly relationship with Indonesia even further in future.
- Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary on the Visit to the Republic of Indonesia by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan (English) (LINK)
Other Diplomatic Updates
■ Courtesy Call from National Security Adviser Eduardo Año of the Philippines
On June 15th, 2023, Prime Minister Kishida received a courtesy call from Hon. Eduardo Año, National Security Advisor of the Republic of the Philippines, at the Prime Minister’s Office.
- Courtesy Call from National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año of the Philippines (Japanese) (LINK)
■ Holding of the 8th Japan-Thailand Vice-Ministerial Level Political Consultations
On June 16th, 2023, H.E. Mr. Yamada Shigeo, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, co-chaired the 8th Meeting of Japan-Thailand Political Partnership Consultations (JTPPC) with H.E. Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, in Thailand.
On this occasion, based on the upgrading of the bilateral relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” last year, a wide range of bilateral relations including security and economic areas were discussed, as well as views on regional and international issues including the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Partnership (FOIP),” the situation in Ukraine, the East and South China Sea, North Korea, and Myanmar. The participants also confirmed to further strengthen cooperation in this 50th anniversary year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
- The 8th Japan-Thailand Vice-Ministerial Level Political Consultations (Japanese) (LINK)
■ Visit to Indonesia by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Takei
From July 7th to 9th, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shunsuke Takei visited Indonesia with the following results;
1. Attendance at the 27th General Assembly of the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA)
On July 8th, Vice Minister Takei attended the 27th General Assembly of ASCOJA. Approximately 200 former Japanese students from ASEAN countries attended this year's General Assembly, where they engaged in lively discussions on such topics as the theme of the Assembly, “Japan-ASEAN Cooperation in SDGs for Quality Life”.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Vice Minister Takei noted that ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) plays a major role in sharing the trust and empathy for Japan that has been fostered through the experience of studying in Japan with the ASEAN region as a whole, and he will continue to strongly support the efforts of ASCOJA.
He also attended a reception hosted by the Ambassador of Japan to Indonesia for the attendees of the General Assembly and a dinner hosted by the Association of Indonesian Alumni of Japan held on the 7th and 8th, respectively, at which he delivered remarks.
2. Meeting with Mr. Aan Kurnia, Chief of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency of the Republic of Indonesia
On July 8th, Vice Minister Takei held a meeting with Mr. Aan Kurnia, Chief of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency of the Republic of Indonesia.
Vice Minister Takei expressed his pleasure at the brief reunion since February of this year, and expressed his desire to further promote cooperation toward the realization of the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” and the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific”. They also agreed to deepen their cooperation to further promote cooperation in the field of maritime security.
3. Meeting with Rachmat Gobel, Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia
On July 8th, Deputy Minister Takei met with Rachmat Gobel, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and former President of the Japan Student Association in Indonesia, to exchange views on further promoting bilateral relations, including student exchange.
4. Floral tribute at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery
On July 7th, Vice Minister Takei offered floral tribute at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, where heroes who contributed to the building of the Indonesian nation are buried. He also visited the gravesite of former Japanese soldiers buried in the cemetery.
5. Inspection of the "The History Gallery of Former Japanese Soldiers”
On July 7th, Vice Minister Takei visited "The History Gallery of Former Japanese Soldiers”, which exhibits and introduces records on the history of residual Japanese soldiers who participated in Indonesia's War of Independence and later became Indonesian citizens, as well as the activities of the Welfare Friendship Society, which continued to support these soldiers.
6. Inspection of Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) depot
On July 8th, Deputy Minister Takei visited the rail yard of the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) North-South Line, which was developed with Japanese assistance. The MRT is the first urban railroad in Indonesia to include an underground section. The North-South Line between Lebak Bulus and Bunderan HI opened in 2019, and extension work is still underway. In the development of MRT, Japan provided not only construction but also operational support, and today the MRT is operated flawlessly by Indonesian personnel.
- Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Takei's Visit to Indonesia (Results) (Japanese) (LINK)
Editorial Note
