Greetings from DISG Secretariat
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the 40th Milestone of DISG Monthly Newsletter. We sincerely appreciate your continued support throughout these 40 volumes and look forward to sharing many more updates, insights, and developments from ASEAN-Japan collaborations with you in the future.
In this edition, we highlight recent activities from Japan and Laos collaboration, including the Summit meeting and the ministerial visit and participation in the Second Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders Meeting. We also feature the dispatch of Special Envoy Masahiko Komura to Indonesia for the inauguration of President Joko Widodo.
Including the aforementioned topics, this volume will cover the following 3 topics as follows;
- • Japan-Laos Summit Meeting
- • METI Minister Muto’s Visit to Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- • Special Envoy Masahiko Komura's Dispatch and Visit to Indonesia to Attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the President of the Republic of Indonesia
Best regards,
ISHIKAWA Hiroshi
Chair of DISG Task Force
Executive Director, JETRO Singapore
Special Advisor to Minister, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan
Japan-Laos Summit Meeting
On October 11, 2024, Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan, who is on an official visit to Laos to attend the ASEAN-related Summit Meetings, attended a welcome ceremony hosted by H.E. Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and held a Japan-Laos Summit Meeting.
At the outset, Prime Minister Sonexay welcomed Prime Minister Ishiba's first official visit to Laos after assuming office and expressed his desire to strengthen bilateral relations. He also conveyed his sympathy for the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his pleasure of visiting Laos as his first official visit and extended condolences for the victims of Typhoon Yagi. He reaffirmed Japan's commitment to providing disaster assistance, including insurance and rice reserves. Furthermore, he expressed his respect for Prime Minister Sonexay's efforts as the ASEAN Chair.
On bilateral relations, both leaders agreed to aim for elevating bilateral relations to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos next year. They also agreed on a 70th anniversary commemorative logo featuring elephants and cherry blossoms, symbols of both countries, to boost celebratory events next year.
For more information on the logo, click LINK.
Prime Minister Ishiba expressed Japan's intention to focus on supporting Laos in strengthening its “connectivity” with the regional economy and enhancing its resilience through the following cooperation initiatives to contribute to Laos' autonomous and quality economic growth and fiscal stabilization:
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1. [Energy Connectivity] Promote assistance for strengthening electricity connectivity with neighboring countries and promoting decarbonization through clean energy in Laos (including consideration for the co-creation for common agenda initiative)
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2. [Physical Connectivity] Expand terminal and improve taxiways at Vientiane International Airport, etc.
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3. [Economic and Social Resilience] Conduct clearance of unexploded ordnance and disaster prevention cooperation
Prime Minister Sonexay expressed his sincere gratitude for past and ongoing support of Japan and the Japanese people. In turn, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized the importance of removing unexploded ordnance, which continues to pose a threat to civilians, and expressed his commitment to continued cooperation on this issue.
On regional and international affairs, Prime Minister Ishiba confirmed the importance of "Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity and Resilience," the theme set by Laos as the ASEAN Chair, and conveyed Japan's policy to continue strengthening ASEAN connectivity in a wide range of fields. He also expressed Japan's intention to collaborate in addressing new challenges such as Green Transformation (GX) and Digital Transformation (DX). Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to hold the 2nd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders Meeting in Laos and stated his desire to cooperate towards the common goal of net-zero emissions through various pathways.
Lastly, both leaders exchanged views on issues such as the situation in Myanmar, the East and South China Sea issues and North Korea issues, and confirmed that Japan and ASEAN will work closely together to address these challenges.
- Japan-Laos Summit Meeting (English) (LINK)
- Logo mark chosen to Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Laos (English) (LINK)
METI Minister Muto’s Visit to Lao People’s Democratic Republic
From October 10 to 12, 2024, Mr. Muto Yoji, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, visited Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and participated in the Second Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders Meeting. In this occasion, he exchanged views with related ministers on cooperation toward decarbonization.
■ Participation in the Second AZEC Leaders Meeting
On October 11, 2024, the Second AZEC Leaders Meeting was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, bringing together all 11 AZEC partner countries. Japan was represented by Prime Minister Ishiba and Minister Muto.
Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized the need to secure Asia's economic growth, as the world’s growth driver, while urgently addressing climate change. He reaffirmed the importance of AZEC’s principles, which aim for net-zero emissions through various pathways tailored to each country’s unique circumstances. This approach seeks to balance decarbonization, economic growth, and energy security. The Prime Minister also noted the development of approximately 120 cooperation projects, including Memorandums of Understanding signed since the First AZEC Leaders Meeting in December 2023. He expressed Japan’s intention to support Lao PDR’s transition into a regional clean energy hub, contributing to decarbonization efforts across the region.
Minister Muto reported on the outcomes of the Second AZEC Ministerial Meeting in August 2024, highlighting agreements on sectoral initiatives in power, transport, and industry, as well as actions for decarbonization. He also introduced the launch of the Asia Zero Emission Center (AZEC), which will serve as the intellectual engine for AZEC, helping to formulate decarbonization roadmaps and offer policy recommendations.
AZEC leaders expressed strong support for Japan’s leadership and the AZEC principles, emphasizing the importance of customized pathways to net-zero emissions that promote decarbonization, economic growth, and energy security. They also voiced high expectations for future AZEC initiatives, including expanding investment in clean energy transition and promoting transition finance.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the leaders adopted the AZEC Leaders’ Joint Statement, which included the Action Plan for the Next Decade. Read the Joint Statement, click LINK.
■ Meeting with H.E. Mr. Keo Rottanak, Minister of Mines and Energy, Cambodia
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to Japan-Cambodia cooperation on factory greening and biomass initiatives, agreeing to continue advancing these efforts. They also confirmed their shared goal of promoting decarbonization in the Asian region and strengthening bilateral energy cooperation, with AZEC serving as the core.
- Minister Muto Visits the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (English) (LINK)
- The 2nd Asia Zero-Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders Meeting (English) (LINK)
Special Envoy Masahiko Komura's Dispatch and Visit to Indonesia to Attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the President of the Republic of Indonesia
On October 18, 2024, The Government of Japan decided to send Former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura as a special envoy to the inauguration ceremony of H.E. General (Honorary) (Ret.) Prabowo Subianto, the newly elected President of the Republic of Indonesia. From October 19 to 21, 2024, Special Envoy Masahiko Komura (former Minister for Foreign Affairs) visited Indonesia. The overview is as follows;
On October 20, 2024, the inauguration ceremony of H.E. Mr. Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and H.E. Mr. Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, was held at the People's Consultative Assembly in Jakarta.
Representing Japan, Special Envoy Komura attended the ceremony alongside leaders from ASEAN countries, including His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore, as well as other international dignitaries such as Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão of Timor-Leste, Prime Minister Ana Brnabić of Serbia, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of South Korea, Vice President Han Zheng of China, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Richard Marles of Australia, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters of New Zealand.
The ceremony lasted approximately 90 minutes, featuring the national anthem, the swearing-in of the President and Vice President, and a speech by President Prabowo. During the event, Special Envoy Komura, along with other foreign dignitaries, exchanged greetings with both President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran and conveyed their congratulations.
In addition, before the ceremony, Special Envoy Komura held brief conversations with various international dignitaries in the designated foreign guest room.
- Dispatch of Special Ambassador to the Inauguration Ceremony of the President of the Republic of Indonesia (Japanese) (LINK)
- Special Envoy Masahiko Komura's Visit to Indonesia (Results) (Japanese) (LINK)
Editorial Note
