Prime Minister puts forward major orientations for ASEAN-Japan relations

Addressing the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo on Sunday, Pham urged ASEAN and Japan to strengthen strategic coordination and work together to build an open, inclusive, and rule-based regional architecture, in which ASEAN plays the central role.

He called on Japan to continue voicing support for ASEAN's common positions on the East Sea issue, actively assist the Mekong Subregion countries in dealing with non-traditional security challenges, soon restart the Mekong cooperation mechanism, and give priority to sustainable development projects with a view to leave no one behind.

Pham welcomed cultural-social exchanges between ASEAN and Japan, including 500 activities marking the 50^th founding anniversary of the Viet Nam-Japan relations in 2023.

Prime Minister Pham also urged ASEAN and Japan to further enhance economic, trade, and investment connectivity, considering it the focus and driving force for the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides.

Both sides need to strengthen infrastructure connectivity, expand collaboration to new fronts such as innovation, digital transformation, green economy, circular economy, and smart agriculture, making the fronts the new impetus for ASEAN-Japan cooperation in the future.

Leaders from ASEAN member States and Japan pledged to foster cooperation in various areas, including people-to-people exchange, tourism, innovation, digital transformation, energy, natural disaster management, climate change, maritime security, terrorism and transnational crime combat.

ASEAN leaders thanked Japan for considering ASEAN a priority in its foreign policy and its commitment to continue support and assistance for ASEAN to build the ASEAN Community and promote ASEAN centrality in the region.

At the end of the summit, leaders of ASEAN countries and Japan adopted the Joint Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Trusted Partners and its Implementation Plan./.