Remarks of President Joko Widodo at the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation at the Okura Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, December 17, 2023

Your Excellency Prime Minister Kishida,

Your Majesty,

Your Excellencies ASEAN Leaders,

Thank you for the warm welcome of the Japanese Government for ASEAN leaders and delegates.

For 50 years, ASEAN-Japan partnership has brought many achievements in maintaining stability and peace, bringing people together, and propelling economic growth in the region. The ASEAN-Japan strategic comprehensive partnership that we agreed upon in Jakarta last September is a capital for strengthening relations amidst global uncertainties. Thus, it must be realized in the form of concrete cooperation that is mutually beneficial and directly useful to the people, such as in funding for infrastructure, energy transition, digital transformation, food security, and strengthening of supply chain.

The partnership must also be future oriented. It is ASEAN’s hope that Japan as one of its most active partners can continue to be a trusted partner in making East Asia and Indo-Pacific region resilient and the center of economic growth. We are all responsible for maintaining regional peace, stability, and inclusivity through the strengthening of the habit of dialog and cooperation.

Your Excellency,

The statement of a shared vision and implementation plan that will be produced from the Summit today will base our future partnership and support the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. I hope this new generation of partnership can be an anchor for the prosperity, peace, and stability of our region.

I thank you, Your Excellency.

(DH/MMB)