Prime Minister Hun Manet attended the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation on December 17 in Tokyo, Japan. STPM
Prime Minister Hun Manet has described the long journey of ASEAN and Japan as a testament to the “strength of peace” that exists when nations join hands. He believes that the peoples of the Asia Pacific region need to unite, in order to ensure the region does not become a forum for armed conflict or war.
The remarks came as he attended the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation on December 17 in Tokyo, Japan, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The release explained that the summit participants had approved two documents which will orientate and expand cooperation even further, in a new chapter of the ASEAN-Japan relationship which will promote peace, shared prosperity and sustainable development over the next 10 years.
The two documents are the Joint Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Trusted Partners, and its implementation plan.
In the press release, Manet spoke highly of the long-held connection between ASEAN and Japan, and of the need for the nations in the region to work together to ensure they do not become involved in armed conflict.
He expressed his administration of Japan for implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), including maritime cooperation, sustainable development goal (SDG) connectivity and economic cooperation, as well as collaboration in other sectors.
Manet also raised concerns over intercontinental ballistic missile tests by North Korea. He urged all relevant sides to engage in constructive and peaceful talks to push for complete nuclear disarmament to guarantee peace and stability on the Korean peninsula in the long term.
“I also call for a speedy solution to the issue of kidnapped Japanese citizens so that they can be reunited with their families,” he added.
He also supported the initiative of collaborating to establish an ASEAN-Japan next-generation car industry, as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s proposal to mobilise $35 billion in funding for five years through state and private partnerships in ASEAN, with a focus on improving the livelihoods of people, creating new opportunities and jobs.
In addition, Kishida announced the “Partnership to build future worth $281.44 million over the next 10 years”, as well as a $105.55 million project for international research and human resource training exchanges.
Manet noted that Cambodia is ready to play a part in these initiatives.
Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said on December 19 that the conclusion of the summit had seen Cambodia yield many interesting results.
“These included the signing of seven memorandums of understanding [MoU] that will foster close collaboration with different government institutes. In addition, [Manet] met with representatives from several major Japanese companies,” he added.
He noted that the forum had served as a major diplomatic exchange for Cambodia, in line with the seventh-mandate government’s intention to expand its foreign policy.
“Strengthening old friendships and expanding new ones is the basic principle of the government’s foreign policy position, based on domestic and international laws,” he explained.
