Senior officials convene in Karuizawa to bolster multifaceted cooperation under ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
KARUIZAWA, Japan. — Senior officials from ASEAN member states and Japan gathered on 5 March 2025 for the 40th ASEAN-Japan Forum, reaffirming their commitment to advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) rooted in mutual trust, respect, and equal partnership.
Building upon the momentum from the 27th ASEAN-Japan Summit in October 2024 and the Commemorative Summit celebrating 50 years of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in December 2023 in Tokyo, both sides reviewed the significant progress made in implementing the Joint Vision Statement and its corresponding Implementation Plan. They pledged to continue collaborative efforts across various sectors to further enhance their partnership.
Discussions during the forum emphasized strengthening cooperation under the three pillars of the CSP: Heart-to-Heart Partners across Generations, Partners for Co-creation of Economy and Society of the Future, and Partners for Peace and Stability. Both sides agreed to enhance collaboration in traditional and emerging areas, including combating transnational crime, cybersecurity, digitalization, green transition, science and technology, sustainable development, and climate action.
Japan reaffirmed its strong support for ASEAN Centrality and community-building efforts. ASEAN welcomed Japan’s commitment to supporting the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) through concrete projects and activities, aiming to foster practical cooperation in key areas of the AOIP and contribute to the advancement of the CSP in an open, transparent, and inclusive manner. Additionally, ASEAN appreciated Japan’s proposal for a Joint Statement on further promoting and implementing the AOIP, to be adopted at the upcoming 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit this year.
Both sides shared their perspectives on regional and international issues of mutual interest and agreed to enhance collaboration in addressing emerging challenges, with the aim of promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
The 40th ASEAN-Japan Forum was co-chaired by Albert Chua, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, and Namazu Hiroyuki, Senior Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan. The meeting was attended by senior officials from ASEAN member states, representatives, and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Political-Security Community. Timor-Leste participated as an observer.
Source: ASEAN Secretariat
