JABAR EKSPRES – Japanese Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kiya Masahiko said that Japan is proud to be a partner of ASEAN and mentioned that ASEAN has become a center of growth.
“We (ASEAN and Japan) are fully equal partners, and the goal is to co-create the future,” Ambassador, Kiya Masahiko said, at the “ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni” (ASCOJA) event, in Jakarta, Friday (7/7).
Masahiko said that ASEAN and Japan still have many challenges to face, such as economic, social, environmental, and disaster challenges, adding that the way to overcome these challenges is through innovation.
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“You (ASEAN) have economic growth, we have technology. We can complement each other, and we can achieve great things for ourselves and for the world,” Masahiko said.
Masahiko also said Japan fully supports the three pillars of ASEAN 2023, especially the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), adding that Japan promotes collaboration as well as people-to-people exchanges and addressing global issues.
“We look forward to collaborating with Indonesia’s leadership to achieve these key goals,” Masahiko said.
The three pillars of ASEAN 2023 are ASEAN Matters, Epicenter of Growth, and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
Masahiko also mentioned that Japan fully supports ASEAN’s efforts in dealing with the problems in Myanmar and said that ASEAN plays a key role in the issue.
On the same occasion, Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Kenji Kanasugi commented on the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Japan.
Kanasugi said Emperor Naruhito’s visit to Indonesia as his first official overseas visit, which is also to commemorate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations, shows how important Indonesia is to Japan.
“They (the Emperor and Empress) chose Indonesia for their first official visit abroad, a clear indication of how important Indonesia is to Japan,” Kanasugi said.
