1.
The Great East Japan Earthquake
2.
Safety on Travelling Japan
3.
Special ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting
4.
Fifth Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of Japan, the People’s
Republic of China, and the Republic of Korea
5.
G8 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
6.
The 6th ASEAN-Japan Counter-Terrorism Dialogue
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JICC
Newsletter
No.3, May 2011 |
3. Special
ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting
Building
Solidarity and Strengthening Cooperation on Disaster Management in
Japan-ASEAN Relations

The Special ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting was held in Jakarta,
Indonesia (chaired by Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty) on April 9,
2011, with the attendance of Foreign Minister Matsumoto from Japan.
The meeting was of historic significance for lasting Japan-ASEAN
relations, in the sense that it demonstrates strong solidarity and a
deeper sense of community among Japan and ASEAN. At the outset of
the meeting, Foreign Minister Matsumoto expressed his appreciation
for hosting the meeting, and conveyed gratitude on behalf of the
Japanese government and people for the warm words of sympathy,
donations, and other strong support from the governments and people
of each ASEAN Member State. Foreign Minister Matsumoto also
explained the current situation of support for victims and evacuees,
Japan’s response to the nuclear power plant accident, and the
efforts being made toward recovery and reconstruction. With regard
to the nuclear power plant accident in particular, he explained that
Japan is providing information to the international community with
maximal transparency. Moreover, he proposed further strengthening of
cooperation in the area of disaster management between Japan and
ASEAN in light of the current major Earthquake, as Japan’s foreign
policy for ASEAN going forward.
Furthermore, Foreign Minister Matsumoto presented a message from
Japanese Prime Minister Kan expressing his appreciation for the
support and feeling of solidarity received from ASEAN; his
determination to bring the nuclear power plant accident under
control, thoroughly examine the accident, and thereby contribute to
reinforcing the safety of nuclear power plants; his determination to
achieve Japan’s recovery and continue to contribute to the
development of ASEAN; and his confidence that the bonds of
friendship between Japan and ASEAN would strengthen.
In response, representatives from each ASEAN Member State highly
evaluated the explanation from Japan, affirming that the support
from ASEAN for the earthquake was provided in the spirit of
gratitude to Japan for its generous support to date, which has
substantially contributed to the development of each ASEAN Member
State. They also expressed expectations for continued contributions
to regional stability and development from Japan.
Additionally, Foreign Minister Matsumoto proposed further
strengthening of cooperation in the area of disaster management
between Japan and ASEAN following the earthquake, including the
holding of a seminar during this year and the provision of support
for the improvement of communication facilities and stockpile
systems, the dispatch of personnel from the ASEAN Coordinating
Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA
Center), as well as the conduct of training in order to develop the
capacity of the rescue teams. Moreover, he emphasized Japan’s policy
to proactively support efforts toward the building of the ASEAN
Community by 2015, and Japan’s unwavering policy to contribute to
the strengthening of ASEAN Connectivity, which was highly praised by
each ASEAN Member State.
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