1 . The 9th Meeting of the ASEAN-Japan Forum was held in Melaka, Malaysia on 22-23 July 1987. The Meeting was attended by the Deputy Director-General, the Asian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan; Director-General, ASEAN-Brunei Darussalam; Director-General, ASEAN-Indonesia; Deputy Director-General, ASEAN-Philippines; Director-General,ASEAN-Singapore; Director-General, ASEAN-Thailand and their respective delegations. The Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat, the Chairmen of COTT and COCI, and representatives from other ASEAN Committees were present.
2. His Excellency Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim bin Datuk Tamby Chik, the Chief Minister of Melaka, formally opened the 9th Meeting of ASEAN-Japan Forum.
3. Ambassador Dato Abdullah Zawawi bin Haji Mohamed, Director-General of ASEAN-Malaysia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the ASEAN delegations. The Japanese delegation was led by Mr. Haruhiko Shibuya, Deputy Director-General, Asian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan.
4. The Chief Minister in his opening statement, said that ASEAN and Japan had laid a strong foundation for their cooperation. The Chief Minister expressed optimism that . continued consultations of this nature would result in greater overall forward movement in ASEAN-Japan cooperation in trade, industry and investment, market access for ASEAN products, transfer of technology and the much needed capital to boost and accelerate ASEANs industrial growth.
5. The Meeting discussed a wide range of subjects such as specific trade issues and primary commodities, investment and industrial cooperation, the New Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiation, cooperation in economics, culture, science and technology. The Meeting also exchanged views on how best both sides could improve ASEAN Japan Development Cooperation for their mutual benefit.
6. ASEAN expressed its deep appreciation to the Government of Japan for its efforts aimed at the further enhancement of ASEAN-Japan cooperation. However, ASEAN believed that much more could be done by Japan to give greater substance and meaning to their continuing cooperation.
7. Japan referred to the statement of Foreign Minister Tadashi Kuranari on its intention to study ways and means of extending financial and technical cooperation with a view to assisting ASEANs efforts in upgrading ASEAN economies through the development of the private industrial sectors. ASEAN reiterated the views of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and ASEAN Economic Ministers welcoming the statement by Mr. Kuranari.
8. ASEAN and Japan exchanged views on the problems of falling commodity prices. declining trend of ASEANs trade with Japan and problems pertaining to market access for ASEANs manufactured goods. As regards commodities Japan stated that its government would make further efforts for the proper solution of primary commodity problems by maintaining close cooperation with countries concerned. Japan also indicated that it would participate in the INRA in 1987 as soon as possible and continued to cooperate in the effective functioning of the agreement. ASEAN requested for improvement in Japans GSP Schemes as well as the removal of some of the impediments to the expansion of the export of ASEAN to Japan.
9. The Meeting welcomed the renewal of the Agreement on ASEAN Promotion Centre (APC) in Tokyo for another Five Years beginning May 1987 to May 1992 and that the restructured APC would contribute positively in the promotion of ASEAN export to Japan and in the flow of Japanese capital and tourists to the ASEAN region.
10. The Meeting shared the view on the importance of maintaining and strengthening the open multilateral trade system through active and concerted negotiations of the Uruguay Round. Japan stated that it would contribute actively to these negotiations, maintaining close and cooperative relations with ASEAN countries on issues of concern to them and other developing countries.
11. Japan informed the Meeting that its overseas investments have been increasing as Japanese enterprises transfer their production facilities abroad due to among others, the Yen appreciation. ASEAN reiterated the hope that this development would lead to the further increase in the flow of investments into the region. The Japanese stated that it had also helped its private overseas investment by creating conditions conducive to the expansion of Japan�s private overseas investment. It has, for instance, established greater coverage of its overseas investment insurance scheme.
12. The Forum also deliberated extensively on aspects of development and cultural cooperation. ASEAN proposals including those pending since the 8th ASEAN-Japan Forum were discussed. In addition, new project proposals were presented for consideration by Japan. In this connection, ASEAN strongly urged Japan to take further measures to assist ASEAN countries economic development efforts.
13. The delegations from Japan, Negara Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand expressed their appreciation to the Government of Malaysia and the State Government of Melaka for hosting the 9th Meeting of ASEAN-Japan Forum and for the hospitality extended to them.
14. The 10th Meeting of the ASEAN-Japan Forum, would be held in Japan in 1988 at a date to be mutually agreed upon.
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