ASEAN-JAPAN

The ASEAN-Japan Forum marked a point of departure from previous Forum Meetings when it was elevated to Senior Officials level from both sides and included political and security issues on the agenda for the first time. ASEAN and Japan share a common concern to maintain regional peace and stability to provide an environment conducive to sustained economic development of countries in the region. Japan co-sponsored ASEAN's resolution on the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia which was adopted by consensus at the 47th UN General Assembly.

At the 13th ASEAN-Japan Forum of 16-17 February 1993, ASEAN and Japan discussed a number of specific matters in the area of bilateral economic relations and cooperation, covering ASEAN's market access requests including Japan's GSP for ASEAN-processed products, Foreign Access Zones (FAZs), investment cooperation, commodities and financial cooperation. ASEAN requested an expansion of the scope of Japan's GSP, and suggested possible measures to promote Japanese direct investment to ASEAN, including a programme to encourage transfer of technology. ASEAN also expressed concern over recent moves to restrict the trade in tropical timber in the name of environmental conservation. Japan explained its efforts to improve its GSP scheme, and also stated that it was working towards setting up FAZ in seven cities and prefectures. Japan indicated measures that ASEAN could take in order to improve its investment environment.

On development cooperation, Japan agreed to consider the possibility of contributing to the ASEAN Social Development Fund (ASDF) after the Fund had been set up by ASEAN. ASEAN has already forwarded a list of project proposals for funding under the ASDF. At the 13th ASEAN- Japan Forum of 16-17 February 1993, ASEAN requested Japan to make a formal offer on the mode of financing assistance to ASDF as a follow-up to the suggestions made by a Japanese contact mission during its visit to Singapore in October 199 1. The ASEAN-Japan Friendship Programme for the 21st Century (AJFP), which started in 1983, is expected to expire in 1993.

ASEAN and Japan's Senior Officials exchanged views on regional political and security issues at the 13th ASEAN- Japan Forum. ASEAN and Japan generally agreed in their assessment of the current state of regional strategic situation. In particular, Japan believed that the current regional security was relatively stable. Both also concurred on the importance of political and security dialogues through existing fora. Given the changing political and security scenario, ASEAN has a major interest in participating in contributing to regional consultations on peace and security. Japan endorsed the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference as "an appropriate forum" for multilateral political and security dialogue. Japan also welcomed the convening of ASEAN-PMC Senior Officials Meeting.