On 1 August 2019, H.E. Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, in his capacity as Country Coordinator for ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations, co-chaired the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting together with H.E. Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. The meeting is part of the series of meetings during the 52^nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (52^nd AMM) and Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs) during 30 July – 3 August 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand.

            At the meeting, the ASEAN Ministers congratulated Japan on the accession to the throne of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito and the new Reiwa era, as well as Japan’s success in hosting the recent G20 Osaka Summit in June 2019. The Meeting discussed ways to strengthen the ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership and to respond jointly on issues of common interest and concern. In this regard, the Meeting took note of the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific, recently approved by the 34^th ASEAN Summit, and exchanged views on regional issues, such as the situation in the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula.

            The Ministers of ASEAN and Japan also discussed security cooperation, particularly on counter terrorism, cyber security, and marine security. On economic cooperation, the Ministers exchanged views on trade, investment, and connectivity. On socio-cultural cooperation, the Meeting discussed issues on tourism, climate change, and health.  The Ministers also discussed preparations for the 22^nd ASEAN-Japan Summit to be held in November 2019, Thailand.

            ASEAN-Japan informal dialogue relations began in 1973, and four years later in 1977, Japan officially became ASEAN’s Dialogue Partner. When ASEAN and Japan celebrated the 30^th Anniversary of their Dialogue Relations in 2003, Japan was elevated to Strategic Partner. On that occasion, ASEAN and Japan also signed the Tokyo Declaration for the Dynamic and Enduring ASEAN-Japan Partnership in the New Millennium, which marked the beginning of ASEAN and Japan’s Strategic Partnership.

            ASEAN and Japan engage with each other through various mechanisms at many levels. This includes the ASEAN-Japan Summit, the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting and the ASEAN-Japan Forum for Senior Officials. In 2011, Japan became the first Dialogue Partner to establish a Permanent Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta.

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