Japan, ASEAN Eye Action Plan to Strengthen Economic Partnership

Siem Reap, Cambodia, Sept. 18 (Jiji Press) — Japan and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed on Sunday to create an action plan to strengthen their economic partnership, apparently aware of the China’s growing influence in the region.

At today’s meeting of Japan and ASEAN countries’ economy ministers held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura, proposed the creation of such an action plan and ASEAN ministers supported the proposal.

Holding a press conference after the meeting, Nishimura said, “ASEAN is the fastest growing region in the world.” He then stressed the importance of promoting digitalization, free and fair trade and investment, and strengthening supply chains so that ASEAN countries can achieve economic growth.

As 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of friendly cooperative relations between Japan and ASEAN, the two sides hope to quickly develop the action plan to counter China.

Also at Sunday’s meeting, Nishimura outlined a plan to achieve 100 cases of companies using data to make supply chains more sophisticated over five years and create 100 companies that address social challenges each year.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]