Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� January, 2002

Policy Speech Given by Prime Minister Koizumi on the Occasion of His Visit to Member Countries of ASEAN Monday, January 14, 2002 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi delivered a policy speech in Singapore. Prime Minister Koizumi emphasized that cooperative relations between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the 21st century should be strengthened under the basic concept of "acting together and advancing together" as sincere and open partners. Specifically, the Prime Minister addressed; (1) the importance of each country undertaking reforms in order to advance toward increased prosperity; (2) the importance of strengthening and continuing cooperation to tackle a variety of issues such as terrorism, piracy, energy security, infectious diseases, the environment and narcotics in order to ensure the stability of the East Asian region; and (3) five initiatives on cooperation for the future, including proposals to designate the year 2003 as "the Year of Japan-ASEAN Exchange" and to launch the "Initiative for Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Partnership." Furthermore, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of creating a community where the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand are joined with Japan and ASEAN, and in which partnerships are deepened.