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The Second Day of the ASEAN+3, Japan-ASEAN and East Asia Summit (EAS) Summit Meetings Tuesday, December 13, 2005 JAPANESE Click photographs to enlarge In the morning of December 13, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in Kuala Lumpur. After the meeting, the Joint Statement of the Ninth ASEAN-Japan Summit, entitled "Deepening and Broadening of ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership," was issued, and both parties declared that they will contribute to the maintenance of peace, security, prosperity, and progress in the region on equal footing. Furthermore, Prime Minister Koizumi announced that Japan will provide fresh financial assistance in the amount of 7.5 billion yen to support ASEAN integration through funds such as the ASEAN Development Fund (ADF). Prime Minister Koizumi then held individual meetings with Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, and Ms. Helen Clark, the Prime Minister of New Zealand. During his meeting with Prime Minister Singh, Prime Minister Koizumi remarked on the future bilateral relations, noting that, "India is the world's largest democratic nation and possesses great potential." Prime Minister Singh then, in connection to his visit to Japan scheduled for next year, responded, "India's relations with Japan serve a crucial role in our Look East Policy." During the meeting with Prime Minister Lee of Singapore, Prime Minister Lee pointed out that the Agreement between Japan and the Republic of Singapore for a New-Age Economic Partnership, which was brought into effect in November 2002, is becoming obsolete and requires a reexamination. In response, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that, "It is good proof of how much our economic partnership has advanced," and expressed his intention to consider the need for a reexamination. During the meeting with Prime Minister Clark of New Zealand, the two leaders agreed to promote the initiative to formulate an East Asian community through the East Asian Summit (EAS), with its first meeting scheduled to be held on December 14. Prime Minister Koizumi then held a four-party talk with Mr. Samdech Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr. Bounnhang Vorachith, the Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Mr. Phan Van Khai, the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. At this meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi pledged to extend new yen loans and grant aid totaling approximately 22 billion yen to the three countries. Related link: Joint Statement of the Ninth ASEAN-Japan Summit View Video (Available only in Japanese) Real(Narrowband) / Real(Broadband) Windows Media(Narrowband) / Windows Media(Broadband)