Participants attend the virtual 35th ASEAN-Japan Forum (Photo: VNA)

Attended by senior ASEAN officials and a Deputy Secretary-General of the bloc, the forum reviewed ASEAN-Japan cooperation, including in implementing the outcomes of the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting and preparing for the 23rd  ASEAN-Japan summit. Participants also discussed international and regional issues of shared concern. 

The Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister said Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide’s new government will uphold Japan’s policy and promote peace, stability, dialogue, and cooperation in the region. Japan will enhance cooperation with Southeast Asia and respect ASEAN’s centrality. He affirmed that Japan supports ASEAN’s view on the Indo-Pacific and will work together with ASEAN to realize this idea.

The Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister underscored the importance of regional peace and stability, expressed his concern over developments in the South China Sea (known as the East Sea in Vietnam), and called for dialogue and restraint from actions that can escalate tensions.

He expressed his view of demilitarization and neither use nor threat to use force in the region and to resolve disputes by peaceful means based on international law. He repeated Japan’s wish for peace on the Korean peninsula without nuclear weapons and irreversible denuclearization process.

The Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs suggested both sides cooperate in fighting COVID-19, organize an ASEAN Center for emergency health issues and diseases. He shared views of on ensuring regional peace, security, and stability and ASEAN’s view on the East Sea which was confirmed at the 36^th ASEAN Summit in June and the 53^rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in September, toward building a peaceful, secure, and stable maritime area.