Highlighting JAPAN

Prime Minister Abe Visits the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam from January 12 to 17 in 2017. On January 15, Prime Minister Abe held a Japan-Indonesia Summit Meeting with H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia. For the beginning of the Summit Meeting a small group meeting was held. Prime Minister Abe explained the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and Japan’s hope for an active role by Indonesia with its position as a hub between the two oceans, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, Prime Minister Abe indicated that Japan intends to continue to support ASEAN’s unity and centrality.

Regarding the South China Sea issue, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the rule of law and peaceful resolution of conflicts. Regarding North Korea, Prime Minister Abe emphasized the need to strengthen pressure against nuclear and missile developments. President Joko also expressed strong condemnation. Prime Minister Abe requested cooperation in resolving the abductions issue, and President Joko promised robust assistance. The two leaders confirmed that Japan and Indonesia should work together closely with the relevant countries to maintain free and open economies.

The expanded meeting took place after the small group meeting. Prime Minister Abe said he hopes to work together with President Joko to deepen cooperation in a variety of areas in order to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. Prime Minister Abe commented that Japan is putting particular emphasis on cooperation in maritime fields and hopes to advance cooperation in the fisheries fields for remote islands and in strengthening Indonesia’s maritime safety agency. Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe expressed his intention to deepen security-related cooperation utilizing the framework of the Japan-Indonesia Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2 + 2), the only such forum Japan has with an ASEAN country, and other frameworks. Prime Minister Abe also explained that Japan is preparing a grass-roots project to realize a society that gives hopes to Asia’s youth as a way of addressing the fundamental causes of terrorism. In addition, Prime Minister Abe stated that design work for construction of Patimban Port has started and it is important to consign operation of the port to a joint venture company between the two countries. Moreover, the Prime Minister explained that Japan hopes to assist in the project to accelerate the operating speed of the northern Java railway using Japanese technology and knowhow, that Japan is ready to continue cooperation utilizing Japanese technologies for the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) too, and that Japan wants to contribute with public and private efforts to the 35GW power source development program. Prime Minister Abe also noted that Japan places emphasis on narrowing the gap through regional development and intends to create business opportunities totaling about 74 billion yen for three irrigation and coastal protection projects.

He also visited he Philippines, Australia, and Vietnam. During this visit the Prime Minister held meetings with the leaders and senior officials of each country. Through this visit the Prime Minister sought to further strengthen cooperative relations with each country and emphasized the importance of partnership among the major countries of the Asia-Pacific that are responsible for ensuring a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

Prime Minister Abe Visits Hawaii: Japan-US Summit Meeting

From December 26 to 27 in 2016, Prime Minister Abe visited the Island of Oahu, the State of Hawaii, the United States of America Prime Minister Abe held a Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting with then-President Obama. The two leaders shared the intention to make this visit to Pearl Harbor a historically significant opportunity to show their determination toward the future never to repeat the horrors of war and to demonstrate the value of the reconciliation between Japan and the United States.