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Congratulatory Remarks by
H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN
at the Reception on the occasion of the
Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan
23 February 2023, 19:00 hrs, Grand Ballroom of Hotel Mulia Senayan, Jakarta
Your Excellency Kanasugi Kenji, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of
Indonesia,
Your Excellency Kiya Masahiko, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN,
Your Excellency Arifin Tasrif, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of
the Republic of Indonesia,
Excellency ministers,
Excellency members of parliament,
Excellency distinguished ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
1. Good evening. It is indeed a great honour for me to join you this evening.
Please allow me to begin by extending my most heartfelt congratulations
and best wishes to His Majesty Naruhito, the Emperor of Japan, on the
auspicious occasion of his 63
rd
birthday, as well as my own best wishes
to the people of Japan who are observing this important national holiday.
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2. This year marks a special milestone for ASEAN and Japan, as we
commemorate the 50
th
Anniversary of our friendship, cooperation, and
partnership. Over the past five decades, the ASEAN-Japan partnership
has grown significantly from strength to strength, and it is now among the
most substantive and dynamic ones in the region.
3. Today, Japan is ASEAN’s third largest trading partner and fourth
largest external source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) among all
ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners. Japan is also one of ASEAN’s leading
partners in education, environment, tourism, cultural cooperation, as well
as people-to-people exchanges, among others.
4. Undoubtedly, our shared and tangible achievements have laid a strong
foundation for advancing our relations and cooperation in the years to
come. Given the various challenges that we are confronted with today, it
is essential that we should continue to build on the past successes as well as the
current momentum, seize and expand the new opportunities, and tap all
potentials in order to advance our multifaceted and multidimensional cooperation
and, at the same time, to deepen and broaden the ASEAN-Japan strategic
partnership for peace, stability, security, and prosperity in the region.
5. To this end, ASEAN looks forward to further strengthening our strategic
partnership with Japan, including working closely to advance all practical
cooperation in the four key areas as identified in the ASEAN Outlook
on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), alongside our concerted efforts to establish
the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) this year
under Indonesia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023, and Thailand as the
country coordinator of ASEAN-Japan dialogue relations, as a new historic
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milestone achievement, as well as in convening many relevant key
activities that would contribute to our ASEAN-Japan important
endeavours.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
6. The growth, development and transformation of the ASEAN-Japan
relationship in the past five decades, in my view, have centered around
the seven key factors – trust, friendship, partnership, mutual respect,
shared interests, cooperation and goodwill – from both sides, and at all
levels across the different sectors. Japan is indeed a trusted friend, a
good neighbour and a reliable long-term partner of ASEAN.
7. Finally, once again, I would like to respectfully extend my best wishes to
His Imperial Majesty for his good health and longevity, as well as for
peace and prosperity to the people of Japan, and a long-lasting friendship
and partnership between ASEAN and Japan. I also wish Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests and everyone a wonderful evening.
Thank you very much.
***
