Tokyo (VNA) – Japan held a ceremony in Tokyo onNovember 22 to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), recognising the bloc’s role in promoting peaceand stability in the region and the world.
Addressing the event, Japanese Foreign MinisterTaro Kono expressed his delight at the achievements ASEAN has obtained over thelast five decades, adding that his country appreciated ASEAN’s contributions topeace and prosperity in the region.
He stressed that Japan will continue respectingASEAN’s unity and central role and work closely with the bloc to maintainregional prosperity and stability.
ASEAN has been an important partner of Japanover the 44 years of their cooperative relationship, he noted, adding that asthe leader of Japan’s diplomatic sector, he will make all-out efforts to fosterJapan-ASEAN ties.
On behalf of the ambassadors of the 10 ASEANcountries in Japan, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong listed ASEAN’smajor attainments in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.The bloc is now known as a successful region with cooperation pillars ofregional peace and stability, economic connection, and institutional building.
As Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Tokyo, hethanked the Japanese Government and people for their support on behalf of ASEANand each member country. He expressed his belief that bilateral relations willcontinue to thrive.
Japan and ASEAN set up relations in 1973, onlysix years after the grouping’s foundation. Japan currently ranks third amongtrade partners and second among direct investors in ASEAN.-VNA
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