ASEAN, Japan prepare joint declaration

Japan and ASEAN members will issue a new joint declaration to strengthen connectivity between ASEAN countries and disaster management in the region, an official says.

The joint declaration would be issued at the ASEAN-Japan Summit on Friday in Nusa Dua, Bali, said the deputy director general for Asian and Oceania affairs of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimihiro Ishikane.

“The summit is important because of this new joint declaration after the Tokyo meeting in 2003,” he said in Bali on Wednesday as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said that the landscape of ASEAN had changed since 2003 due to the development, economic achievement and its role as one of the central structure makers in the region.

Kimihiro added that the new declaration would be followed by a number of cooperation actions to support the strengthening of the relationship between ASEAN members and disaster management.