Page 84 - BUKU STRENGTHENING THE INDONESIAN PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY FADLI ZON

ASEAN – JAPAN

Economic Integration

It is an honour to be here. Firstly, I would like to thank you AIPA and members of the Japanese
parliament for the time that they have provided for us. Japan has always been an indispensable
partner and mutual ally for the ASEAN countries for almost 42 years.

It is still strong in our collective memory, the first ASEAN-Japan cooperative partnership has
evolved from small dialogue on ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership in 2008.

Today, ASEAN and Japan have broadened and deepened cooperation beyond economic trade
into a cooperation that promote peace, stability, development and prosperity in the Asian
region. In 2013, ASEAN and Japan had agreed to further cooperate on four key areas: Partners
of Peace and Stability, Partners for Prosperity, Partners for Quality of Life and Heart-to-Heart
partners. AIPA greatly welcome this initiative and keen to support its implementation.

We would also like to applaud Japan’s active role in contributing to ASEAN connectivity which
is pertinent to economic development in the region. We take note on Japan and the Asian
Development Bank support to strengthen cooperation on regional air and maritime linkages as
highlighted in the 2013 Japan-ASEAN Commemorative Summit. As we all aware, the ASEAN
region still needs immense amount of infrastructure development to unleash its regional
economic potential. Moving forward, we see in our region today in need to enhance people-to-
people relationship through dialogue and forum.

Over the years, AIPA has served remarkably as an organization for ASEAN parliamentarians
to connect and to discuss important matters. Japan, as one of the key observer in AIPA, has
contributed greatly in widening our perspective. We further reiterate our commitment to
extend AIPA dialogue with external partner and parties.

Selected Speeches of the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia I 71