The Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan will work closely in holding a
successful summit to mark the 40 th anniversary of their diplomatic
ties in December.
ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh and
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the affirmation at their talks
in Tokyo on November 5.
Minh is currently in Japan
to November 8 to prepare for the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit slated
for December 13-15 in Tokyo.
The ASEAN Secretary
General thanked Tokyo for it contributions to regional security and
affirmed that Japan has been ASEAN’s partner over the past four decades.
For his part, PM Abe expressed hope that the summit will yield good results.
He said he will visit Cambodia and Laos, the only ASEAN member
countries that he has yet been to since taking office last December.
Tokyo is making arrangements for these, which are scheduled later this
month.
The same day, Minh met with Japanese Foreign
Minister Fumio, who wished the ASEAN Secretary General would do more for
the Japan-ASEAN relationship.
Minh said he hopes Japan will continue its contributions to regional peace and prosperity.-VNA