ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings Held

1. Mekong-Japan Economic Ministers Meeting

• On September 13 (Mon.), the 13th Mekong-Japan Economic Ministers Meeting was held (via video conference) as part of the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings. The meeting was attended by representatives from Japan and the Mekong countries, and co-chaired by Minister Kajiyama and Dr. Khampheng Saysompheng, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR.

• At the meeting, the participants confirmed that the work program that was formulated last year toward achieving the "Mekong Industrial Development Vision 2.0" was generally proceeding well. They recognized the importance of further efforts to promote Mekong-Japan cooperation in the future toward creating a resilient and sustainable economy, for example, a realistic Asian energy transition based on each country's circumstances.

• With regard to the situation in Myanmar, Minister Kajiyama urged the Myanmar military to release the people who have been detained and to swiftly restore the country's democratic political system. The Minister then stated that he regards the Five-Point Consensus reached at the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting as the first step toward the cessation of violence and commencement of dialogue. He urged Myanmar to accept the ASEAN special envoy as soon as possible and to allow it to initiate a dialogue with all parties.

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2. ASEAN Plus Three (Japan, China, and Korea) Economic Ministers Meeting

• On the same day, the 24th ASEAN Plus Three (Japan, China, and Korea) Economic Ministers Meeting was held (via video conference), and attended by Minister Kajiyama as a representative of Japan along with the ASEAN Secretariat and representatives from ASEAN member states, China, and South Korea.

• At the meeting, the participants exchanged views on how to address common issues in the region, such as the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the maintenance of a multilateral trading system, supply chain resiliency, and digital transformation.

• They confirmed the importance of continuing to execute the "ASEAN Plus Three Plan of Action on Mitigating the Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic" adopted last year, and issued a joint media statement.

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Other related material

• Joint Media Statement of the ASEAN Plus Three Economic Ministers Meeting

Division in Charge

<Mekong-Japan Economic Ministers Meeting>

　Asia and Pacific Division, Trade Policy Bureau

<ASEAN Plus Three (Japan, China, and Korea) Economic Ministers Meeting>

　Asia and Pacific Division, Trade Policy Bureau