Archive for the 'ASEAN' Category

Abe, MoFA Aim For High-Level Meetings

Friday, August 18th, 2006

Japan’s Foreign Ministry is looking to arrange high-level meetings with South Korean and Chinese officials in November at the APEC forum in Hanoi and at the ASEAN+3 meeting in December.

The lead candidate for LDP president, Abe Shinzo, said on Aug. 3 he would work as prime minister to resume top-level summits with Chinese leaders. “To avoid single issues from affecting the overall development of Japan-China relations, we need constructive discussion through direct dialogue,” he said.

Brief: Japan In ASEAN+3 Logistics Push

Friday, August 18th, 2006

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Japan will push for a joint study with Asean on an efficient regional logistic network which includes a future logistic map between Asean and China, Japan and South Korea in efforts to expedite and enhance the movement of goods within the region.

Japan, a key dialogue partner of Asean with extensive trade and business involvement in the region’s economies, wants a significant enhancement in logistic capabilities in the region so as to reap maximum benefits from the increasing free trade pacts with the 10-member organisation, an Asean diplomat said Thursday. [more | Bernama]

This may not be huge, but it shows that Japan continues to work on its regional influence even as relations with China and South Korea are tense over Koizumi’s public actions.