"Transparency will be an important factor on Japan-ASEAN cooperation in the future. I expect both parties will improve its capacity towards the goal of supporting ASEAN integration in 2015," Yamada said here on Friday during the 25th Japan-ASEAN Consultation Forum.
The ambassador said Japan was one of ASEAN's partners which had actively supported the organization. During the 2006-2010 period, Yamada said, Japan had provided US$400 million in funding under the scheme of Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) to support ASEAN's integration by 2015.
"In the 2010-2015 period, we will provide another US$150 million, for distribution to all members of ASEAN for development purposes," the ambassador said.
The Nusa Dua meeting did not issue any agreement. Both the Japanese and ASEAN delegations only listed several steps and suggestions which will be discussed during the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta in October 2011, during Indonesian chairmanship in the regional association.
Also attending the event are Foreign Affairs Ministry's Director General for ASEAN Cooperation Djauhari Oratmangun and heads of delegations from ASEAN members.
The Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund [JAIF] was officially established in March 2006, based on a pledge from then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the Ninth ASEAN-Japan Summit held in December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to assist the integration of ASEAN through the ASEAN-Japan cooperation funds. One of JAIF's efforts to support ASEAN integration is by funding activities which will narrow the development gap among ASEAN countries.(*)
: Masuki
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