The 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit concluded with a wide-ranging joint declaration outlining concrete steps to deepen cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
According to the statement, ASEAN and Japan committed to undertake “substantive, practical and tangible cooperation” across the AOIP’s four priority areas: maritime cooperation, connectivity, sustainable development, and economic collaboration.
The declaration emphasized that these initiatives will be implemented through ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Plus Three (APT), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus).
Among the highlighted programs were the WA Project 2.0, the ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-creation Vision, the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), and the Strategic Program for ASEAN Climate and Environment (SPACE) 2025. These initiatives are designed to expand the scope of AOIP cooperation and promote a sustainable, future-ready ASEAN.
The statement also committed both sides to ensure the effective and transparent implementation of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreements, aimed at boosting cross-border trade and strengthening regional economic ties.
The leaders concluded by pledging to expand cooperation beyond the region to address global challenges, emphasizing that the Indo-Pacific must remain “free, open, and rules-based.”
“We commit to undertaking concrete projects that enhance mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual benefit while maintaining ASEAN Centrality and unity,” the joint statement read.