12 to 14 December 2013, Tokyo

Press Briefing Room, New Executive Building,

Malacañang Palace, Manila

09 December 2013

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the press.  I would like to brief you on the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit which will be held from December 12 to 14 in Tokyo, Japan which will be attended by the President.

While the President and his delegation will arrive in Tokyo on December 12 for a number of bilateral (Philippine-Japan) events and meetings, activities related to the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit are actually scheduled on December 13 and 14.  The ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit will be the culminating event to a full year of activities commemorating 40 years of ASEAN-Japan relations.

Activities Related to the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit

Allow me to outline for you the activities related to the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit:

·         On Friday, December 13, the President and other ASEAN Leaders (with their spouses) will attend an afternoon tea ceremony to be hosted by Their Majesties, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.  This will not be the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, more of a meet-and-greet high tea that would last for only 30 minutes.

·         In the evening of the same day, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Madame Akie Abe will host a dinner for the ASEAN Leaders and their spouses.

·         On Saturday, December 14, is the actual day of the Commemorative Summit.  Session 1 will be held in the morning and will be devoted to substantive discussions among the Leaders of ASEAN and Japan.  This will be followed by a lunch to be hosted by the Nippon Keidanren (Japanese Business Federation).  The Leaders will then reconvene after lunch for the Closing Session, for the consideration and formal adoption of the Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, including its annexed Implementation Plan.  Finally, the day will be capped by a Gala Dinner in celebration of 40 years of ASEAN-Japan relations.

With respect to the substantive aspect of the Commemorative Summit, the Leaders of ASEAN and Japan, while looking back on the accomplishment of the past 40 years, will primarily set the future (long-term) direction of ASEAN-Japan relations, to cover politico-security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation.  They will also exchange views on regional and international issues.

There will be two outcome documents from the Summit: (1) the Vision Statement of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and its Implementation Plan; and (2) the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-Japan Summit.

The Vision Statement and its Implementation Plan will focus mainly on medium- to long-term cooperation between ASEAN and Japan, while the Joint Statement will address regional and international issues beyond the dialogue partnership.

 Meeting of President Aquino and Prime Minister Abe at the sidelines of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit

At the sidelines of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo, the President will also have a working lunch meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on December 13.

During the meeting, the two leaders will discuss cooperation on disaster management and reconstruction in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda, economic concerns, maritime cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and the Mindanao peace process. The two leaders will also exchange views on prevailing regional issues of mutual concern.

The President and the Prime Minister will also witness the signing of three (3) Exchanges of Notes on:

•      a Post Disaster Stand-by Loan worth JP¥ 10 Billion (≈ US$ 100 Million);

•      a Loan for Multi-Role Response Vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard  worth JP¥ 18.732 Billion (≈ US$ 187 Million); and

•      the revised route schedule for the Philippines-Japan Air Services Agreement

At this point, I would be glad to answer your questions.  Maraming Salamat at Magandang Hapon sa inyong lahat.  END