ASEAN Nations and Burma

 
(a) In the recent difficult international environment, the ASEAN nations
have been able to achieve high economic growth every year by steadily
promoting economic and social development, fully utilizing the vitality of
their market economy. They have contributed greatly to the stability and
development of Southeast Asia through the unity and cooperation of the five
countries. Japan positively provides assistance to the ASEAN nations for
their self-help efforts to enhance strength both as independent nations and as
a region, and supports them in their efforts to make ASEAN an active
cooperative regional organization. Japan attaches importance to the
promotion of friendly and cooperative relations with Burma which is
situated on the boundary of Southeast Asia and Southwest Asia and which
has developed unique domestic as well as foreign policies.
(b) In 1981, the situation in Cambodia began to show signs of a
deadlock. Faced with such a difficult situation, the ASEAN nations further
strengthened their solidarity aiming at a comprehensive political settlement
of the Cambodian problem. Cooperation with like-minded nations was also
energetically pursued. Cooperative relations between Japan and the ASEAN
nations in numerous fields have shown new developments following Prime
Minister Suzuki's visit to the region in January 1981.
During his January visit, Prime Minister Suzuki paid official visits to
the five ASEAN countries which was his first overseas tour following his
election to his post. He had candid discussions with the leaders of these
nations on issues related to the situation in Southeast Asia, bilateral
relations, cooperative relations between Japan and ASEAN, and so on. He
summed up the achievements of his tour at the final stop of the tour in
Bangkok, Thailand, and delivered a policy speech (called the Bangkok
speech) to explain Japan's basic diplomatic stance (see the joint press
release and the Bangkok speech). The Prime Minister's visit greatly
contributed to the establishment of firm friendly relations and enhanced
mutual trust with the ASEAN nations. During 1981 and at the beginning of
1982, notable progress was made in many areas including various forms of
bilateral cooperation and financial aid to ASEAN industrial projects which
had been promised by Prime Minister Suzuki. Earnest discussions were also
made between ASEAN and Japan on ASEAN human resource development
projects and an ASEAN regional study promotion program.
The Foreign Ministers Conference with Dialogue Countries was held in
Manila in June. Foreign Minister Sonoda participated together with the
foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, the EC (a representative was
dispatched from the Netherlands, the chairman of the EC), New Zealand,
and the United States. At the Japan-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference,
Foreign Minister Sonoda presented the Japanese view on the following
points, as one of the avenues to the resolution of the Cambodian problem: