Friday, December 12, 2003
Japan pledges $3 bn in aid for ASEAN
Associated Press Tokyo, December 12
Wrapping up a two-day summit with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan pledged $3 billion in aid and joined in a statement calling for the creation of an "East Asian Community".
Japan announced the aid in a joint declaration released on the final day of the summit, being held at Tokyo's state guest house, a plush Versailles-style palace. An advance outline of the document was obtained by The Associated Press.
Tokyo is hosting the leaders of ASEAN for their first summit outside Southeast Asia as it seeks to bolster its profile in the region and counter the rising influence from its rapidly growing neighbour, China.
The aid package for ASEAN carries on a long history of aid to the region. Half of the total -- or $1.5 billion -- will go toward developing an area along the Mekong River, while the other half will be split among ASEAN members.
The Mekong and its tributaries flow through Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar.
In earlier talks, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Tokyo has also decided to sign ASEAN's non-aggression pact -- the 27-year-old Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia -- by which countries pledge respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Koizumi first proposed the idea for an "East Asian Community" during a trip to Southeast Asia last year. In the joint statement on Friday, the leaders vowed to cooperate toward realising deeper economic, security and cultural ties.
© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2003.