International Convention Centre, Brunei Darussalam
9 October 2013

President Benigno S. Aquino III and the rest of the ASEAN leaders met with their first Dialogue Partner, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, in the 16th ASEAN – Japan Summit at the International Convention Centre in Brunei Darussalam.

For the past forty years, there exists a strong bond between ASEAN and Japan and this has been further strengthened with the ASEAN-Japan Plan of Action 2011-2015 that seeks to implement five strategies identified in the Joint Declaration for Enhancing ASEAN-Japan Partnership for Prospering Together. Currently, there is good progress in developing more concrete projects and activities in the Plan of Action to further support ASEAN integration, narrow the development gaps and ASEAN Community building by 2015.

Japan remains to be the second largest trading partner of ASEAN, with trade volume valued at US$273.34 billion and foreign direct investment from Japan was valued at US$15.25 billion in 2011.

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