ASEAN and Japan to commemorate 40 years of ties in 2013

ASEAN's leaders have started their second day of summit meetings with their dialogue partners from China, Japan, South Korea, India and the United States.

This comes a day after the regional group settled their housekeeping matters, including confirming targets to achieve the ASEAN Community vision by December 31, 2015.

ASEAN and Japan will commemorate 40 years of ties in 2013, and Singapore supports Japan's plans to have a commemorative summit.

Sharing his thoughts at the ASEAN-Japan Summit, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said strategically, ASEAN and Japan should enhance links further.

He has suggested that both sides fully implement the Joint Declaration for Enhancing ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership and its Plan of Action for 2011 to 2015.

Mr Lee said he is also happy that Japan is...

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Japan is celebrating 40 years of cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). ASEAN is Japan's second largest trading partner so the country is looking toward developing stronger relationships with Asian neighbors in the future.