Japan pledges to work with Asean toward free, open, peaceful Indo-Pacific

Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaking with regional leaders during the virtual Asean-Japan summit on Oct 27, 2021. - AFP

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Making his debut appearance at a high-level meeting with Asean leaders, Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday (Oct 27) pledged to work together with the regional grouping to ensure a free, open and peaceful Indo-Pacific.

At the Asean-Japan Summit, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also called for greater Asean-Japan cooperation by implementing a joint statement on the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific - a 2019 report laying out the 10 member states' common position amid emerging security discourse promoted by the "Quad" of Australia, India, Japan and the United States.