Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (R) and Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri (C) sign the declaration as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) looks on Dec. 12. (Xinhua Photo)

    TOKYO, Dec. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Leaders of Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday signed the Tokyo Declaration for the Dynamic and Enduring Japan-ASEAN Partnership in the New Millennium and an attached action plan after wrapping up their two-day summit talks in Tokyo.

    The pact aims to push forward the ties between Tokyo and the 10-member regional organization consisting of Brunei, Cambodia,Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,Thailand and Vietnam.

    Under the declaration, Japan and the ASEAN will make their utmost efforts to start talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement in 2005 and aim to realize such pact,including elements of a free trade area, by 2012.

    Japan has signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with Singapore. In separate talks on Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and leaders of Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines agreed to begin talks on such agreements in early 2004.

    In the declaration, Japan pledged to provide billions of US dollars in aid over the next three years to the ASEAN.

    Both sides vowed to strengthen political and security cooperation and partnership. They will join hands to fight against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and transnational crimes. 

    They also inked the same day an intent that Japan will accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, a foundational document of the ASEAN. China and India have signedthe treaty with ASEAN.

Highlights of Japan-ASEAN partnership declaration

    The following are highlights of the Tokyo Declaration for the Dynamic and Enduring Japan-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Partnership in the New Millennium and an attached action plan issued Friday after Japan-ASEAN summit talks in Tokyo.

    -- Japan and ASEAN will further deepen and broaden their ties, enhance cooperation in the spirit of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), and contribute to the creation of a peaceful and harmonious East Asian region;

    -- Japan will give high priority to ASEAN's economic development and integration efforts;

    -- Japan and ASEAN will reinforce their economic partnership, and monetary and financial cooperation. To this end, they will make their utmost efforts to start talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Japan and ASEAN in 2005 andaim to realize such pact, including elements of a free trade area,by 2012;

    -- Japan and ASEAN will consolidate the foundation for economicdevelopment and prosperity, with Japan giving priority to ASEAN countries in its official development programs and enhancing cooperation in human resource development;

    -- Japan is also expected to provide about 1.5 billion US dollars over the next three years for projects to develop the Mekong region as well as assist in developing the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area;

    -- Japan will accede to the TAC to promote peace, friendship and cooperation in the region;

    -- Japan and ASEAN will cooperate in opposing the proliferationof weapons of mass destruction, in the fight against terrorism, and in combating piracy, illicit drug and human trafficking and other transnational crimes. Enditem