Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa. (Photo: Kyodo/VNA)

Minister Yoshimasa said that the maintenance of international order based on the rule of law is necessary for the stability and prosperity of the region and the international community.

Japan identified ASEAN as an important partner in the free and open Indo-Pacific initiative, he noted.

2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan diplomatic relations. It is expected that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will invite ASEAN leaders to a summit in Tokyo to build a vision for the future of ASEAN-Japan relations.