Japan to draw up new strategy for Asia by fall
Mainichi Japan | May 25, 2012
Japan to draw up new strategy for Asia by fall
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said Thursday Japan will map out a new strategy by fall aimed at supporting other Asian countries and promoting trade in the region, with a focus on four key sectors including building infrastructure and economic partnerships.
"Japan will back up Asian countries’ democratic efforts and support the building of a high-quality society," Gemba said at a Tokyo symposium in announcing the plan.
Regarding economic partnerships, Gemba said Japan ultimately aims to realize a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific region, as it considers the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement and a trilateral free trade agreement among Japan, China and South Korea as "a pair of wheels."
Japan currently plans to participate in the TPP negotiations and recently agreed with China and South Korea to launch negotiations by the end of this year over a trilateral FTA.
To promote the building of infrastructure, Gemba said the government will be active in providing official development aid.
The foreign minister also said Japan will help other Asian countries by utilizing the technology and skills of Japanese small and medium sized firms, and by expanding exchanges between private-sector experts and businesspeople.
