Malaysia to figure significantly in Japan’s new foreign policy

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, together with other countries in the Southeast Asia region, are pillars to Japan’s new foreign policy which aims to improve connectivity between Asia, the Middle East and Africa through a free and open Indo-Pacific region, an aide to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said Friday.

Katsuyuki Kawai, who is Special Advisor for Foreign Affairs to the Japanese Prime Minister in the latter’s capacity as President of the Liberal Democratic Party, said besides Asean countries, the US, Australia, and India will also be “centrepiece” in the strategy which is expected to promote stability and prosperity in the region as a whole.

The Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy is still open for new ideas and proposals that could make the new strategy more attractive and fruitful for every country in the region, Kawai said.

“I will be back to Tokyo on Saturday morning and will meet with Mr Abe to report on the positive and constructive reaction from Malaysia. I hope from now on, government to government (links) will propel and promote the realisation of this new strategy,” he told Bernama during a visit to the Malaysian National News Agency’s headquarters yesterday.

The strategy consists of three pillars – the promotion and establishment of rule of law and freedom of navigation, the pursuit of economic prosperity by improving connectivity, and the commitment for peace and stability – was first unveiled in August 2016 by Abe. Kawai’s visit to Bernama was part of his three- day visit to Malaysia, which began Thursday. His six member delegation, which included Japan’s ambassador to Malaysia Makio Miyagawa and other embassy officers, had an hour-long meeting with the top management of the national news agency.

Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Azman Ujang in the meeting suggested for a seminar to promote the new policy in Malaysia, with the cooperation of Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic and International Studies ( ISIS). This was warmly welcomed by Kawai.

Also present at the meeting for Bernama include Bernama editor-in- chief, Datuk Zakaria Abd Wahab and Deputy editor-inchief (International News Service) Ahmad Zukiman Mohd Zain.

Kawai is scheduled to meet ISIS chairman and chief executive officer, Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, later in the day.

Malaysia and Japan celebrated the 60th anniversary of their establishment of diplomatic relations last year. — Bernama