The opening ceremony was participated in by Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN Takio Yamada, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN Bagas Hapsoro and Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry`s Director for Dialogue-Partner and Inter-Regional Cooperation Jose Tavares.
"Relations between Japan and ASEAN have been so close that they are often described as a heart-to-heart relations. We have worked together in various sectors during the past years and this mission office is expected to help strengthen Japan-ASEAN relations even more in the future," Yamada said.
He said ASEAN was an important partner to Japan not only because it was the second largest trading partner after China but also because the Japanese feel feel an affinity to the cultures and peoples of ASEAN.
Meanwhile, ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Bagas Hapsoro described the cooperation between ASEAN and Japan during the past 30 years as "intensive and flourishing."
"The permanent office mission of Japan to ASEAN in Jakarta is expected to make cooperation between the two countries more effective," he said.
Bagas said he was confident that in the future Japan and ASEAN would effectively work together in implementing various projects and initiatives that had been agreed on for the benefit of both parties.
Japan`s Foreign Affairs Minister Takeaki Matsumoto during his visit to Indonesia last April reiterated his country`s commitment to continue providing assistance to ASEAN although it had to deal with the impact of the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami.
"We will still continue our support for ASEAN, especially in efforts to realize an ASEAN Community by 2015. We hope that the recovery efforts in our country will proceed in line with ASEAN`s efforts to strengthen its ties," the minister said.
The minister also expressed appreciation for s ASEAN`s support and sympathy to his country, adding that his government would continuously provide up-to-date information to ASEAN members about the handling of the post-disaster and nuclear crisis in Japan. (A051/HAJM/F001)
(ANTARA)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
