"I hope we could cooperate. (ASEAN member) states which have supporting facilities can offer assistance to Japan," Yudhoyono said in his opening address to a special ASEAN-Japan ministerial meeting on Saturday.
Also present at the meeting held in response to the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan on March 11 were ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto and his ASEAN counterparts, the ASEAN Secretariat said in a press statement issued on Sunday.
President Yudhoyono said ASEAN had know how and broad experience in handling natural disasters.
The president`s call received strong support from the ASEAN secretary general who said several ASEAN member states were also vulnerable to natural disasters.
"With close cooperation and coordination, ASEAN and Japan can cooperate in the field of mitigation and prevention as well as disaster relief operations," he said.
On the occasion, Minister Matsumoto shared his country`s experience with ASEAN member states in handling the nuclear crisis in Fukushima Prefecture where a nuclear power plant was damaged in its cooling system because of the March 11 quake and ensuing tsunami.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said earlier in the day ASEAN member countries were committed to coordinating donations for Japan.
"All ASEAN member countries have of course distributed donations to Japan but this meeting is aimed at finding a better coordination within ASEAN to ensure a regional donation," he said.
Japan has been a close and reliable partner of ASEAN that has consistently assisted ASEAN member states affected by natural disasters.
Japan is ASEAN`s most important trade partner, with trade value reaching more than US$160 billion per year. It is also one of the main investors in the Southeast Asian region, with investment value close to US$6 billion.(*)
(S012/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
