[Unofficial Translation]

President Joko Widodo,

Excellencies,

I am pleased to see you again at this year’s ASEAN Plus Three Summit for the second year in a row.

First of all, I want to thank President Joko Widodo for his hard work in preparing this Summit and the warm hospitality he has extended to us.

This year is very special when it comes to ASEAN Plus Three’s journey. Following last year’s 25th anniversary of its founding, this Summit is the first to herald the launch of a new five-year cooperation plan. Now is the time to build a new framework for future collaboration.

Your Excellencies,

ASEAN Plus Three has been pursuing the vision of an East Asian community. Now at this juncture, ASEAN Plus Three must generate a new momentum for cooperation.

When the foreign exchange crisis hit East Asia in 1997, the leaders of ASEAN, the Republic of Korea, Japan and China agreed to overcome the crisis through solidarity and cooperation. That was the background of ASEAN Plus Three’s launch.

Now, we are facing a polycrisis created by the combination of multiple causes, including geopolitical competition and the climate crisis. In order to overcome this and simultaneously contribute to the development of ASEAN, which aims to become a center for growth, we need to renew our determination.

Notably, cooperation among the Republic of Korea, Japan and China, which constitutes the foundation for the development of ASEAN Plus Three, must be invigorated.

The Republic of Korea will actively play its role as the chair country of the 9th Korea-Japan-China Summit and the three countries’ coordinator for ASEAN Plus Three.

We intend to closely communicate with the Japanese and Chinese governments to resume the trilateral cooperation mechanism, including the Korea-Japan-China Summit, as soon as possible. Just as the recent improvement in Korea-Japan relations helped open a new chapter in trilateral cooperation among Korea, the United States and Japan, the revitalization of trilateral cooperation among Korea, Japan and China will serve as a steppingstone for a new takeoff in ASEAN Plus Three cooperation.

If ASEAN Plus Three pools its strengths, it will contribute to freedom, peace and prosperity not only in ASEAN but also in the Indo-Pacific region and the rest of the world.

I hope that this Summit today will serve as a meaningful opportunity to take a step closer toward that vision.

Thank you.