Jakarta (VNA) – A photoexhibition and workshop highlighting achievements of the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan in infrastructure cooperation wereheld at the ASEAN Secretariat headquarters in Jakarta on October 18.

The events were jointly organised by theMission of Japan to ASEAN, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and EastAsia, and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The Japanese side underlined that theASEAN-Japan ties have become more significant, as Japan’s role in economic andinfrastructure development in ASEAN members has been strengthened.

ASEAN and Japan have taken advantage ofsimilarities, promoted their strengths, collaborated to overcome challenges andreaped fruitful results in diplomatic and economic cooperation, notablyaccomplishments in infrastructure development in ASEAN nations.

Japan’s consistent support for ASEANmembers in the field since 1960 has created a solid cornerstone for thedevelopment of those countries amid fluctuations in the region and the world.

ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi spokehighly of Japan’s contributions to the bloc’s growth, adding that theassistance is strongly needed in all spheres, especially economy, diplomacy,and technical cooperation for each nation’s development.

This year, the bilateral relations havemade strides as various cooperation agreements have been inked, particularlythe ASEAN-Japan Agreement on Technical Cooperation in May.

The agreement sets out a legal frameworkfor the Japan International Cooperation Agency to provide direct assistance toASEAN as an international organisation.

The ASEAN chief voiced his hope that theASEAN-Japan ties will be further consolidated in the coming time, thusbenefitting peoples of the sides./.