Japan has ever been promoting regional financial cooperation in Asia mainly through the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' process where we have driven forward the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM) and the Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI). Japan has also been maintaining a framework of interactive dialogues with respective Asian countries such as China and Korea and conducting bilateral financial cooperation with them.

For the purpose of expanding such frameworks of dialogue and bilateral initiatives to other important countries, Japan held "the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Informal Meeting between ASEAN Countries and Japan" today and committed to exploring the possibilities to strengthen financial cooperation with each ASEAN country as follows:

1. After continuous consultation with each country, Japan and some ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand) have agreed individually on "Fact Sheets": lists of items to be discussed at newly established joint working groups (JWGs)< see ANNEX I to V (I: Indonesia , II: Malaysia, III: the Philippines, IV: Singapore, V: Thailand)>.

2. Japan has been exploring the possibilities of cooperation on development finance. Japan will contribute to the infrastructure development of the region to strengthen the ASEAN connectivity, leveraging the recently reviewed bilateral yen loan program.

3. Japan is placing a significant emphasis on technical cooperation for better financial systems, financial infrastructure, and financial supervision.

4. To encourage the development of regional bond markets, the Japanese Ministry of Finance has invested, through an investment trust fund (ABF Pan Asia Bond Index Fund (PAIF)), in sovereign bonds of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

Japan will continue with its maximum efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation with ASEAN countries.