November 2, 2023

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on November 1 met with Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmadi at the Indonesian embassy in Tokyo.

Shii said that the JCP in its diplomatic vision calls for the creation of a truly peaceful East Asia through diplomacy, based on the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution, and attaches importance to cooperation with ASEAN nations to promote the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). He added, “The JCP hopes to build up cooperation with ASEAN countries to help realize the AOIP.”

Shii explained that the JCP urges the Japanese government to conduct diplomacy leading to put the AOIP into practice and calls in its proposal for “positive breakthroughs in Japan-China relations” for both the Japanese and Chinese governments to share the AOIP as a common foundation.

Shii referred to the fact that the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) held in Istanbul last year confirmed the need to prevent political blocs and to instead increase cooperation over competition.

The ambassador said that Indonesia chaired the ASEAN Summit this year and worked to promote the AOIP on various occasions such as the East Asia Summit (EAS). He went on to say that the Indonesian government made diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions by facilitating dialogue between major states, including the United States and China, based on the principles of “cooperation, not competition” and “inclusion, not exclusion”.

They also talked about their positions and activities regarding the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Past related articles:
> Shii talks with Chinese ambassador regarding JCP proposal for improvement of Japan-China relations [May 5, 2023]
> Shii calls on Kishida to make efforts to improve bilateral relations with China in a positive manner [March 31, 2023]