Translation and Rewriting (Japanese-English)

東アジアとの経済連携に関しては、日本は、まず、２００２年１月にシンガポールと我が国初の経済連携協定を締結し、現在、韓国、タイ、フィリピン、マレーシアと交渉を行っています。さらに、昨年１０月の日ASEAN首脳会合で合意された枠組みに基づき、アセアン全体と、本年中に基本的なルールを協議し、２００５年初めに交渉を開始する予定です。

今後、東アジアにおける経済的相互依存の深化は一層進むと考えられます。私も、また日本政府も、引き続き、東アジアワイドでの経済連携の推進に力を尽くして参る所存です。

With regard to economic linkages with East Asia, Japan concluded its first economic partnership with Singapore in January 2002. We are now negotiating partnerships with Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Based on a framework agreed on at the Japan-ASEAN summit in October last year, we intend to open discussions this year with ASEAN as a whole concerning basic rules with a view to commencing negotiations at the start of 2005.

I believe that economic interdependence with East Asia will continue to deepen in future. I, and the Japanese government as a whole, will continue to bend our efforts to promoting East Asia-wide economic partnerships.

Looking at economic partnerships with East Asia, Japan moved to conclude its first economic partnership agreement in January 2--2 with Singapore and is currently negotiating agreements with South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. In addition, building upon the framework agreement reached at last October's Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting, we plan to discuss the basic ground rules with ASEAN this year and to move into actual negotiations next year.

I firmly believe the Japanese and other East Asian economies will continue to be increasingly interdependent, and I assure you the government of Japan is determined to continue to do what it can to promote 'economic partnerships throughout East Asia'.