菅首相、「インド太平洋」連携呼び掛け　ＡＳＥＡＮ首脳にインフラ支援約束

　菅義偉首相は１２日、東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）各国首脳とのテレビ会議に出席した。首相は日本が掲げる「自由で開かれたインド太平洋」構想の実現に向け、ＡＳＥＡＮとの連携を強化する方針を表明。中国の進出ぶりを念頭に、交通・貿易インフラ整備への支援を通じてＡＳＥＡＮの域内統合を後押しする考えを示した。
　首相はＡＳＥＡＮ独自の「インド太平洋構想」に言及。「日本が推進する『自由で開かれたインド太平洋』と多くの本質的共通点を有しており、強く支持する」と述べた。
　また、ＡＳＥＡＮ域内の空港や道路、鉄道などの技術者を今後３年間で１０００人育成すると説明。現在進行している総額２兆円規模のインフラ整備プロジェクトへの支援継続を約束した。（2020/11/12-20:07）

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Thursday that his country seeks to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region, as advocated by Japan.
   In a videoconference with leaders of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Suga also expressed Tokyo's readiness to support ASEAN's integration through assistance for improving the region's transportation and trade infrastructure, apparently with China's increasing presence in mind.
   Suga said that he strongly supports ASEAN's own Indo-Pacific vision as it and the Japanese-proposed free and open Indo-Pacific initiative have much in common in fundamental issues.
   He also said Japan will help foster 1,000 engineers in ASEAN for airport, road and railway systems over the next three years, vowing to continue assistance for ongoing infrastructure improvement projects worth a total of 2 trillion yen.
   In the virtual meeting, Suga and the ASEAN leaders also exchanged opinions over international challenges, including North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs, and its abductions of Japanese and other foreign nationals.