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ASEAN and Japanese businesses agreed on the need to boost bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the group’s member countries and Japan.

This is in service of the economic development cause of each country and the whole region and also helps stay competitive in the global economy.

The view was highlighted at the 35th ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting (AJBM), which closed in Ho Chi Minh City on October 2, said AJBM co-chair Masamitsu Sakurai at the follow-up press briefing.

He said in regard to relations between the State and the private sectors, many participants felt that each business should not ask for, nor rely too much, on government assistance and that they should draw up concrete plans for the future to achieve sustainable development.

Under the theme “Enhancing the effectiveness of ASEAN-Japan cooperation – looking toward a new economic growth strategy”, the AJBM participants gained insight into the global economic crisis and its challenges and discussed solutions for businesses to seize opportunities in the post-crisis period and build the regional economy.

They underlined the necessity of tightening cooperation between ASEAN member countries and Japan to enable them to coordinate with other blocs in the world in securing stability and prosperity for each country, the entire region, and the world at large.

The 36th AJBM will be held in Japan and preparations for it will be discussed in Vientiane, Laos, in March and April 2010.

Source: VNA