The partnership between Japan and ASEAN dates back to 1973 when the Forum on Synthetic Rubber was held. In 1977, Japan‘s then Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda attended the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was the first summit meeting between ASEAN leaders and the leader of a non-member country. In a subsequent visit to the Philippines, Fukuda made a historic announcement of the so-called “Fukuda Doctrine,” Japan's diplomatic principles for ASEAN as follows: (1) Japan rejects the role of a military power; (2) Japan will do its best for consolidating the relationship of mutual confidence and trust based on “heart-to-heart”; and (3) Japan will be an equal partner of ASEAN. In the following year, 1978, the Japan-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held, where Japan started its collaborative relationship with ASEAN as the first Dialogue Partner. Since then, the two parties have built a close, collaborative relationship that has helped to bring peace, stability, development and prosperity to the Asian Pacific region for more than 40 years.