Japan’s formal relationship with ASEAN was first established in 1977 as among the first ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners. ASEAN and Japan commemorated the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in 2023. At the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit on 6 September 2023 in Jakarta, ASEAN and Japan adopted a Joint Statement on the Establishment of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

Japan consistently features as ASEAN’s top 10 trading partners. In 2024, total two-way trade between ASEAN and Japan reached USD 236.4 billion, whilst total foreign direct investment (FDI) flows from Japan into ASEAN were valued at USD 17.5 billion. These figures placed Japan as ASEAN’s fourth largest trading partner and fifth largest source of FDI.

The AEM–METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) was established in 1998 to promote the revitalisation of the economy and industry in ASEAN. Operating under the framework of the AEM–METI Consultations, AMEICC serves as a mechanism to exchange views, information, and experiences on matters related to ASEAN–Japan economic and industrial cooperation. The Committee also plays an active role in the Joint Consultation between the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME) and the SME Agency of Japan, which is convened back-to-back with the ACCMSME Meeting, to strengthen collaboration in MSME development.

To further enhance trade, investment, and tourism promotion, the ASEAN–Japan Centre (AJC) was established in May 1981 in Tokyo, Japan, through the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN Promotion Centre on Trade, Investment and Tourism. The Centre plays a pivotal role in fostering economic linkages between ASEAN Member States and Japan by promoting exports, facilitating investment, and supporting tourism cooperation across the two regions.