Japan and ASEAN deepen ties as security, economic challenges mount

TOKYO -- Japan will host three days of special summit meetings with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations starting Saturday, seeking deeper cooperation as global and regional geopolitical tensions pose challenges and uncertainties for the two parties.

"The international community is now at a turning point in history, and the free and open international order based on the rule of law is under serious challenge," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in his contributing articles to ASEAN media outlets this week, also citing other challenges such as climate change and AI governance.