Manila, the Philippines (15/12) — ASEAN and Japan held the First Meeting of Ministers of Law in Manila on Saturday, 15 November 2025. The meeting marked an important milestone in strengthening cooperation in the fields of law and justice, as well as deepening the strategic partnership between ASEAN and Japan.

During the meeting, Minister of Law, Supratman Andi Agtas, delivered an intervention proposing a special meeting between Japan and ASEAN to specifically discuss royalties and artificial intelligence (AI). “Indonesia proposes holding a workshop to discuss intellectual property, particularly royalties for music and media content generated by global artificial intelligence platforms,” he said.

As previously known, the Indonesian government is currently promoting the “Indonesia’s Proposal” on royalties, which will be discussed specifically in the session of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in December 2025.

In addition to royalties, Minister Supratman Andi Agtas also emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between ASEAN and Japan, particularly in developing legal frameworks in civil and commercial law.

The meeting also discussed proposals from Japan delivered by Minister of Justice, Hiroshi Hiraguchi, including programs under the ASEAN–Japan Work Plan in the Field of Law and Justice, criminal justice, and intellectual property seminars. These programs are considered crucial in addressing shared legal priorities in the region.

Aside from Indonesia’s intervention, ASEAN Member States also expressed their aspirations to support the effective implementation of the Work Plan.