Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso delivered a speech the same year, emphasizing that ‘First and foremost, Japan is, for the countries of Asia, a ‘‘thought leader,’’ . . . With regard to the establishment of both democracy and a market economy, Japan has amassed a wealth of experience without comparison anywhere else in the countries of Asia . . .’44 Foreign Minister Taro Aso also reiterated that India, Australia and New Zealand must join the ASEAN ‘10 þ 3’ structure, and that ‘internally, ASEAN should have common democratic values’.