The 2nd JTTRI Global Seminar
“ASEAN-Japan Relations in the Next Half Century: On the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation"

  • Symposium etc.

Supported by 日本財団 THE NIPPON FOUNDATION

Date / Time Wed, Nov 01,2023 15:00-17:00 (JST) / 14:00-16:00 (SST)
Venue Hybrid event ( [Venue] JTTRI 2F Conference Room and ZOOM participation)
Theme (1) Special Lecture #1: Changes in the Environment Surrounding ASEAN and ASEAN-Japan Relations
Mr. Bilahari Kausikan, Former Permanent Secretary of Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

(2) Special Lecture #2: Economic Development of the Indo-Pacific Region and ASEAN-Japan Cooperation
Mr. Koji Tsuruoka, Director, Institute for International Affairs, Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom

(3) Discussion: the future of ASEAN-Japan relations
Discussant: Mr. Bilahari Kausikan (see above)
Mr. Koji Tsuruoka (see above)
Moderator: Mr. Makio Miyagawa, Former Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, Former Special Advisor on National Security

Event Summary

Southeast Asia is a world growth center that has achieved historic economic development, but it is also struggling with domestic problems such as poverty, global issues such as climate changes, and the geopolitical and geoeconomic risks such as the strategic competition between the U.S. and China. Japan has traditionally been deeply involved in Southeast Asia as a crucial node of the sea lanes, and as an important trading and investment destination. Peace and stability in the region is an essential condition for Japan's survival.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between ASEAN and Japan in 1973. In this Seminar, we have invited three former diplomats to discuss the current international environment surrounding ASEAN and Japan, and how we can further develop ASEAN-Japan relations in the next half century.


Main related SDGs