Summary of Keynote Panel

The keynote panel focused on the 50th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN friendship and cooperation, highlighting ASEAN’s evolving role in the global economic and geopolitical landscape and exploring future Japan-ASEAN collaboration. The session featured insights from ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn and Professor Shiro Urata, an esteemed Japanese economist.

Key Points:

  1. ASEAN’s Growing Global Role and Challenges:
    • ASEAN is positioned as a key driver of global economic growth due to its strategic location, youthful population, rising middle class, and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
    • The organization aims to build confidence and certainty amid global geopolitical uncertainties, including the ongoing Ukraine war, Middle East conflicts, and US-China rivalry.
    • ASEAN prioritizes peace, stability, and prosperity within the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing ASEAN centrality as a unifying force among regional and global partners.
    • Key challenges include climate change impacts, natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, and overcoming pessimism and fear in the international environment.
    • ASEAN is actively expanding trade partnerships, including upgrading free trade agreements (FTAs) with China, India, and negotiating with Canada and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), while promoting intra-ASEAN trade, which currently stands at 21.5% of total trade.
  2. Trade, Investment, and Economic Integration:
    • ASEAN is working to complete the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) to create a single market and production base, which would enhance supply chain resilience and economic growth.
    • Non-tariff barriers and regulatory differences remain obstacles to full regional integration.
    • ASEAN should lead in establishing open, rules-based trade systems in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific, including deeper engagement with regional agreements like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
    • The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) challenges necessitate regional and plurilateral trade agreements as alternative mechanisms.
  3. Political and Strategic Autonomy:
    • ASEAN maintains strategic autonomy by balancing relations with major powers (US, China, India) while prioritizing regional interests.
    • Strengthening ties with middle powers such as Japan, Australia, and the EU is essential to navigate global uncertainties.
  4. Japan-ASEAN Cooperation for the Next 50 Years:
    • Collaboration should focus on peace promotion, economic prosperity, people-to-people exchanges, and mutual trust.
    • Emphasis on human resource development, innovation, science and technology, and digital and green energy transitions.
    • Japan’s experience in disaster management and technology can significantly benefit ASEAN in addressing climate change and natural disasters.
    • Encouraging bilateral investment flows and two-way business collaboration is critical.
    • Engaging youth and fostering educational exchanges between Japan and ASEAN countries will strengthen long-term partnerships.
  5. Resilience as a Central Theme:
    • Building a resilient ASEAN region capable of withstanding geopolitical and economic shocks is vital.
    • Resilience includes consolidating economic integration, enhancing political stability, and fostering innovation and human capital development.

Conclusion:

The panel underscored the importance of deepening Japan-ASEAN cooperation based on trust, shared values, and mutual benefit to address current challenges and seize emerging opportunities. Both panelists emphasized turning commitments into tangible actions, particularly through enhancing economic integration, strategic partnerships, and people-centered development.

Presenters and Contributors:

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