From 9 November, the series of “ASEAN Now and the Future III – Plastics in the Ocean”, has been broadcasted on NHK World through support by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), starting from the Episode One “Series Introduction and Viet Nam”.

“ASEAN Now and the Future III – Plastic Ocean“ consists of TV programmes made by broadcasting stations in four ASEAN countries, i.e. Viet Nam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Supported by Japanese experts, each station will report on rapidly worsening problems in respective countries due to the increase of marine plastic wastes and some distinctive measures to tackle them in three-run programs.

Check the details from the link below and enjoy them by video streaming from outside of Japan:

Episode One: Series Introduction and Viet Nam https://biz.jibtv.com/programs/asean_now_and_the_future_2022/20221109.html

Episode Two: Indonesia and the Philippines https://biz.jibtv.com/programs/asean_now_and_the_future_2022/20221109_2.html

Episode Three: Thailand and Conclusions https://biz.jibtv.com/programs/asean_now_and_the_future_2022/20221111.html

The 25th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit was held on 12 November 2022 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Summit was chaired by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and attended by Heads of State/Government and High Representatives of ASEAN Member States, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The Secretary-General of ASEAN, and the Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) and the director of ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) were also in attendance.

The Summit reaffirmed the crucial role of APT cooperation in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the region and mitigating its socio-economic impacts and acknowledged the support and contribution of the Plus Three countries to ASEAN Member States, and ASEAN’s initiatives in addressing COVID-19 which include, among others, the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, and the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and its Implementation Plan.

In particular, the Summit appreciated Japan’s contribution to the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED). Apart from the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) also supported the projects A Feasibility Study on the Establishment of “ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases” and Detailed Design and Preparation Support for the “ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases”.

Read the full statement here: https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FINAL-CS-of-the-25th-APT-Summit-as-of-15-Nov-22.pdf

On 12 November, the 25th ASEAN-Japan Summit, chaired by Mr. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Mr. Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Kishida on his opening remarks, stated that he would like to hold a Commemorative Summit in Tokyo around December 2023 as the next year would mark the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. In response, many countries expressed their support in their remarks. As the Chair, Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed appreciation to the ASEAN Leaders for accepting Japan’s proposal and confirmed that the Commemorative Summit would be held following a regular annual ASEAN-Japan Summit in 2023.

In the area of ASEAN-Japan Cooperation, particularly regarding the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Kishida introduced Japan’s financial support loans of approximately 295 billion JPY in total to ASEAN countries as part of Japan’s support to the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF). He also reaffirmed Japan’s continued commitment to assist the sustainable growth of ASEAN countries. In addition, he also expressed his intention to continue supporting the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) including through the dispatch of Japanese health experts. The Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) supported the projects A Feasibility Study on the Establishment of “ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases” and Detailed Design and Preparation Support for the “ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases”.

In concluding his remarks, Prime Minister Kishida said that he would like to make the Golden Jubilee of ASEAN-Japan relations a golden opportunity to demonstrate golden friendship between ASEAN and Japan as suggested by its official catchphrase.

The Chairman’s Statement is available here where the following projects supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) are acknowledged:

• ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC);
• ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP);
• ASEAN Smart City Network (ASCN);
• ASEAN-Japan Transport Partnership;
• Attachment Programme for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV);
• JENESYS Programme;
• ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme; and
• Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA)

Congratulations to the Viet Nam team for winning the championship of the Cyber SEA Game 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. After a seven-hour competition, Mr. Le The Thang, Mr. Nguyen Quang Ba, Mr. Ky Hung Chien, and Mr. Nguyen Manh Dung who represented their nation as a team brought home the championship and the prize to compete in one of the most exciting cyber contests, SECCON 2022, in Tokyo, Japan in February next year.

Cyber SEA Game is an annual Capture the Flag cyber competition conducted by the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC) and Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand (MDES) to be a platform for cyber enthusiasts from the ten ASEAN Member States under the age of 30 to compete among each other.

This year’s competition was held on 10 November 2022 and was very special because this was the first time after two years, we were able to conduct the event face-to-face, which brought back physical engagement and discussion among the team members and interaction between different teams.

This successful event would not have been possible without the generous support from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan (MIC). AJCCBC as the organiser of this event extend their gratitude to the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, and Mission of Japan to ASEAN for their valuable contributions. It is hoped that participants enjoyed the contest and gained valuable experience and knowledge that will be applicable to their future venture. It also hoped that this event helps shed light on the importance of cybersecurity and the young generation who will be the future of cybersecurity.

Japan and ASEAN share the view to promote a rule-based Indo-Pacific region that is free and open, embraces key principles such as ASEAN’s unity and centrality, inclusiveness, transparency, respect for international law, and complements ASEAN community building process. At the 34th ASEAN Summit in June 2019, ASEAN Leaders adopted the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) which provides a guide for ASEAN’s engagement in the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean regions. Japan expressed its full support to the AOIP at the ASEAN-Japan Summit in the same year and has been a steadfast supporter of the AOIP as the AOIP and Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) concept share relevant fundamental principles in promoting peace and cooperation.

The progress report on Japan’s Cooperation for the AOIP is submitted by Japan to the ASEAN-Japan Summit to update ASEAN Leaders on the progress of Japan’s 73 existing cooperation projects and to inform 16 additional projects on the AOIP. A variety of projects, which cover all the priority areas of AOIP cooperation, made steady progress despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

The following projects are partially/fully funded by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund to support the AOIP:

• Advanced Personnel Training Program for Vessel Traffic Service
• Joint Hydrographic Survey of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore
• Strengthening Capacity for Marine Debris Reduction in ASEAN Region through Formulation of National Action Plans for ASEAN Member States and Integrated Land-to-Sea Policy Approach (Phase2)
• Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Implementation Plan Training in ASEAN (GIPTA)
• “Japan’s Friendship Ties Programs JENESYS 2022”
• Fostering Greater Understanding, Tolerance and a Sense of Regional Agendas among the Peoples of ASEAN
• ASEAN-JAPAN Actions on Sports
• IAI Attachment Programme at the ASEAN Secretariat for Junior Diplomats of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam (17th Batch) and 6th Batch: Attachment of Officers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam for AEC and ASCC Involvement at the ASEAN Secretariat (2022-2023)
• Detailed Design and Preparation Support for the “ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases”
• ASEAN SDGs Frontrunner Cities Programme Phase 2 – Supporting Bottom-up Innovations for Addressing Land-based Plastic Marine Debris and Urban Resilience in ASEAN Cities
• AHA Centre Executive (ACE) Programme 2018-2020
• Strengthening ASEAN’s Collective Response Capacity through the Enhancement of the Capacity Building of the Regional ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) (2020 – 2022)
• The Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) Phase II and III projects
• Development of the AADMER Work Programme 2021-2025
• ASEAN Cultural Heritage Digital Archive (ACHDA) – Phase 2
• Promotion of Higher Efficient Air Conditioners in ASEAN through Harmonisation of Standards and Strengthening of Market Verification and Enforcement Capabilities (Phase I)
• ASEAN Mapping Exercise to Promote Synergy with Other Relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and Entities Associated with ASEAN on Disaster Management
• ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (Step 2-2)
• The Review of ASEAN Harmonised Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) 2017/1
• KPI Monitoring Support of the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development (2016-2025): Phase 2 toward 2020
• Development and Implementation of Facility Level Monitoring and Reporting (M&R) Framework for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions in ASEAN Member States (AMS): Phase2
• ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN) Phase 2

Detailed list of Japan’s Cooperation Projects on the AOIP is available here.