The 15^th ASEAN-Japan Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting took place virtually on 23 March 2021, underscoring the commitment of both sides to further strengthen the ASEAN-Japan partnership. The meeting welcomed the substantive progress in ASEAN-Japan cooperation through the implementation of activities under the Implementation Plan of the 2013 Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. Approximately 97% of the action lines under the Plan have been addressed. The two sides exchanged views on development in ASEAN and Japan. Japan highlighted the priority to implement the Joint Statement of the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), through conducting practical cooperation in the key areas of the AOIP.

ASEAN appreciated Japan’s support towards the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases Centre and contribution to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund. Preparations are being made for the establishment and operation of the Centre which aims to enhance ASEAN’s capacity and resilience to future public health emergencies.

ASEAN also acknowledged Japan’s continued support for ASEAN’s development including its contribution to the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). The meeting was co-chaired by the Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to ASEAN, Nguyen Hai Bang, and Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, Akira Chiba, and attended by members of the Committee of the Permanent Representatives to ASEAN and representative of the ASEAN Secretariat.

The AHA Centre, in collaboration with the Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA), proudly presents Humanitarian & Emergency Logistics Innovation Expo (HELiX) 2021. Supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), this event will provide a platform for discussion and networking among humanitarian logistics practitioners, vendors and suppliers, and the wider humanitarian community in the region. Mark your calendar on 20-25 May 2021. Visit https://helix.ahacentre.org to join our innovation competition, hackathon, exhibit and exciting conversations!

The event is supported by Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) through The Establishment of a Disaster Emergency Logistic System for ASEAN (DELSA) – Phase II: Satellite Warehouse project which is currently underway.

ASEAN-Japan Transport Partnership carries out mutually beneficial programme and activities to reinforce transport cooperation, implemented under four policy pillars:
1. Transport Facilitation
2. Transport Infrastructure
3. Quality and Sustainable Transport
4. Human Resource Development

To check more updates, please visit ASEAN-Japan Transport Partnership Information Center.

The following projects are supported by the Government of Japan through Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF):

• Advanced Personnel Training Program for Vessel Traffic Service (2020-2021)
• Developing ASEAN Transport Officials’ Core Competencies to Implement ASEAN Transport Facilitation-Related Procedures (Phase 1)
• Development of the Common Standard Curricula on International Transport and Logistics Basic Training for ASEAN Member States under Sustainable Human Resource Development in Logistics Services
• Enhancing Competence of Japan-Mekong Regional Logistics Training Center in Viet Nam (JMLTC) – Stage 2
• Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Implementation Plan Training in ASEAN (GIPTA)
• Joint Hydrographic Survey of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore
• Proof of Concept (PoC) on ICT Solutions for Over-Loaded Vehicle Control

On 23 February, H.E. CHIBA Akira, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, attended the Final Seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction by Integrating Climate Change Projection into Flood and Landslide Risk Assessment through teleconference, delivering opening remarks which emphasized Japan’s determination to support ASEAN’s disaster risk reduction and management. Attendees to the Final Project Seminar included H.E. Kung Phoak, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Socio-Cultural Community, ASEAN Secretariat; Director Generals for Disaster Management in the Government of Malaysia, Lao PDR as well as Vietnam as Co-Chairs of ACDM Working Group on Prevention and Mitigation; and other participants related to this project.

At the Opening, H.E. Kung Phoak reiterated Japan’s long-standing cooperation with ASEAN in disaster management and his expectation to further enhance the cooperation with Japan. In the final seminar, a number of participants also expressed their gratitude towards Japan’s support to this important project.

The Disaster Risk Reduction by Integrating Climate Change Projection into Flood and Landslide Risk Assessment is supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).

The Ministry of the Environment co-sponsored with the Indonesian Maritime and Investment Coordination Office on 24-25 February 2021 held the “ASEAN Marine Plastic Waste Workshop”. Its objective is to reduce marine plastic waste and strengthen capacity for waste management through sharing of marine plastic waste efforts in the ASEAN region.

Japan has been supporting these efforts in the ASEAN region, such as support for formulating a national action plan utilizing the Japan-ASEAN Integrated Fund (JAIF), capacity development for waste management, and monitoring at sea as efforts based on the ASEAN Plus Three Marine Plastic Debris Cooperative Action Initiative (APT). In addition, the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) was established to serve as a base for gathering and sharing information on marine plastic waste.

Session 1 of the workshop discussed output of National Action Plans for AMS and efforts of the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and the support utilizing JAIF and future plans. In addition, efforts of the countries (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia) that are taking the initiative in the ASEAN region were also shared, as well as how to mainstream marine plastic problem in the policy.

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 (Phase 1) is supported by the Government of Japan through JAIF.