The ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) solidified its role as a vital regional partner by actively participating in the 23rd ASEAN-Japan High-Level Officials Meeting on Caring Societies (HLOM), held in Narita, Japan, from October 27-30, 2025. Co-organised by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), this high-level forum convened policymakers and experts to confront shared regional challenges in health, welfare, and active ageing.

ACAI highlighted critical advancements demonstrating its commitment to translating policy into actionable frameworks:

• The development of the ASEAN Active Ageing Index (AAAI), a crucial tool designed to measure regional progress in active ageing.
• The overwhelming success of the 2025 Call for Research and Innovation, which attracted an impressive 277 proposals from across the ASEAN region.
• Pioneering pilot projects that are already underway, such as the Rayong Active Ageing Initiative and a Gamified Digital Platform aimed at promoting healthy habits among older populations.
• Ongoing efforts to shape a unified Regional Action Plan on Active Ageing through targeted workshops and capacity-building programs for Country Coordinators.

The meeting served as an important space for high-level dialogue, reinforcing the strong partnership between ASEAN and Japan. ACAI’s proactive involvement underscored its unwavering commitment to fostering a resilient and age-friendly future for the entire region.

The Strengthening Institutional and Organizational Capacity for Promotion of Healthy Ageing Partnerhip of ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) project is supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).