Japan and Southeast Asia Set to Co-Create an Interwoven Future
Last year, ASEAN and Japan celebrated the 50th anniversary of their dialogue relations with the establishment of the ASEAN-Japan comprehensive strategic partnership. In Southeast Asia, Japan has made concrete commitments in the Implementation Plan of the 2023 ASEAN-Japan Joint Vision Statement to “further ease barriers to entry for foreign workers in professional and technical fields to work in Japan”, including through language training, education and skill programmes for Southeast Asian workers, and explore mutual recognition of workers’ skills.
Moreover, Japan has sponsored several multi-year multilateral initiatives that have earned widespread acclaim and appreciation from generations of participants. These initiatives include the Japan East-Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) and the Attachment Programme at the ASEAN Secretariat for CLMV Diplomats/Officials. Japan’s support for ASEAN integration through education and human resources development has garnered significant appreciation from Southeast Asians, as evidenced in a public survey conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 2019.
JENESYS and the IAI Attachment Programme at the ASEAN Secretariat for Junior Diplomats of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam are supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).
