TOKYO, December 19 — Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has put forward four areas of cooperation to deepen collaboration within ASEAN and empower its people to address future challenges effectively. During the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo, Anwar proposed cooperation in Public Health, Climate Action, Disaster Management, and People-to-People exchanges. Emphasizing the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, he stressed the importance of remaining vigilant against future health crises.
Anwar suggested placing researchers from ASEAN Member States and Japan at the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases to better address future health challenges. On climate action, he called for continued collaboration to advance regional and national mitigation and adaptation strategies, urging Japan to assist developing countries with energy transition. Regarding disaster management, Anwar highlighted the surge in extreme weather events in the region and valued Japan’s contribution to operationalizing the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management. He called for deeper collaboration with Japan in establishing Permanent Disaster Relief Centres, leveraging Japan’s extensive experience in Disaster Risk Reduction.
In fostering people-to-people exchanges, Anwar appreciated Japan’s initiatives like Jenesys1, aiming to bridge cultural divides and create a shared identity. He encouraged meaningful face-to-face interactions among students and youths through programs like Jenesys and welcomed Japan’s new initiative, “Partnership to Cocreate a Future with the Next Generation.” The summit concluded with the adoption of a vision statement and an implementation plan focusing on future cooperation under the theme of co-creation.
