Southeast Asia has emerged from the 2008-2009 global financial crisis with a robust economic expansion that, along with China and India, makes up a new growth center of the world economy. Still, major countries in the region foresee a mixed picture in the years ahead.

Singapore anticipates slower growth as the government plans to curb the use of foreign labor, while Thailand hopes to return to higher growth following the devastation from the massive flooding last year, according to veteran journalists from the region who spoke at a recent symposium in Tokyo.

Each country, meanwhile, has its own agenda in its relations with Japan. Indonesia's energy trade with Japan has entered a new phase as the country reviews its energy policies in light of growing domestic consumption, while Vietnam remains committed to seeking Japanese support in starting nuclear power generation, even after last year's crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the journalists said.