Today we celebrate ASEAN Day, marking 58 years since its founding in 1967. Having navigated through geopolitical tensions, pandemics and financial crises, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations remains steadfast to its original declaration of accelerating economic, social and cultural development in the region, in addition to promoting regional peace.
This year, ASEAN adopted the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the successor document to the ACV 2025. In it, ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing their shared interests in the areas of political security, the economy, sociocultural issues and connectivity — the newest pillar. The association is also set to welcome East Timor as its 11th member in October, demonstrating its continued relevance within the region.
Having promoted ASEAN-Japan relations in the areas of trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges since 1981, ASEAN’s achievements have also been celebrated by those of us at the ASEAN-Japan Centre.
ASEAN’s milestones also coincide with Japan’s hosting of the Osaka Expo. Leveraging this, the center collaborated with the ASEAN Secretariat to make full use of the opportunity to raise awareness of the association among the Japanese and international population alike.
In May, we co-organized a dialogue and discussion titled “The Future I Want to See: Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive Communities in ASEAN, Japan, and Beyond” at the Expo Theme Weeks Studio. Attended mainly by students at Japanese universities, the session brought together veteran and rising advocates for change to share their experiences and discuss how the group and Japan can collaborate to improve lives across the region.
The center also strives to remain aligned with a constantly evolving ASEAN. Serving as the chair of ASEAN last year, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic identified “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience” as the region’s theme for 2024. In support of that, the center participated in the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit as well as the ASEAN Investment Forum, sharing our experience in facilitating investment activities between both ASEAN and Japan.
In 2025, the center is pleased to continue this practice during Malaysia’s turn leading ASEAN under the theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” In February, we hosted the ASEAN-Japan Women Entrepreneurs Summit in Kuala Lumpur, an extensive event that drove discussions forward on how women-led enterprises in ASEAN and Japan could be better supported through policymaking and social innovation.
At this event, the center was recognized by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Malaysia as a supporting partner for the new ASEAN Inclusivity Collective initiative for our efforts in championing inclusivity in business and the workplace.
Building on this momentum, the center also signed a letter of intent in April with the Malaysia Design Council and the Japan Institute of Design Promotion to become strategic partners. This collaborative arrangement aims to contribute to sustainable development and inclusive economic growth by harnessing the transformative power of design across Malaysia, Japan and other member states of the association.
As uncertainty becomes the new norm in the world, the partnership between ASEAN and Japan as a stabilizing force is ever important. Just as ASEAN’s inception 58 years ago on this day brought about lasting peace and economic growth within the region, the next decades will be no different. The ASEAN-Japan Centre will continue to contribute to the goals set forth by both the association and Japan in the Joint Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and its implementation plan, and the ACV 2045, through our activities in promoting trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Happy ASEAN Day.
