DIRECTLY NAVIGATING GEOPOLITICAL WATER
As big energy competitions play out in the , Indo Pacific, fostering better local relationships is particularly important, Kiya noted.  ,
” ASEAN has managed numerous significant energy conflicts for years. And Japan has often supported ASEAN in maintaining harmony and promoting prosperity”, he added.  ,
The ambassador cited Japan’s support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific ( AOIP), which emphasizes importance as the guiding principle for promoting participation in the region.  ,
Japan claims that the idea is in line with its own important rules for favoring peace and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.  ,
” The AOIP ( takes ) the Indo-Pacific region from a place of rivalry to a place of dialogue and cooperation. Japan is fully supporting that effort, and I believe Japan can become instrumental in making that happen”, Kiya said.  ,
He added that Japan maintains friendly diplomatic relations with important regional people, including US and ASEAN people.  ,
Regarding China, Kiya claimed that Tokyo and Beijing have a “mutually beneficial relationship based on a shared strategic desire to work to promote constructive and stable (ties )”.  ,
A rules-based global order is advantageous for all players in the Indo-Pacific area, including ASEAN and Japan, according to the minister.  ,
The key is for all nations to uphold international law, and ( to ) persuade any countries to stop any activities that violate international law. Therefore, in that way, economic hobbies can benefit the entire place”, he said.  ,
ECONOMIC Participation
As a trade-dependent country, some of Japan’s companies are greatly invested in and depend on China and the US.  ,
US President Donald Trump, who took office a fortnight ago, has imposed a number of higher import taxes on the world’s largest economy, which had hurt Japan’s exports and hurt its now sluggish market.  ,
Kiya claimed that Japan is monitoring developments and may take appropriate action, which would increase trade conflicts.  ,
He added Japan is working on stronger cooperation with local markets, particularly in the areas of modernization, decarbonisation, and power protection.  ,
The minister cited ASEAN’s Blue Economy Innovation initiative, launched last year in collaboration with Japan and the United Nations Development Programme, as one for key engagement.  ,
The program aims to generate solutions in weather change issues, coastal plastics pollution, green fisheries, and eco-friendly tourism.  ,
Last year, 60 victors of the site’s concern on innovative solutions to improve the violet business pitched their ideas to investors, including Japanese companies. They were selected from 1, 300 uses from across ASEAN and Timor-Leste.
” I’m very much hoping that those innovations will be fully supported by a large number of Japanese ( firms ) and the private sector so that their ideas addressing those issues will be expanded for the benefit of ASEAN, Japan, the region, and the world,” said Kiya.  ,
He also cited the forthcoming World Expo 2025 as another chance for cooperation and contact between Japan and users of the bloc.  ,
The occasion brings together partners to explore solutions to pressing global issues, taking place in Osaka, Japan’s second-largest urban area, from April to October.  ,
ASEAN will have its own pavilion set up around the concept of” building bridges,” which will showcase the local grouping’s success stories and shared initiatives.  ,
Some member states including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Singapore have even set up their individual towers at the exhibition.