“These 17 areas encompass technology-related, green transformation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), among others,” he told Bernama during the Japan-ASEAN roundtable organised by the Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia on Tuesday.

According to Shikata, AI is one of the areas that Japan wishes to cooperate with countries in ASEAN to address common social challenges.

Shikata noted that Takaichi has also emphasised the importance of further collaboration in finding greater synergy between Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) initiative in bolstering peace and stability in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

He stressed that Japan aims to upgrade the FOIP with potential new perspectives to be introduced next year.

“The FOIP’s principles that were introduced by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2016 is expected to remain but there could be new perspectives that could be included given changing political and economic landscapes,” he said.

On the Look East Policy, which has been in place in Malaysia since 1982, Shikata said the Japanese government has also been promoting cooperation under this policy.

“The Look East Policy could be promoted to include more Japanese students, researchers, and young professionals coming to Malaysia to work, as today’s Malaysia provides ideal conditions in a diverse intercultural environment,” he said.

Looking ahead, Shikata said, it is time to take the next step, which he referred to as the “Look at Each Other Policy,” which emphasises mutual exchange—not only with more Malaysians studying and training in Japan, but also with more young Japanese students, researchers, and professionals coming to Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA