・To celebrate the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, the ASEAN-Japan Centre in collaboration with ASEAN Foundation organized the Model ASEAN Meeting Plus Japan 2023 to invite and facilitate youth-led discussions on promoting and elevating ASEAN-Japan relationship and cooperation, highlighting the theme of “50 Years of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation: Golden Friendship, Golden Opportunities”.
・72 students from ASEAN and Japan, who were selected out of about 1,000 applicants, were provided an authentic experience to learn and understand ASEAN and Japan engagingly at the actual ASEAN Secretariat premise in Jakarta, Indonesia.
・With aims of advancing the AOIP and enhancing ASEAN diplomacy within the ASEAN and Japan, the program provided participants with an invaluable educational experience with vast improvement in decision-making skills and knowledge on ASEAN and Japan affairs.
・Through simulation activities, delegates consisted by students acted as high-level government officials of ASEAN and Japan and partook in a series of ASEAN Plus Japan meetings, leading to an outcome document that featured youth perspective on ASEAN regional and ASEAN-Japan affairs which was signed by youths, in a similar fashion of a Chairman’s statement and submitted to ASEAN Secretariat and to Mission of Japan to ASEAN.
・AJC hosted an online follow-up program “Bridging ASEAN-JAPAN with ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific” on 14 Dec. 2023 which was participated by around 30 delegates among 72 alumni. The sessions covered in the discussions are 1) The Potential of Youth in ASEAN – Japan Cooperation; 2) Navigating AOIP: Maritime and Economic Cooperation; and 3) AOIP in ASEAN – Japan Relations
Voice of participants
The event evaluation survey conducted after the program indicated the following:
・The program helped participants to gain more knowledge about the ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific through the ASEAN-Japan Joint Cooperation, as the average score of the respondents was 4.39 out of 5.
・Participants agreed that upskilling in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific through ASEAN-Japan Cooperation is important as the survey scored the average of 4.74 out of 5.
“Developing oneself in understanding and implementing the AOIP can help to ensure regional harmony and safeguard the interests of both parties through collective problem-solving.”
(Comment from a participant)
・Participants evaluated the program to be helpful to understand ASEAN and how ASEAN functions with an average score of 4.6 out of 5.
・The program provides opportunities for students to envision a future relationship between ASEAN and Japan.
“The ASEAN-Japan relationship carries tremendous promises for greater collaboration.”
“Envisioning a future relationship between ASEAN and Japan involves fostering partnership built on respect, economic collaboration, and regional stability.”
(Comment from a participant)
Model ASEAN Meeting + Japan 2023
PERIOD: 6-9 November 2023
VENUE: ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia
Delegates: 72 Undergraduate and Graduate students (60 from ASEAN, 12 from Japan)
Organizer: ASEAN-Japan Centre, ASEAN Foundation
Supporter: Japan Mission to ASEAN
Topic: “Advancing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) through ASEAN-Japan Joint Cooperation”
