"Young Business Leaders' Summit and Generation Z Business Leaders' Summit" and "ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Forum" to be Held from December 13 to 16, 2023

1. Background

The year 2023 marks the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. Commemorating this, from December 16 to 18, 2023, the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit will be held in Tokyo. In line with this meeting, METI will hold two events, namely the Young Business Leaders’ Summit and Generation Z Business Leaders’ Summit, and the ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Forum.

Aiming to help ASEAN and Japan continue to be good partners for the next 50 years as they have been over the past 50 years, the ASEAN Economic Ministers' (AEM) - METI Consultations held in August 2023 released the ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Vision (hereinafter referred to as the “Vision”), which charts the future and presents the forthcoming directions of ASEAN-Japan co-creation in this new era.

The Vision describes how “[t]he initiatives set out in this ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Vision need to be spread and expanded through implementation of specific projects jointly by the ASEAN-Japan public and private sectors and by building up successful examples one by one.” It explains that the two sides need to implement specific projects one by one through concerted public-private efforts between Japan and ASEAN so that both sides can become partners that grow together. METI has been advancing collaboration together with the public and private sectors in Japan and ASEAN to realize the Vision.

2. Overview of the Young Business Leaders’ Summit and the Generation Z Business Leaders’ Summit

METI, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) will jointly hold the ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit and the Generation Z Business Leaders’ Summit as an effort to create new connections among young business leaders in Japan and ASEAN who will play key roles in the next generation.

The two summits will bring together promising talent expected to become future business leaders in Japan and ASEAN and provide them with opportunities to jointly discuss and propose solutions to social challenges in both regions, thereby aiming to build and fortify mutual understanding and a relationship of trust between Japan and ASEAN.

The summits will provide online open sessions as shown below.

Japan-ASEAN Young Business Leaders Summit (online open session)

Date and time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Thursday, December 14, 2023
Venue: Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture

• Prior registration for online viewing

Program (tentative):

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	- Opening session - Presentations by Japan-ASEAN young business leaders - Presentations on Japan-oriented technologies that lead the rest of the world
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.	Lunch break
2:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.	- Panel discussions by Japan-ASEAN young business leaders - Closing session
5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.	- Interim briefing by Japan-ASEAN Generation Z business leaders

Japan-ASEAN Generation Z Business Leaders’ Summit (online open session)

Date and time: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Friday, December 15, 2023
Venue: Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture

• Official website
• Prior registration for online viewing

Program (tentative):

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.	- Opening session - Policy recommendations by Japan-ASEAN Generation Z business leaders - Panel discussions by Japan-ASEAN Generation Z business leaders - Closing remarks

3. Overview of the ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Forum

This forum will cover projects that have been achieved through Japan-ASEAN co-creation efforts and provide discussions by experts and business leaders in the public and private sectors to foster momentum for Japan-ASEAN collaboration in the field of business.

ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Forum

Date and time: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Saturday, December 16, 2023
Venue: Academyhills (49th floor, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower)

Program (tentative):

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon	ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC): Visible Initiatives for ASEAN and Japan
1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.	Opening session
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.	ASEAN-Japan cooperation between the next generations to address global challenges (tentative)
3:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.	ASEAN-Japan co-creation for the future (tentative)
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.	Public-private cooperation to realize the Asian Zero Emissions Community (AZEC) concept (tentative)
5:00 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.	MOU signing, and other ceremonies
5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.	Closing session

If you wish to participate in the forum, you need to complete registration in advance. Visit the official website for the registration.

If the number of applicants exceeds the maximum capacity of the venue, participants will be selected by lottery (not on a first-come-first-served basis).

Related Link

• ASEAN -Japan Economic Co-Creation Vision

Division in Charge

Asia and Pacific Division, Trade Policy Bureau