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  5. METI Holds ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit 2025 and Future Generation Business Leaders’ Summit 2025; Policy Proposals Delivered to Prime Minister Takaichi and Minister Akazawa

METI Holds ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit 2025 and Future Generation Business Leaders’ Summit 2025; Policy Proposals Delivered to Prime Minister Takaichi and Minister Akazawa

Japanese

December 5, 2025

External Economic Policy

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) held the ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit 2025 and the Future Generation Business Leaders’ Summit 2025 to create new connections between Japan and ASEAN for the next generation and to co-create both solutions to social issues and the fostering of new businesses. Young business leaders from ASEAN and Japan delivered policy proposals, which were the outcomes of the Summits, to Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, and Mr. AKAZAWA Ryosei, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

1. Overview

METI, JETRO, and other organizations held the ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit 2025 and the Future Generation Business Leaders’ Summit 2025 in Chiyoda City and Chuo City, Tokyo, Japan, from Tuesday, December 2, to Thursday, December 4, 2025.

In 2023, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN friendship and cooperation, METI established the two Summits, aiming to allow young business leaders who are active in Japan and ASEAN to share challenges and discuss and propose ways to cooperate towards solutions.

The third Summits were held in Tokyo, where greetings were delivered to the participants by Mr. WATANABE Kazufumi, Chairperson of the Japan-Asia Relations Committee, Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Director, Lotte Holdings Co., Ltd.), and Mr. MAEDA Tadashi, Managing Director and Chairman of the Board, Japan Bank for International Cooperation. The participants exchanged views with prominent business executives of Japan.

On Tuesday, December 2, the Summit discussed concrete ways for ASEAN and Japan to cooperate on deep technology. Minister Akazawa delivered a speech to the young business leaders, highlighting the importance of strengthening supply chain resilience and promoting ASEAN-Japan co-creation initiatives in the digital and decarbonization fields. He also expressed his hope for startups’ endeavors to drive innovation in AI, semiconductors and other cutting-edge sectors.

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On Wednesday, December 3, the participating young business leaders exchanged views with members of the Diet on ways to promote future cooperation between ASEAN and Japan.

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The Summits issued respective polic proposals as their outcomes, in which both sides concurred on further deepening ASEAN-Japan relations, cooperating on strengthening supply chain resilience, and solving social issues through collaborative innovation between ASEAN and Japan. The young business leaders from ASEAN and Japan personally delivered the policy proposals to Minister Akazawa on Tuesday, December 2, and to Prime Minister Takaichi on Wednesday, December 3.

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Source: Website of Prime Minister’s Office of JapanLink
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Source: Website of Prime Minister’s Office of JapanLink
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2. About the ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit 2025

At the ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit 2025, young business leaders, including executives of prominent conglomerates and founders of unicorn businesses from ASEAN and Japan, gathered to discuss how to build and strengthen mutual understanding and trust, and how to cooperate to solve economic and business challenges and social issues. In addition, many individual meetings were held between Japanese companies and participating young business leaders.

Overview

Co-Organizers:
METI, JETRO, AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC), and ASEAN Japan Plus Young Business Leaders’ Community Secretariat (PoliPoli Inc.)
Dates:
Tuesday, December 2 to Thursday, December 4, 2025
Venue:
Chiyoda City and Chuo City in Tokyo
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3. About the ASEAN-Japan Future Generation Business Leaders’ Summit 2025

At the ASEAN-Japan Future Generation Business Leaders’ Summit 2025, business leaders in their 20s, including entrepreneurs from ASEAN and Japan, gathered to discuss how to build and strengthen mutual understanding and trust, and how to cooperate to solve economic and business challenges and social issues. In addition, many individual meetings were held between Japanese companies and participating future generation business leaders.

Overview

Co-Organizers:
METI, JETRO, AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC), and ASEAN Japan Plus Young Business Leaders’ Community Secretariat (PoliPoli Inc.)
Dates:
Tuesday, December 2, to Thursday, December 4, 2025
Venue:
Chiyoda City and Chuo City in Tokyo
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Reference: About the previous events

Division in Charge

Asia and Pacific Division, Trade Policy Bureau

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