PRESS RELEASES

Participation in the LEMHANNAS seminar: Strengthening ASEAN Regional Resilience

11 September 2015

On 9 September, the National Resilience Institute of the Republic of Indonesia (Lemhannas) held a public seminar entitled “Strengthening ASEAN Regional Resilience: Challenges and Opportunities”. It was attended by more than 300 people who were mainly government officials from Indonesia and other countries.

Representing the Government of Japan, Ms. Yukiko Okano, Minister-Counsellor, Chargé d’Affaires of Mission of Japan to ASEAN, participated in the seminar, where she outlined the definition of resilience and discussion about resilience in Japan after the Great East Japan Earthquake that took place in 2011. She then mentioned elements of the three ASEAN Community (ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community) that would improve the ASEAN regional resilience. For specific examples, she cited the ASEAN dispute settlement mechanism, consolidation of shared positions, development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the establishment of social safety. Ms. Okano also explained Japan’s support to promote ASEAN regional resilience.

It is hoped that such opportunities as this seminar will promote discussion of resilience among ASEAN members and will also contribute to a better understanding of ASEAN people about the contributions of Japan in ASEAN.