In this project, SPF aims to strengthen the capabilities of ASEAN by establishing a regional channel for dialogue involving diplomats of ASEAN member countries as well as representatives from the media, business world and NGOs, and provide opportunities for information sharing and discussions through international conferences on shared regional issues including diplomacy and security.

In the first year of the three-year project, five international conferences will be held on the following themes.

• Theme 1: "Efforts to Strengthen ASEAN Integration "(May, 2 days, with approximately 20 members of the media)
• Theme 2: "Improving systems for sharing security-related information" (July, 2 days, with approximately 20 experts in foreign policy)
• Theme 3: "Formation of an economic community and the role of the private sector" (September, 2 days, with approximately 20 business leaders)
• Theme 4: "Communication between experts and the ASEAN Secretariat to advance security-related cooperation" (November, 2 days, with approximately 20 policy advisers and security experts)
• Theme 5: "Improving multi-sector cooperation" (February 2012, 2 days, with approximately 20 members of the media, business leaders and foreign policy experts)

As a means to promote dialogue and integration in the ASEAN region, the results of discussion of each conference will be reflected in policy proposal memos, newspaper editorials and articles and distributed to the ASEAN Secretariat, member countries, international organizations, Japan and other concerned countries, and related organizations.

From November 21 to 22, an international conference was held at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations in Malaysia. Attending the conference were representatives from Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Attending from Malaysia were Dr. Ahmad Rithauddeen, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, former ambassadors and incumbent diplomatic aides, while from Vietnam came representatives from the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies and NPOs. From Thailand, the Minister and other representatives of the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and researchers currently studying in Malaysia joined the conference. A diverse range of topics was addressed at the conference, spanning terrorism, narcotics, human trafficking, labor problems, and Free Trade Agreements (FTA, TPP). Of particular interest to the participants was the issue of maritime security in the South China Sea, and a spirited debate unfolded on the issue.

●Program of the 2nd International Conference
●2nd International Conference Participant List

The third international conference of the Foreign Policy Study Group (FPSG) was held from March 8 to 9 at the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR). The conference, which was on the theme of 'Strengthening ASEAN Regionalism: The Way Forward', was attended by representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The event was split into four sessions, plus an extra session devoted to university student participation. At every session, presentations were given by experts in relevant fields, including former ambassadors, active diplomats, university professors and senior researchers. In the course of the conference, discussions were held on issues and future prospects relevant to the ASEAN community, from the perspectives of politics, economy, security, society and culture.
Also speaking at the event on the subject of Japan's contribution to ASEAN in a lecture titled 'Japan's Approach toward ASEAN amid US-China Bipolarity' was senior researcher Tomotaka Shoji of the National Institute of Defense Studies.

・Program of the 3rd International Conference
・Presentation of the 3rd International Conference
・3rd International Conference Participant List