Ever since its establishment the Fund has supported people exchange projects in member states of ASEAN, focusing particularly on Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, as well as Myanmar, all of which are in the midst of a dramatic transition period. Through its ASEAN Young Politicians Retreat Workshop, the Fund facilitated dialogue among young leaders from these countries (politicians, government officials, scholars, and journalists from the late twenties to the mid-forties in age). Held annually, these workshops were designed to lay the foundation for strengthening relations between Japan and ASEAN countries, a vital element in maintaining stability in East Asia.
In 2002, the first workshop, in Jakarta, was attended by 35 people from eight ASEAN countries (Laos and Myanmar were not represented). The workshop addressed three broad topics--politics and foreign policy, economics and fiscal policy, and sociocultural issues-- with discussion focusing on the issue of security, including human security, in Southeast Asia since the 9. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States and Bali bombings of October 2002; the efforts to conclude a free trade agreement linking countries in the East Asian region; and the emergence of China as an economic and political power and the Japanese response to this emerging power. Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts prevented Japanese delegates from attending, so Japanese perspectives on these issues were not represented.
In the second year, a two-day workshop was held in Tokyo in collaboration with the Japan Center for International Exchange. Attending were eight politicians and scholars from six ASEAN countries, including the Cambodian vice-minister of commerce, as well as 20 representatives from Japan, including young politicians, scholars, and Taro Kono, a member of the House of Representatives of the National Diet. Discussions focused on ASEAN relations with China and Japan, relations among individual ASEAN countries, and policies to develop an East Asian Community including ASEAN.
This year's workshop was held in Jakarta February 16-17, 2005. The first day featured three sessions, "The New Relationship between ASEAN and Japan," "Toward a More Dynamic ASEAN-Japanese Partnership," and "Japanese-ASEAN Economic Cooperation." Discussions addressed the focus that ASEAN should take in establishing relations with the U.S. superpower and the regional powers of China and Japan, as well as the role Japan should play in international security. Sessions on the second day covered ASEAN-Japanese relations from a sociocultural perspective. Some participants held the view that exports of Japanese manga comics and animated films are contributing to a change in ASEAN countries' understanding of Japan. Others, however, noted that there seems to be little Japanese interest in traditional Southeast Asian cultures, and they hoped to see greater interest emerge. The final, plenary session focused on ways to maintain the network that has been established between ASEAN and East Asia thus far.