Draft:ASEAN-Japan Centre
Intergovernmental organization
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The ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) (国際機関日本アセアンセンター, Kokusai Kikan Nihon ASEAN Sentā) is an intergovernmental organization comprising of the 10 ASEAN member states and Japan. It was formerly known as the ASEAN Promotion Centre on Trade, Investment and Tourism. The centre was formed in 1981 and it is based in Tokyo.[7]
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Submission declined on 6 April 2026 by Lovelyfurball (talk).
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This draft has been resubmitted and is currently awaiting re-review. |  |
Submission declined on 2 August 2024 by SafariScribe (talk). This draft's references do not show that the subject meets Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion for organizations and companies. The draft requires multiple published secondary sources that:
Declined by SafariScribe 23 months ago.
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Submission declined on 17 April 2024 by Stuartyeates (talk). This draft's references do not show that the subject meets Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion. The draft requires multiple published secondary sources that:
Declined by Stuartyeates 2 years ago.
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Comment: Future reviewers: see Draft talk:ASEAN-Japan Centre and User talk:~2026-21096-17 for more context and WP:THREE best sources. Both authors have disclosed that they are "ad hoc interns" at the organization. The temporary account is User:Fathyazel. I will not review the draft at this time as I have previously reviewed it. Lovelyfurball (talk) 23:18, 8 April 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: Thank you for writing this article. I reviewed each source and did not see multiple good, reliable, secondary sources which examined the centre in depth. I suggest selecting WP:THREE sources which you feel best demonstrate notability and sending them on the talk page so that future reviewers will not need to examine 60+ sources to assess notability. Lovelyfurball (talk) 14:50, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: (Not sure what template to use to reply) Included more academic sources Byrnachi (talk) 07:34, 1 May 2024 (UTC)
- Comment: Too many of the sources are not independent. We need less ASEAN and ASEAN-member country government sources and more news reportage and academic coverage. Stuartyeates (talk) 09:41, 17 April 2024 (UTC)
 ASEAN-Japan Centre entrance | |
| Abbreviation | AJC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 25 May 1981[1] |
| Type | Trade, Investment, and Tourism Promotion Centre |
| Legal status | Treaty[2] |
| Purpose | Social and Economic Promotion[2] |
| Headquarters | Shin Onarimon Bldg. 6-17-19 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan[3] |
Region served | ASEAN, Japan |
| Members | 11 countries[1] |
Secretary General | Kunihiko Hirabayashi (from 1 September 2021)[4] |
Main organ | Council of Directors[5] |
| Website | asean.or.jp[6] |
Operations
The goal of the centre is to enhance economic partnership between Japan and the ASEAN member countries, particularly through tourism, exports and investments.[8][9] It has been described as a "dialogue partner" of ASEAN, such that it develops people-to-people exchanges between southeast Asian nations.[10][11] The centre is expected to play a role in enhancing ASEAN-Japan relations, as equal partners.[11]
Developing tourism, in particular, has been a central focus, including tourism expos and parallel campaigns to encourage Japanese people to visit member states.[10][11] The centre has promoted ASEAN tourism through the production and dissemination of promotional videos; youth and other cultural exchanges; and providing training to partner nations, in order to better attract Japanese tourists.[12] The ASEAN-Japan Centre also promotes investment in the ASEAN tourism sector through investment seminars.[12]
Since 2009, the centre has been located in the Shin Onarimon Building in Shimbashi.[8]
History
The ASEAN-Japan Centre was established on 25 May 1981 under the treaty between the governments of ASEAN member states and Japan, with its founding five members being Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Japan.[9] It was originally known as the ASEAN Promotion Centre on Trade, Investment and Tourism.[12]
The centre's founding was largely spurred by the Fukuda Doctrine which emphasized Japan's intention to engage with the ASEAN member states as equal partners.[13] In 1977, during his visit to the Philippines, Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda introduced the Fukuda Doctrine, which later evolved into the guiding principles of ASEAN diplomacy during 1980s.[14] This doctrine emphasized three key goals: Japan's commitment to refrain from military expansion, the establishment of a "Heart-to-Heart" relationship with ASEAN, and the equal partner of ASEAN and its member countries.[15] Fukuda said that Japan would cooperate positively with ASEAN member states in their own efforts as an equal partner, a principle which has guided the development of the centre.[11]
Shortly thereafter, the first ASEAN-Japan Summit convened in Kuala Lumpur,[16][17] followed by the ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting in 1978,[18] marking the commencement of a diplomatic friendship dialogue[19] between ASEAN and Japan, with Japan emerging as one of ASEAN's key dialogue partners.
At this time, the key initiatives included the promotion of Japanese companies trade and investment and facilitating the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP),[20] alongside with Japanese language education.[21][22] In the later part of the decade, the Centre put more emphasis on outbound tourism, promoting ASEAN nations as a holiday destination to Japanese people. After attending an ASEAN heads-of-state meeting in Manila in 1987, then Japanese Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita pledged to double the voluntary contribution to the centre to further promote tourism to ASEAN.[23]
By the 1990s, the slowing down of the Japanese economy, and with it the strong growth of other East Asian economies, saw reduced activity in the centre.[24] Tourism in particular fell off as East Asian nations were affected by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.[24] Leaders of the centre have emphasised that, in this period of crisis, ASEAN and Japan have helped each other, Japan providing ASEAN countries with more than US$40 billion in economic assistance. Even in these conditions, in 1990 Brunei became the ASEAN-Japan Centre's seventh member.[25] And in 1998, Vietnam became the ASEAN-Japan Centre's eighth member.[25]
During the early 2000s, the Centre underwent significant reforms to enhance its functions, following the directives of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in 2003.[26][27] The EPC convened twice, firstly on 31 May 2005 in Tokyo, Japan, and subsequently during 3–4 October 2005 in Bali, Indonesia, where it concluded its interim report.[28][29] The relationship reached a pivotal turning point with the focus on the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) that fundamentally redefined the mandate of the ASEAN-Japan Centre.
In 2007, the ASEAN-Japan Centre underwent another round of reform, following the recommendations of the Eminent Persons Committee.[30][31] The changes would enable multiple approaches between ASEAN and Japan. In 2009, the ASEAN-Japan Hall was established as a meeting venue for ASEAN-Japan various events to promote trade, investment, tourism and intercultural exchanges.[32] The number of partner countries expanded further with Cambodia becoming the ASEAN-Japan Centre's ninth member in 2001; Laos the tenth member in 2002; and Myanmar the eleventh and latest member in 2006.[25]
2010s-present
To mark the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan relationship, the ASEAN-Japan Centre hosted commemorative events including the "Japan-ASEAN Business and Investment Forum: Road to ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum."[33]
Following the 2011 earthquake, the centre became a conduit for ASEAN assistance to Japan.[34] In 2024, the ASEAN-Japan Centre, in conjunction with JETRO and Thailand's Department of Trade Negotiations, conducted a workshop on the utilization of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).[35]
On December 19, 2024, the centre was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs, acknowledging its significant efforts to enhance the collaborative partnership and amicable relations between Vietnam and Japan.[36]
Member states
List of member states of the ASEAN-Japan Centre[1]
| State | Accession (YYYY/MM/DD) |
|---|---|
| Brunei | 1990-06-08 |
| Cambodia | 2001-06-11 |
| Indonesia | 1981-05-25 |
| Japan | 1981-05-25 |
| Laos | 2002-03-20 |
| Malaysia | 1981-05-25 |
| Myanmar | 2006-04-27 |
| Philippines | 1981-05-25 |
| Singapore | 1981-05-25 |
| Thailand | 1981-05-25 |
| Vietnam | 1998-02-12 |
Organization structure
Governance is provided by a council which meets annually.[9] The executive is lead by its Secretary-General.[9]
| State | Council Director | Title and Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Brunei | Dr. Hajah May Fa'ezah Haji Ahmad Ariffin | Permanent Secretary (Economy) |
| Cambodia | H.E. Mr. Chum Angvichet | Director General General Department of ASEAN |
| Indonesia | Ms. Fajarini Puntodewi | Director General
National Export Development |
| Japan | Mr. Miyamoto Shingo | Director General / Assistant Minister Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department |
| Laos | Mr. Sengdavanh Vongsay | Director General ASEAN Department |
| Malaysia | Dr. Sugumari A/P S. Shanmugam | Senior Director ASEAN Economic Integration Division |
| Myanmar | Mr. Kyaw Tun | Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar |
| Philippines | Mr. Christian L. De Jesus | Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Japan |
| Singapore | Mr. Johnny Teo | Assistant Managing Director/ Americas, Europe and Northeast Asia & Oceania, |
| Thailand | Ms. Sunanta Kangvalkulkij | Director General Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) |
| Vietnam | Mr. Vu Ba Phu | Director General Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) |
Secretariat
At present, the executive arm of the organization, led by the Secretary General, consists of the Office of the Secretary General, the Office of General Affairs and one operational department consisting of the Research and Policy Advocacy (RPA) Team, the Strategic Country Support (CS) Team, the Bilateral Programme (BP) Team, and the Tourism and Exchange (TE) Team.[5] The Secretary General is an appointed position that lasts for three years per term and may be reappointed.[2]
| # | Term | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1981-1983 | Sashichiro Matsui[37] | Japan |
| 2 | 1984-1987 | Fumihiko Suzuki[38] | Japan |
| 3 | 1988-1990 | Fumiya Okada[39] | Japan |
| 4 | 1991-1996 | Yutaka Nomura[40] | Japan |
| 5 | 1997-2002 | Takashi Onda[41] | Japan |
| 6 | 2003-2007 | Nobutoshi Akao[42] | Japan |
| 7 | 2008-2014 | Yoshikuni Ohnishi[43] | Japan |
| 8 | 2015-2020 | Masataka Fujita[44] | Japan |
| 9 | 2021-present | Kunihiko Hirabayashi[45] | Japan |
Funding
The budget for the ASEAN-Japan Centre is financed from both obligatory and voluntary contributions from its member states.[46] In the original 1980 treaty,[2] under Article X, it was stated that "except for the rent of the permanent ASEAN Trade Investment and Tourism Exhibition Hall, which shall be borne by Japan", the "budget of the Centre shall be met in the following proportion: Japan: 90 per cent, the ASEAN member countries: 10 per cent.[47] In 2007, the agreement was amended to have Japan bear 87.5 per cent of the budget, with the ASEAN member countries bearing 12.5 per cent.[48]
Promotion on Trade, Investment, Tourism, and People-to-People Exchanges
Trade
In promoting exports from ASEAN to Japan, the Centre provides information, consultation, and market access opportunities for companies from ASEAN member states seeking to enter or expand in the Japanese market. The centre conducts a range of trade promotion activities to facilitate business matching and market understanding between ASEAN and Japanese stakeholders (exporters, buyers, etc.).
In addition to these activities, the centre works to strengthen the institutional and human resource foundations that enable ASEAN firms to export to Japan more effectively. This includes developing systems that reduce structural barriers to cross-border trade, emphasizing on the service sector. The Centre invites senior service-sector officials from ASEAN member states to Japan for policy-focused seminars, and has conducted capacity-building programmes in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam to provide training by trade experts for local enterprises (e.g. export procedures, market requirements, and access strategies to enter the Japanese market).[7]
One of which the Centre recognizes is the promotion of exports from ASEAN to Japan in the creative industries, particularly bringing collaborative programs with Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP) and ASEAN design organizations through the annual Good Design Award. In 2020, the centre, JDP, and the Laos Ministry of Commerce and Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote cooperation and collaboration in the field of design promotion. In the same year, an MoU was signed with the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP). As the AJC launched a two-year regional program "ASEAN Design Selection" with the Good Design Award, there were 22 products/services out of a total 261 applicants from 10 ASEAN Member States awarded in FY2018.[49] Finally, in 2025, Malaysia signed a trilateral cooperation agreement with AJC and JDP.[50]
Recently, the centre has been organizing FTA utilization seminars, such as the 2026 "From Agreement to Practice" seminar to promote Malaysia-Japan trade. On January 29 2026, the Centre co-hosted a seminar in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry and JETRO, focusing on the practical use of FTAs (e.g. rules of origin and certificate procedures) that targeted export-oriented SMEs and featured policy briefings and corporate case studies.[51]
Investment
With one of its core purpose to promote direct investment by Japanese companies in ASEAN member states, the centre conducts a range of investment promotion activities targeting Japanese corporations, mass media, and economic and industrial organizations. These activities include investment promotion seminars which introduce the latest investment policies, regulatory frameworks, and incentive schemes offered by ASEAN member states.
The centre has shifted its country-specific investment seminars into a dialogue Japanese investors and ASEAN's high-ranking investment officials in making proposals and explore policies that can promote investment.[7]
Tourism
The centre has been promoting ASEAN tourism to Japan through promotional videos and productions; cultural exchanges; investment seminars for tourism investments; and training or technical assistance to enhance its stakeholders' capacity catering to Japanese tourists as well as strengthening product development. While it initially focused on outbound tourism from Japan to ASEAN countries, the centre has also expanded into inbound tourism promotion as travel from ASEAN to Japan[7]. This form of assistance by Japan to ASEAN runs under the ASEAN Tourism Strategy Plan 2016–2025.
In 2009, the centre launched a tourism development support project targeting the Indochinese peninsula, specifically focusing on Laos. The project aimed to diversity Lao tourism beyond the traditional hubs of Vientiane and Luang Prabang by promoting "slow tourism" and ecotourism in the northern provinces. The initiative provided strategic recommendations to the Lao government's tourism policy makers and the Japanese travel industry, making its primary role of the advisor.[52]
On October 23–29 2016, the centre has also organized a workshop on accessible tourism for management-level stakeholders in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and Malaysia in Tokyo and Toba, Mie Prefecture.[11]
Recently, the centre with the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism is strengthening ties to develop its wellness tourism sector. On March 31 2026, both parties discussed in the forum to revive the Wellness Tourism Workshop in Bali for capacity building and expert knowledge-sharing among tourism stakeholders in ASEAN and Japan.[53]
People-to-People Exchanges
The centre has initiated exchange programs and entrepreneurship/leadership empowerment networks to enhance people-to-people connections in ASEAN-Japan. In the area of leadership and entrepreneurship, the Centre promotes inclusive economic participation through initiatives that support youth, women, and SMEs creating platforms for dialogue, capacity building, and cross-border collaboration.
As part of these efforts, one of which the ASEAN-Japan Centre convened is the ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs' Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 13 February 2025. It was joined by 35 young women entrepreneurs from across the 10 ASEAN Member States and Japan at the Roundtable Discussion held on November 5–6 2024 in Lao PDR.[54] The outcomes from these initiatives are intended to strengthen entrepreneurial networks, inform policy dialogue, and enhance the resilience and competitiveness of women-owned business across ASEAN and Japan.
Parallel groups
While ASEAN-Japan Centre was the first affiliate centre for ASEAN, parallel organisations have since been established in Seoul (the ASEAN-Korea Centre in 2009), Beijing (the ASEAN-China Centre in 2011), New Dehli (the ASEAN-India Centre in 2012), and Moscow (the MGIMO's ASEAN Centre in 2010).[30]
In 2024, Australian Prime Minister and Labor Party Leader, Anthony Albanese enacted the Melbourne Declaration, in which the establishment of an ASEAN-Australia Centre in Canberra was announced. The opening of the ASEAN-Australia Centre is expected to occur in July 2024.[55][56]
In March 2023, the International Trade and Investment Coordinator for the City of Los Angeles, Sam Baron, and Aide to the US Deputy Secretary of State, Abhinav Seetharaman, wrote that the US should follow in the footsteps of Japan and India in establishing a "dedicated institution to head up its economic and cultural engagement with Southeast Asia."[57] At the 2023 US-ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced the intent to establish a US-ASEAN Center through a public-private partnership with Arizona State University (ASU).[58] The US-ASEAN Center celebrated its opening on 15 December 2023 with Under Secretary of State of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs of the US Department of State, Liz Allen, delivering the opening remarks.[59]
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