IRPRESUNIV.ORG, CIKARANG ̶ Thursday (5/4), the International Relations Study Program of President University conducted an Ambassador Lecture series with the theme of “Japan-ASEAN Relations: 45th Anniversary of Japan-ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation”. With H.E. Mr. Kazuo Sunaga, The Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN and Mr. S.D. Darmono, the Chairman of Jababeka Group as the distinguished guests, the seminar was moderated by Mr. Gibran Mahesa Drajat, a lecturer of International Relations Study Program
There are several points of discussion that HE Ambassador Kazuo presented such as the long history of Japan and ASEAN, the present overview of Japan and ASEAN, Importance of ASEAN to Japan, Economic relations of Japan and ASEAN, Five Principles of Japan-ASEAN Diplomacy. HE Explained the vision of Japan for supporting ASEAN Connectivity in which he mentioned the formation of the Vital Artery for East-West and Southern Economic Corridor and the development of the hard structure of Mekong region that connects the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean Japan’s contributions to infrastructure for ASEAN Connectivity to Maritime and Air Economic Corridor, The soft infrastructure of Japan projects for ASEAN connectivity.
HE also explained Japan’s Defence Capacity Building Assistance for Southeast Asian Countries including ASEAN countries, as well as mentioned regarding the socio-cultural partnership Japan has with ASEAN Countries, including the Youth Exchange Program Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) to promote mutual trust as well as global education. Further, HE also explained the new foreign policy strategy: “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy which is a key for stability and prosperity for the international community that is dynamic and created by combining two countries: Asia that is rapidly growing and Africa, and two oceans: Indian and Pacific Ocean.
Later on, Mr. S.D. Darmono explained the brief profile of ASEAN and Japan, the Japan’s economic achievement could become a good thing for Indonesian youths that wants to pursue their study and career in Japan; Indonesia should change its strategy in order to part with Japan’s development; Japanese people are very discipline and a strong union among its ethnic; most of Indonesian youths are not attracted to engineering sector; industrialization is important for a country’s development; high salary in Japan and low salary in Indonesia affects the high living cost in Japan and low living cost in Indonesia. HE Kazuo Sunaga explained that Japan has an excellent education system and soft infrastructure that become the main sectors of why Japan is well-developed, Japan is not a powerful state in this present day due to population problem and the caused is the low birth rate of population.
The Ambassador Lecture Series was attended by approximately 150 students of International Relations Study Program, Welcomed Mr. S.D. Darmono, the Chairman of Jababeka. The Rector of President University, Mr. Dr. Jony Oktavian Haryanto, S.E., M.M., M.A. The Vice Rector IV of President University, Mr. Handa S. Abidin, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D, The Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Mr. Drs. Teuku Rezasyah, MA., Ph.D, , and the Head of International Relations Study Program, Mr. Hendra Manurung S.IP., M.A.