The Future Relations Among ASEAN Countries and Japan

Christian E. Rivero
Delivered by the Author in New Otani Hotel Tokyo as The SSEAYP
discussion Head 2003( Published in Manila Bulletin and The Aquinas
Academic Journal)

This year, we celebrate the ASEAN-Japan year as well as the 30th year of the Ship for
Southeast Asian Youth Programme, or SSEAYP. Hence, our theme of The Future
Partnership Amongst Asean countries and Japan is both timely and important.

Briefly let me describe the discussion in the SSEAYP. The ship Nippon Maru has given us
an ideal setting to share our views and to learn from those around us.

Discussions have provided us an avenue for the participating youths to express their
views freely on current and important issues and challenges and to provide possible
solutions. To facilitate the proceedings of the discussion, the sub committee has divided
the theme into six (6) subtopics, namely: culture, education, economics, environment, the
role of youth and the 30th year of SSEAYP. I will now proceed with the summary of each
topic, beginning with culture. On this topic, participants expressed increasing awareness
of the diversity of cultures in existence within Japan. We examined our customs, fashions,
rituals, cuisines, religions, and the arts, and observed that we are blessed with a rich and
complex cultural heritage.

However, the fabric of some cultures is under threat from globalization. Many teenagers
can dance to discos or rap music, but cannot perform the traditional dances of their own
countries. Participants also noted that mass media and communication technologies had
both positive and negative effects. The younger generation is fortunate to have ready
access to a wide variety of newspapers, websites, news channel and other information
tools. Nonetheless the spread of a uniform global culture can lead to the decline of the
traditional values and customs. We realize that our cultures are valuable and must be
protected, and that they can enhance the future partnership among ASEAN and Japan
countries. The cultural diversities that ASEAN and Japan offer a great asset in
promoting the region to other countries as tourist destination. Furthermore, familiarity
with each others practices will lead to a deeper appreciation of Asian models or
standards that may serve us better, rather than blindly adopting Western concepts often
misplaced for an Asian context.

The following are some proposals for ASEAN-Japan cultural cooperation. We must
increase and intensify cultural exchange programs, seminars and conferences. Mass
media technologies can be exploited by broadcasting cultural programs focusing on
ASEAN and Japan. Finally the establishment of jointly funded ASEAN-Japan cultural
centers in each country will help coordinate the above activities. On the economic issue,
ASEAN countries and Japan have already established close ties.

We are aware that Japan remains one of the biggest and trading partners of most
ASEAN countries. Japan has played a big positive role in the industrialization of ASEAN
countries through aid technology transfer and foreign direct investment. As we become
more interdependent and closely linked, events such as the 1997-1998 financial crisis
will affect us a single entity. SARS also hindered business and investment decisions and
partnership earlier this year. Confronted by a tougher global economy, ASEAN countries
and Japan must enhance their economic and technical cooperation in order to sustain
development. ASEAN countries are in need of technological transfer and capital
infusion. In return, ASEAN countries can provide a valuable market fir Japanese
manufactured goods. Furthermore, ASEAN is a valuable source of natural resources and
an ideal location for Japanese companies to establish factories and outsource elements.

We still confront many economic problems like poverty, development gap, closed market
and others. The successful negotiation of an ASEAN-Japan Free Trade Area would make
the area more attractive as an investment zone, and it would reduce the cost for
manufacturers and consumers. We stress that we value sustainable development which
pays more attention to social development and environmental protection. Finally m,any
participants realize that trade is an ideal way for countries to raise living standards and
the welfare of their population.

On the issue of environment, all of us agreed that environment is a matter that ASEAN
countries and Japan relations must place great emphasis. Environmental problems such
as marine and air pollution are borderless. An oil spill off the coast of one country will
affect all neighboring countries. Pollution causes health problems, renders the land
unusable and costs government money to clean up. Hence, cooperation is needed to
resolve these problems. While rapid industrialization has led to economic growth in the
region, pollution is a negative side effect. Sustainable development and treating our
forests, animals and seas as a treasure to be inherited by the next generation is far
sighted policy we advocate. ASEAN countries and Japan must also look at alternative
use of energy and promote recycling, eco-tourism, exchanges of expertise,
standardization of environmental policies, proper waste disposal, reforestation and
others. Funding to support environmental management would sustain the growing youth
environmental awareness among the ASEAN countries and Japan. On matter of
education, we found that our educational systems are quite similar. Problems were cited
concerning certain limitations in facilities and the competence of some of the teachers.

Participants emphasized the importance of mass education and provision of free

education for the needy. Education, we firmly believe, must be relevant and accessible to
everyone. In a shrinking world, we saw the need for the importance of teaching English,
but with the condition that our own languages are also protected. This is the lingua
franca of today, and even in Nippon Maru, most of us communicate to each other using
English. Schools must train students in IT and the internet must become part of the
curriculum for all students.
The existing framework of the ASEAN University Network must be expanded to include
Japanese universities and deepen cooperation in more areas. We would like to see
further programs that deal with exchange of students among the ASEAN countries and
Japan, the inclusion of subjects about ASEAN and Japan in the curriculum and
additional scholarships for students. The youth of the different ASEAN countries and
Japan are plagued with myriad of challenges. We have drugs, juvenile delinquency,
poverty, unemployment, health problems, sex and labor exploitation among many others.

We propose that ASEAN countries and Japan must provide better programs for the
youth, including facilities to cater to the youth ﾁ fs interests, like sports and arts centers.
Concrete national and regional holistic policies for the youth must be crafted. Youth
empowerment must be pursued beyond lip service for the passion and the energy of the
youth can make important contributions to community and social service.

We also propose websites by and for the youth of ASEAN countries and Japan to
facilitate interaction. Corollary to that there should be more exchange programs for
better understanding among the ASEAN countries and Japan. Being participating youths
of this program, we understand the value of this. SSEAYP in its 30 years have been
successful in bringing future leaders of ASEAN and Japan closer.

The Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program is unique. It has given us the chance to find
unity within our diversity. We share the same dreams, we share the same problems, and
more often than not we offer the same tentative solutions. Most importantly, during our
time together, we have touched each other ﾁ fs hearts and lives. More than anytime in
history, we are all in the same ship and we all paddle down the same stream. We live in
an age of profound global change. ASEAN countries and Japan must act and advance
together. We sink or swim, we rise or fall, but never could we do everything alone.

The future relationship lies on mutual respect and a common understanding of the
challenges and prospects ahead. In closing, all the participating youths are excited to
forge ahead knowing that our relationship has been galvanized by our time on board the
Nippon Maru and in Japan. An investment in today's youth is a sound investment for the
present and the future.