Japan-Malaysia Association (JMA) held its 18th JMA Seminar on 19 November 2008 at the Parliamentary Museum Hall, Tokyo on the theme ?Reforestation and Global Environment?. Four speakers representing four different spheres i.e. government, international organization, academia and business industry shared their views on the topic. The speakers were Mr. Amha Buang, Assistant Director of International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO); Mr. Hiroshi Ono, Director of Global Environment Research Office, Ministry of Environment of Japan; Mr. Naoya Kinoshita, President/COE of Kinoshita Koumuten Group; and Dr. Yohei Harashima, Associate Professor at the Faculty of International Studies, Takushoku University, Japan. Acknowledging that environment degradation has become a serious cause for concern, the speakers agreed that efforts towards mitigating its impact must involve every segment of the society.
At the opening of the Seminar, Dato? Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahman, Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan and Mr. Takeo Hiranuma, Chairman of JMA who is also Chairman of Japan-Malaysia Parliamentarians? Friendship League (JMPFL) and former METI Minister were invited to offer their remarks. Looking at the theme from the Malaysian perspective, Dato? Radzi emphasized that as a developing country, Malaysia was always mindful of the need to balance economic growth with environmental protection. He took the opportunity to outline policies and measures implemented by the Government of Malaysia in line with the country?s commitment to sustainable forest management and the preservation of the environment. He reminded the participants not to gloss over the more serious issues of emission of CO² particularly by the major industrialized nations as well as the danger of proliferation of nuclear weapons that could have devastating consequences not only on the global environment but also a serious threat to the planet and the survival of mankind. He also underlined that Malaysia was and would continue to be an active player in multilateral and bilateral efforts in the pursuit of safe and clean global environment.
The seminar attracted about 250 local participants and members of the diplomatic corps.
