2-3 June 2023 – Representing the Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan, Mr Anwar Udzir, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Malaysia together with other ASEAN Heads of Mission in Tokyo, attended the Hiroshima-ASEAN Association Conference in Hiroshima, Japan. The conference was held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Hiroshima-ASEAN Association.
During the conference, a short pre-recorded remarks by H.E. Mr Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan was presented. The Prime Minister underlined, among other, the efforts by the Government of Japan to strengthen the spirit of long-lasting partnership between Japan and ASEAN, including the establishment of the ASEAN association at prefectural level such as in Hiroshima.
During the two-day programme, The ASEAN delegation had the opportunity to call on H.E. Mr Hidehiko Yuzaki, Governor of Hiroshima; H.E. Mr Takashi Nakamoto, Chairman of Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly; and H.E. Mr Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima City. The delegation visited Mazda Museum, Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, Grand Prince Hotel where the recent G7 Hiroshima Summit was held, and the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome. The delegation also had a chance to present wreaths and prayers for peace at the Cenotaph of the Atomic Bomb at the Peace Memorial Museum.
The ASEAN Committee in Tokyo (ACT) achieved a historic moment when, for the first time, the 316th ACT Meeting was conducted in Hiroshima, diverging from its usual location in Tokyo. The meeting was presided over by H.E. Hj. Shahbudin Hj. Musa, the Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Japan, who served as the present Chairman of the ACT.
Since its inception, the Hiroshima-ASEAN Association has carried out a wide variety of activities in close cooperation with local industries and organizations, including but not limited to promotion of trade and investment, tourism as well as people-to-people interaction.