Message from Prime Minister Hashimoto to the People of Malaysia

A Prosperous, Stable, and Caring Future for All

Dear People of Malaysia,

It is indeed a pleasure to be able to start the New Year by visiting your country as you prepare to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Since its establishment in 1967, the ASEAN has played a vital role in promoting political stability and economic prosperity throughout the region. Japan as well has worked to contribute to peace and prosperity in Asia. In recent decades, this heart-to-heart cooperation with our neighbors has built the foundation that has made the entire region a world-class center of economic growth. The unmistakable success of ASEAN nations over the past 30 years is a source of great happiness for me and for all Japanese.

I believe that the coming years will give us many opportunities to work together even more closely: as partners to promote regional cooperation, and as friends to create an even more prosperous, stable, and mutually caring future for the entire region. Working together, we can build a better world for the next generation and beyond. I am looking forward with great pleasure to my visit to your country.

Ryutaro Hashimoto
Prime Minister of Japan

Malaysian researchers participate
in a Course for Prosthetic and
Orthotic Technicians as part of
the Look East Policy.

An Asian Perspective on Growth

The "Look East" Policy espoused by Prime Minister Mahathir is just one example of the kind of partnership we hope to promote. Nearly 5,000 technical trainees and students from Malaysia have participated in training programs and studied in Japanese businesses and educational institutions as part of the "Look East" Policy. Training programs in fields ranging from civil engineering and manufacturing to service industries offer participants an Asian perspective on both the work ethic and effective management principles.

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