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JAPAN is looking to strengthen its ties with Malaysia and other ASEAN member states on regional security, economic resilience, and green technology as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi prepares for her first official visit to Kuala Lumpur for the 47th ASEAN Summit.
The visit coincides with Malaysia’s chairmanship of the annual summit and underscores Tokyo’s commitment to ASEAN amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata said Takaichi’s visit would highlight Japan’s continued support for ASEAN centrality and Malaysia’s leadership this year.
“Prime Minister Takaichi’s visit will be an opportunity to discuss shared priorities and reaffirm Japan’s support for Malaysia’s role in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview.
Shikata said Japan is particularly focused on security concerns in the South China Sea and East China Sea and hopes to explore collaboration with Malaysia on maritime security, economic resilience, green transition, and humanitarian affairs.
“Japan and Malaysia are also expected to exchange views on maintaining freedom of navigation and upholding international law in addressing maritime disputes,” he added.
Japan is seeking to expand cooperation with Malaysia in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and rare earths.
“We will be very interested in upgrading our industrial cooperation in strategic sectors like semiconductors, AI and rare earths. Takaichi has served as minister in charge of economic security previously,” said Shikata.
The ambassador also highlighted Japan’s interest in green investments in Sarawak, including hydrogen initiatives and renewable energy projects under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC).
“Japanese companies have a number of green technologies that can be applied in Sarawak. We need to come up with new ways of making use of green energy more efficiently and effectively,” he said.
Shikata noted that Japan has a long history of technology transfer to Malaysia, citing partnerships from Mitsubishi Motors with Proton to Daihatsu’s joint venture with Perodua.
“For more than four decades, Japanese firms have transferred technologies to Malaysia… creating skilled local jobs and long-term industrial capacity,” he said.
Emerging cooperation also includes AI-driven urban mobility solutions, such as the Mobi on-demand transport service piloted in Kuala Lumpur, which Japan hopes to expand across Malaysia and ASEAN.
“Together with ASEAN, we are determined to co-create our economy and society of the future,” said Shikata.
The 47th ASEAN Summit, running from October 26 to 28, will bring together leaders from all 10 ASEAN nations and key dialogue partners, including Japan, the United States, China, South Korea, and Australia.
Japan and Malaysia are expected to finalise a Joint Crediting Mechanism to facilitate Japanese green investments and ensure stable energy supply, including carbon capture and ammonia power generation projects.
Takaichi, 64, made history as Japan’s first female prime minister, winning 237 votes in the 465-seat Lower House and forming a coalition government with the Japan Innovation Party. She will meet Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in bilateral talks during her visit.
Shikata said the visit signals Tokyo’s broader intent to co-create a sustainable, innovation-driven economy with ASEAN. “Prime Minister Takaichi's main message to ASEAN is that Japan and ASEAN must become stronger and more prosperous together,” he said. - October 25, 2025
