In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Look East Policy (LEP), an International Seminar focusing on the sustainability and achievement of the LEP organized by the Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, University of Malaya was held at Putrajaya Marriott Hotel on 23 June 2012. Through this Seminar, concerned parties reflected on the past 30 years of the LEP’s implementation and brainstormed to generate new ideas to further improve ties and cooperation between the countries in the future.

    Embassy of Japan supported the seminar, and JACTIM also provided financial help to the Seminar.

    Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who initiated the LEP in 1982, delivered his keynote speech entitled “30 Years of Look East Policy: Sustainability and Achievement”. The 1-day seminar also included a forum session and parallel sessions examining the three main aspects of Economic & Policy, Human Resources Development and Education. Of the 16 paper presenters, ten of them are Japanese presenters, of which four are youth scholars from the JENESYS programme, while two are prominent professors on Malaysian studies.