Special Lecture by Ambassador Shikata at Asia-Europe Institute (AEI), Universiti Malaya
2026/10/30
On 29 October 2026, H.E. Mr. SHIKATA Noriyuki, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, delivered a lecture entitled "Navigating the Indo-Pacific Horizon: The Evolution of Japan–Malaysia Strategic Ties Under the Updated FOIP" at the Asia-Europe Institute (AEI), Universiti Malaya.
In his lecture, Ambassador SHIKATA highlighted the growing strategic convergence between Japan and Malaysia and outlined the future direction of bilateral relations following their elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2023. He also highlighted the complementarity and synergies between Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), underscoring the importance of close cooperation between Japan and Malaysia in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Ambassador SHIKATA stressed the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of areas, including economic security, energy transition, digitalisation, maritime security, people-to-people exchanges and education. He also highlighted recent developments in bilateral cooperation, including security cooperation through Japan's Official Security Assistance (OSA), efforts to enhance energy resilience through POWERR Asia and AZEC 2.0, business-to-business collaboration in AI and semiconductors, and the development of human resources through the University of Tsukuba Malaysia and MJIIT 2.0.
In closing, Ambassador SHIKATA expressed his hope for further strengthening bilateral cooperation under the anniversary theme of "Enriching Each Other, Creating Together," looking ahead to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Malaysia.
In his lecture, Ambassador SHIKATA highlighted the growing strategic convergence between Japan and Malaysia and outlined the future direction of bilateral relations following their elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2023. He also highlighted the complementarity and synergies between Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), underscoring the importance of close cooperation between Japan and Malaysia in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Ambassador SHIKATA stressed the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of areas, including economic security, energy transition, digitalisation, maritime security, people-to-people exchanges and education. He also highlighted recent developments in bilateral cooperation, including security cooperation through Japan's Official Security Assistance (OSA), efforts to enhance energy resilience through POWERR Asia and AZEC 2.0, business-to-business collaboration in AI and semiconductors, and the development of human resources through the University of Tsukuba Malaysia and MJIIT 2.0.
In closing, Ambassador SHIKATA expressed his hope for further strengthening bilateral cooperation under the anniversary theme of "Enriching Each Other, Creating Together," looking ahead to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Malaysia.