JICA and GRIPS Co-Host the Commemorative Forum of the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation

On November 21, the forum commenced with opening remarks by Professor Takashi Shiraishi, President of GRIPS. On the subject of leadership and management in Asia, the representatives of Japan and the four ASEAN states—Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam—presented the administrative reforms of their respective countries, discussing key issues including policy innovation, and organizational capacity.

On November 22, a public forum to commemorate the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation was held on the theme of “Innovating Policies to Open the Future of Asia; A Paradigm Shift on Administrative Reforms.&rdquo

Subsequently Professor Emeritus Ikujiro Nonaka of Hitotsubashi University gave a keynote presentation entitled “Wise Leadership for Knowledge Society.” In his speech, he pointed out the qualifications for good leaders and the importance of practical wisdom, with showcasing various examples. Two panel sessions followed his presentation.
Professor Emeritus Nonaka led the discussion with two panelists in Session 1 on the theme of “Foster Wise Leadership to Inspire Organizations and Communities.” First Mr. Mom Rajawangse Disnadda Diskul, Secretary General of Mae Fah Luang Foundation under the Royal Patronage of Thailand, gave a presentation on environment-friendly and independent sustainable development, with an example of an agricultural project in northern Thailand. Secondly Professor Ta Ngoc Tan, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration of Vietnam, introduced a human resources development program in view of Professor Nonaka’s idea, drawing on a state-owned mobile phone company as an example of good practice in Vietnam. In this session, the definition of “good leaders” was presented as those who listen to others’ opinions, make others think, and possess practical wisdom.