summary
Date: Friday, September 16, 2022
Organized by: JICA Alumni Association of Cambodia
Location: Cambodia-Japan Human Resources Development Center
Main participants: Mr. Shinichi Kitaoka, JICA Special Advisor, Mr. Chin Malin, Minister of Justice (President of JICA Alumni Association of Cambodia), Mr. Pau Polinel, Director General of Civil Aviation (Vice President of JICA Alumni Association of Cambodia), Dr. Chet Chearey, President of Royal Phnom Penh University, Dr. Om Ravi, Vice President, etc.
Background and Objectives
On Friday, September 16, 2022, JICA Special Advisor Shinichi Kitaoka (former JICA President) gave a “JICA Chair Special Lecture” to about 80 participants at the “Japan Alumni Association Special Forum” organized by the JICA Alumni Association of Cambodia.
The JICA Alumni Association of Cambodia was established in 2012 by former JICA program participants and returnee trainees, and has been holding alumni meetings on a regular basis. This time, a special forum was held with special advisor Mr. Kitaoka as a special guest speaker.
Many of the participants had studied in Japan before, and they enjoyed exchanges with each other as they reminisced about their time in Japan. Some participants who plan to study in Japan this fall also participated, providing an opportunity to raise their expectations for studying in Japan. After Special Advisor Kitaoka’s lecture, lively discussions continued, and the event closed with a great deal of excitement.
Program Content
Opening Remarks Chet Chearey, President, Royal University of Phnom Penh
Welcome remarks by Mr. Chin Malin, Secretary of the Ministry of Justice (President of JICA Alumni Association of Cambodia)
JICA Chair Special Lecture “Contemporary Japanese Diplomacy and Southeast Asia” by Special Advisor Kitaoka
question and answer session
Greetings from JICA students for the 2022 academic year
Summary of Keynote Speech and Q&A Session
At the beginning of the lecture, he touched on the historical changes in the interpretation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution and emphasized that the UN peacekeeping operation in Cambodia, the first overseas deployment of the Self Defense Forces, provided an opportunity for Japan to expand its role in the international community. He also explained that Japan has consistently respected the sovereignty and independence of its partner countries and has continued to cooperate with them in areas including peacebuilding, health, and medical services, citing examples of cooperation with Cambodia. He concluded his presentation by stating that the role of Southeast Asia, which has been achieving significant development, has become increasingly important in recent years and that the concept of the “Western Pacific Alliance” proposed by Special Advisor Kitaoka is significant for peace and equality in the region, including Southeast Asia, and that Japan, as a public intellectuals (intellectuals who also play a public role), is committed to free and vigorous intellectual exchange and the fostering of human connections. He encouraged the participants to continue fostering free and vigorous intellectual exchange and human connections as public intellectuals.
After the lecture, lively discussions continued, with participants asking a wide range of questions, including about security relations between Cambodia and the U.S., differences between ASEAN and the “Western Pacific Union,” and what young Cambodian administrators should do to promote domestic reforms in light of Japan’s modernization.
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