The success of Japan's proposal for a comprehensive economic partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations depends greatly on Tokyo's "strong interest and capacity to assist ASEAN's industrial upgrading and competitiveness," said Hank Lim, director for research with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
"Japan can play a critical and vital role in East Asian regional economic cooperation," Lim told the April 14 symposium. "Specifically, Japan can do much more in upgrading ASEAN and in providing East Asian 'public goods,' manifested in technical, financial assistance and capacity-building, for regional cooperation and to create a regional equilibrium in economics and security."
Like his fellow panelists at the seminar, Lim discussed Japan's role in the region in light of China's rising economic power and its initiative for a broad partnership with ASEAN.