Islamabad, Mar. 9 (INP): “Japan and South Asia relations: Toward the more inclusive and sustainable future” (Wednesday, 16 March 2022) This year, Japan celebrates the anniversaries with the seven countries in South Asia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has designated 2022 as “Japan-Southwest Asia Exchange Year” with the aim of taking Japan’s relations with the countries of Southwest Asia to new heights. https://www.mofa.go.jp/s_sa/sw/page24e_000326.html The Ministry takes this opportunity to organize a webinar titled “Japan-South Asia relations: Toward the more inclusive and sustainable future” to discuss and think the relations between Japan and South Asia in coming years, with the participation of the panelists from the 7 countries in South Asia. Two Pakistani panelists also participate the webinar.

Date: Wednesday, 16 March 2022 Time: JST 15:00-17:30+ Pakistan: 11:00-13:30+ Language: English (English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation available for Japanese audience) Registration required:　 https://forms.gle/V6S6oGdCxsCsWn4d8 Closing date for registration: Sunday, 8:00pm on 13 March 2022 (PST) ★Webinar URL will be sent to the registered e-mail address by the previous day of the webinar. In case the URL would not be received, please check the junk mail box.

<Programme> Opening of the webinar Welcome Remarks (Video message) by Mr. HONDA Taro, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan

Session 1: Japan-South Asia relations: past, present, and future ◆Moderator: Ms. MURAYAMA Mayumi, Executive Vice-President, Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO) ◆Panelists 〇Bangladesh: Dr. Delwar Hossain, Director, East Asia Center, University of Dhaka 〇Bhutan: Hon. Dasho Karma Ura, President, Centre for Bhutan Studies and GNH Studies 〇India: Prof. Srabani Roychoudhury, Centre for East Asian Studies, JNU 〇Maldives: Mr. Ibrahim Hood, Secretary, Foreign Relations, The President’s Office 〇Nepal: Ms. Amira Dali, President, Love Green Nepal 〇Pakistan: Mr. Qamar Abbas Cheema, Lecturer, National University of Modern Languages 〇Sri Lanka: Senior Professor H.D. Karunaratne, University of Colombo

Session 2: Japan-South Asia: joint action for the future ◆Moderator: Prof. ISAKA Riho, the University of Tokyo ◆Panelists 〇Sri Lanka: Ms. Shayari De Silva, Curator, Art and Archival Collections, Geoffery Bawa Trust 〇Pakistan: Mr. Rehan Adamjee, Deputy Director, Strategy, Planning & Growth, Vital Pakistan 〇Nepal: Mr. Bhushan Dahal, Executive Director, Kids of Kathmandu 〇Maldives: Ms. Fathmath Fazleena Fakir, Managing Director, Business Center Corporation Limited 〇India: Dr. Titli Basu, Associate Fellow, East Asia Centre, IDSA 〇Bhutan: Hon. Phuntsho Rapten, Member, National Council 〇Bangladesh: Mr. Tahsan Khan, Singer-songwriter and actor

Wrap-up of the webinar by Prof. HORIMOTO Takenori, Visiting Professor, Gifu Women’s University

Closing of the webinar