Japan Proposes Co-hosting Asia Zero Emission Community Summit with the Philippines

Islamabad (ANTARA) – Japan on Tuesday proposed co-hosting an Asia Zero Emission Community summit with the Philippines to strengthen regional energy cooperation amid the crisis in the Middle East.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made the proposal during a 20-minute telephone conversation with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Takaichi stressed the importance of strengthening economic and energy resilience through cooperation among countries in the region.

She also said Japan was ready to work with the Philippines, which holds the ASEAN chairmanship this year, ahead of a series of ASEAN summit meetings scheduled for November.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Marcos welcomed the initiative and expressed Manila’s readiness to work together on preparations for the upcoming meetings.

The two leaders also reviewed bilateral relations and welcomed progress across various sectors since Marcos’s state visit to Japan last May.

The ministry said they agreed to continue working together to promote regional peace and stability.

Launched under Japan’s leadership in 2023, the Asia Zero Emission Community is a regional initiative aimed at accelerating decarbonisation while ensuring energy security and economic growth.

The framework includes Japan, Australia and nine Southeast Asian countries, and promotes clean energy investment, technological cooperation and pathways to net-zero emissions.

The initiative recognises that countries have different circumstances and supports a range of approaches to reducing carbon emissions while maintaining reliable energy supplies.