Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship Drives Sustainability Agenda At Expo 2025 Osaka

From Samantha Tan

OSAKA, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s leadership as ASEAN Chair this year took centre stage at the Malaysia Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka, as regional and international experts voiced strong support for the country’s role in steering Southeast Asia’s sustainability agenda and driving the region’s energy transition.

Asia Pacific Institute of Research (APIR) senior research fellow and Kansai University's Professor Kenta Goto said Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair is 'perfectly timed' to rally the region towards green growth, sustainability and inclusive development.

He said ASEAN has a central role in tackling sustainability challenges, but progress depends on stronger collaboration across the region and with key partners such as Japan, China and Korea under the ASEAN+3 framework.

"Malaysia’s multicultural and multiracial background, its experience in overcoming challenges and strong relationships within ASEAN as well as with partners such as Japan and others, make it well placed to take on this leadership role," he said.

He was speaking to Malaysian media after the 'ASEAN Presents' panel discussion held at the Malaysia Pavilion in conjunction with Energy Week at the expo here today.

Goto said recognising and leveraging differences in national strengths will be the key to deeper ASEAN and Japan cooperation under the ASEAN+3 framework.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s director of Downstreaming Planning and International Economic Cooperation, Pande Nyuman Laksmi Kusumawati, underscored the urgency of aligning ASEAN Vision 2045 with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Climate change will directly impact the supply of our basic needs in society. Within ASEAN, the countries most affected by climate change are Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, and the risks of climate change will also bring significant economic impacts," she said.

Therefore, she said Indonesia has called for stronger ASEAN-wide collaboration to confront climate change, demographic shifts and economic pressures, stressing that the SDGs must remain the foundation of the region’s future.

She said in achieving the SDGs, the role of universities has become increasingly important as they play a crucial role through three core pillars, namely education, research and community service.

Echoing the call, Mercy Malaysia founder and executive director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Tan Sri Jemilah Mahmood, stressed that health and environment must underpin ASEAN’s development.

"Malaysia has set the model through the 13th Malaysia Plan and its upcoming National Planetary Health Action Plan (NPHAP). As ASEAN Chair, Malaysia can show how sustainability and wellbeing must move hand in hand," she said.

Meanwhile, Energy Commission (ST) chief executive officer Siti Safinah Salleh said Malaysia is positioning itself to attract new investments in green energy and transition fuels through partnerships, especially with Japanese companies.

"Our focus is on promoting green energy technologies that can bring investments into Malaysia, while encouraging more efficient energy use. Japan is well known for its sustainable practices, both in industries and among consumers, and we hope to learn from these experiences," she said.

Siti Safinah identified two priority areas for investment, namely green energy technologies such as biogas and waste-to-energy, where Japan is already highly advanced, as well as natural gas, which will remain a crucial transition fuel for Malaysia as it moves towards cleaner energy.

The Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has entered its 22nd week, which coincides with Energy Week (Sept 8-12).

The programme, led by the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (PETRA) and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES), showcases Malaysia’s initiatives in energy transition, including the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), ASEAN Power Grid and circular economy strategies.

Malaysia's participation at Expo 2025 Osaka, held for six months from April 13 to Oct 13, is spearheaded by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, and the theme for the Malaysia Pavilion is Weaving a Future in Harmony.

To date, Malaysia has recorded approximately RM15.6 billion in potential trade and investment at the expo, exceeding its target of RM13 billion.

-- BERNAMA