ASEAN and Japan strengthen sports cooperation for a prosperous and sustainable community

VHO - On the morning of October 17, under the co-chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong and Mr. Junichi Kawai, Council Member of the Japan Sports Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, the 5th ASEAN + Japan Sports Ministers Meeting was held in Hanoi.

This is one of the activities within the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports and related meetings in 2025.

Overview of the Conference

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong emphasized that in the context of the world facing many challenges, the role of sports is becoming increasingly important. Sports is not only a means to improve health and physical fitness but also a bridge connecting people, promoting mutual understanding and solidarity. Sports is a common language, regardless of nationality, skin color or religion.

Over the past six decades, ASEAN has grown steadily and achieved many proud achievements. Sports have played an essential role in building an ASEAN Community that is comprehensive, people-centered, promoting good regional values, and increasingly valuing the spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation.

The Deputy Minister also affirmed that the cooperation relationship between ASEAN and Japan in the field of sports has been strengthened and developed over the years. Through cooperation programs, we have jointly implemented many meaningful projects, contributing to improving the level of sports in the region, especially in exchanging knowledge and sharing cooperation for mutual development in areas of community interests such as gender equality, sports for people with disabilities, school sports and sustainable development goals through sports.

Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong presented a paper at the Conference

The documents and materials that the two sides have reviewed over the past four ASEAN + Japan Sports Ministers Meetings have shown remarkable efforts in implementing cooperation between ASEAN and its Japanese counterpart. However, we need to recognize that there is still much to be done to make sports truly a driving force for sustainable and inclusive development.

As the host and co-chair of the 5th ASEAN + Japan Sports Ministers Meeting, Vietnam pledges to continue to do its utmost to promote regional cooperation and regional cooperation with Japan, contributing to building a strong and prosperous community. Vietnam also hopes to continue to receive support and active cooperation from ASEAN member countries and its Japanese partner.

The ASEAN-Japan partnership has developed strongly, comprehensively and increasingly deeply in many fields, in which sports - a meaningful cooperation channel, contributing to promoting people-to-people exchanges, enhancing understanding, friendship and regional cohesion. Through the ASEAN-Japan cooperation framework on sports, many programs and projects have been implemented, becoming the foundation for ASEAN-Japan cohesion in a peaceful , prosperous and sustainably developed community.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong said that Japan is a country with advanced sports, professional organization model and comprehensive training system. ASEAN has learned and absorbed many valuable experiences from Japan in sports development, especially in the fields of applying high technology in training and competition; developing school sports; building a professional sports system and sports economy; enhancing gender equality, integration and developing sports for people with disabilities.

Strengthening Sports Cooperation between ASEAN and Japan

On behalf of ASEAN countries, thanking Japan for its effective cooperation with ASEAN countries in recent times, the Deputy Minister believes that with the spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation for mutual development, the 5th ASEAN - Japan Sports Ministers Meeting will continue to be an important milestone in consolidating and enhancing the strategic partnership between ASEAN and Japan in the field of sports.

"As an active member of ASEAN, Vietnam always attaches importance to and strongly supports sports cooperation initiatives between ASEAN and Japan. Vietnam has coordinated to organize many sports exchange programs, young athlete exchanges, seminars on sports management and sustainable sports development, and at the same time, promoted sports programs for all, focusing on community health, in line with the comprehensive development philosophy that Japan has pioneered," said the Deputy Minister.

He also expressed that Vietnam wishes to continue to cooperate closely with Japan and ASEAN countries in the fields of developing school and community sports; applying digital technology and artificial intelligence in sports; promoting the exchange of experts, coaches and young athletes; developing green and sustainable sports, adapting to climate change and regional development orientation.

In the context of a rapidly changing world, the Deputy Minister emphasized that ASEAN-Japan sports cooperation needs to move towards new, sustainable and adaptive values, continuing to prioritize a number of ASEAN-Japan sports cooperation orientations in the coming time, including promoting research cooperation and sports technology transfer, especially in the fields of e-sports, sports data and sports medicine.

Strengthen the ASEAN-Japan youth sports exchange program, especially the exchange of young athletes in Japan's strong sports, creating opportunities for the young generations of both sides to understand and connect further; cooperate in developing school sports; develop sports for sustainable development, linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; promote sports for people with disabilities and gender equality, taking the spirit of "No one is left behind" as the motto for action.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/asean-va-nhat-ban-tang-cuong-hop-tac-the-thao-vi-mot-cong-dong-thinh-vuong-ben-vung-175269.html