Overview of the Forum 2004

Mr. Satoshi Iue, Representative Director of the Asia Pacific Forum, Awaji Conference Japan delivered an opening address, which was followed by presentations on keynote proposals by four different persons with Professor Shigeyuki Abe of the Faculty of Policy Studies, Doshisha University serving as the coordinator. First, Chairman of the Kobe Institute of Urban Research Kojiro Niino spoke on the subject "Damage Reduction, Human Resources and Urban Development and Crisis Management." Next, Editorial Writer and Osaka Resident Columnist of the Sankei Shimbun Keiko Chino gave a presentation on the subject "Overcoming wars and earthquakes." She was followed by Co-Founder, Member, Board of Trustees and Senior Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta Jusuf Wanandi, who spoke about "Strategic Developments in the East Asian Region." The last presenter, President and Chief Research Officer, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI) Masaru Yoshitomi, made a proposal entitled "Applying Key Lessons from the Asian Crisis to the Chinese Economy: Japan's Role."

After lunch, candid and vigorous discussions were held in the latter half of the forum, where the members offered their expert opinions with Associate Professor Koji Murata of the Faculty of Law, Doshisha University serving as the coordinator. Finally, in summarizing the two-day Awaji Conference, Professor Makoto Iokibe read out the preliminary draft of the "Awaji Conference Statement" which referred to the four fields of "Diplomatic Security," "Economic Security," "Domestic Security based on Disaster Reduction" and "Cultural Interchange and the Coexistence of Diverse Value Systems." The Conference was concluded after the draft was approved by all the members.