Abstract of the International Symposium (August 1 , 2003)

The International Symposium was opened with greetings from Dr.Satoshi Iue, Representative Director of Awaji Conference, successively followed by a welcome tribute from Governor Toshizo Ido of Hyogo Prefecture, and a commemorative lecture by Mr.Edward Zeng, Chairman and CEO of Sparkice Inc., on the theme of "Asia’s Rise -as Global Economy’s New Driver-."

In the lecture, Mr.Zeng proposed an "e-Asia action plan" as a policy measure for Asia to develop as a world-leading region in the 21st century.

In the latter half of the Symposium, Professor Shigeyuki Abe of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies of Kyoto University served as moderator for a discussion between Mr.Zeng and Dr.Yoneo Ishii, President of Kanda University of International Studies on the theme of "Information and Human Exchange in the Asia Pacific Region".

The Symposium venue received Their Excellencies Ambassadors of Pakistan and Kazakhstan in Japan, as well as 52 Forum members, who listened to the discussion with keen interest. Many questions were presented in the question-and-answer session after the discussion, attesting to the great general interest in IT.