While the world has strengthened its orientation toward regionalism concurrently with its orientation toward globalism, only East Asia has failed to catch up with the trend towards regionalism. Also what draws our attention is the fact that Japan, which should have taken a leadership in these efforts within the region, has failed to do so. Recently however, and especially since the Asian economic crisis of 1997, a number of visible initiatives have been taken to strengthen the framework of regional cooperation in East Asia as a whole.

　

It is against this background of strengthening regional cooperation in East Asia that The Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR) decided to embark upon a three-year special project "Japan in Asia: What Should We Do?" This year focused on Japan's dialogue with the rest of Asia on the possibilities and perspectives of "Asia as a Political System" and next year will focus on "Asia as an Economic System". In both cases, we hope to implement this research project through the exchange of messages between Japan and the rest of Asia, or in other words, by way of a "dialogue with Asia."

　

This year the Japanese Study Group headed by Professor Shiraishi held "research meetings", and made "field trips to countries in Asia," and published the Report "Japan in Asia: What Should We Do?" (as printed herein). An international workshop was organized to put the finishing touches to this "dialogue with Asia." Professor Zhang Yunling, Director of the Institute of Asia Pacific Studies. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Kim Woosang, Professor at Yonsei University, Korea, and Professor Panitan Wattanayagorn, Professor at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, participated in the workshop as the panelists from Asia.

　

At the workshop, after three Asian panelists presented their responses to the Study Group's Report on "Japan in Asia: What Should We Do?" 109 participants on the floor of the workshop including members of JFIR, joined discussions on the topic. This report intends to summarize the achievements of these discussions. Though a printed version of the report will be made available to only a restricted number of people such as members of JFIR, a full text of the report will be available on the website of JFIR (http://www.jfir.or.jp)

　

We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to The Nippon Foundation which generously supported the workshop and The Yomiuri Shimbun which co-sponsored the workshop.

　

　

January 27th, 2003, at Rainbow Hall (4F) in Hotel Kaiyo

Supported by The Nippon Foundation

Sponsored by The Japan Forum on International Relations

Co-sponsored by The Yomiuri Shimbun