ERIA Convenes AZEC Parliamentary Leaders and ASEAN-BAC to Advance Regional Economic Co-operation

Manila, 1 May 2026: ERIA co-hosted a high-level meeting between the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Parliamentary League and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), bringing together political leaders and business representatives to strengthen regional co-operation.

The AZEC Parliamentary League delegation was led by Fumio Kishida and included Koichi Hagiuda, Chairman of the ERIA Parliamentary League, and Ken Saito, Chairman of the AZEC Parliamentary League, along with other distinguished members and representatives from Japanese companies, during their official visit to Manila.

ERIA facilitated engagement with ASEAN's private sector by convening business leaders from the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, led by Council Members George Barcelon and Michael Tan, and Executive Director Patrick Chua, alongside other ASEAN-BAC members.

The discussion was led by the ERIA President, Tetsuya Watanabe, who guided exchanges between the Japanese delegation and ASEAN business leaders. Discussions focused on key regional priorities, including energy security, supply chain resilience, and co-operation on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), reflecting shared interests in strengthening economic resilience and advancing sustainable growth across the region.