ASEAN TO SHOWCASE REGIONAL COOPERATION, DIVERSITY AT WORLD EXPO 2025 IN OSAKA

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- ASEAN will participate in the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, from April 13 to Oct 13, next year, aiming to highlight the region’s collaborative efforts and showcase its vibrant cultural and economic diversity, according to the ASEAN Secretariat.

ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for Corporate and Community Affairs, Nararya Soeprapto, emphasised that the expo presents a unique opportunity for the region to share its story of unity, progress, and sustainability with a global audience.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors to the ASEAN Pavilion, where they can explore our rich cultural heritage, economic achievements, and our commitment to a sustainable, shared future,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

As the Commissioner-General of ASEAN's pavilion at the expo, he revealed that the pavilion will showcase a wide array of exhibits, interactive displays, cultural performances, and thematic programmes that highlight the region's strengths and aspirations.

These include efforts to promote connection and cooperation over division, with the theme “Building Bridges”. 

According to the secretariat, the ASEAN pavilion’s participation aligns with the World Expo 2025 theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” which aims to address pressing global challenges.

The pavilion’s presence at the event will be supported through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), participation from member states including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The World Expo, held every five years, provides a global platform for nations to collaborate and explore innovative solutions to shared challenges.

ASEAN previously participated in Expo 2020 in Dubai, where its pavilion attracted over 300,000 visitors.

The ASEAN Secretariat, established on Feb 24, 1976, works to improve coordination among ASEAN’s bodies and ensure the effective implementation of its projects and activities. Its creation aimed to enhance the efficiency of the organisation’s operations.

-- BERNAMA