Okinawa Prefectural Government
Mar. 14 Symposium (hybrid) “Creating Peace and the Future of the Asia-Pacific Region through Exchange and Dialogue”
2023.03.08
Symposium hosted by the Okinawa Prefectural Government:
"Creating Peace and the Future of the Asia-Pacific Region through Exchange and Dialogue"
to be held on March 14, 2023
- Exploring the Possibility of Peace Building in the Asia-Pacific Region from Okinawa as a Peace Hub -
Naha, Okinawa (March 8, 2023) - The Okinawa Prefectural Government announced that a symposium titled “Creating Peace and the Future of the Asia-Pacific Region through Exchange and Dialogue" will be held in a hybrid format, in Naha, Okinawa and streamed live online on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The symposium will feature a keynote speech and a panel discussion by domestic and international experts and intellectuals from various fields, such as political science and historical science. The main topic of the event will be the importance of Okinawa’s role in reducing tensions and building trust in the Asia-Pacific region through regional diplomacy using Okinawa’s soft power, such as a peaceful dialogue, friendship exchange and cross-cultural exchange instead of military deterrence.
In 2022, the Okinawa Prefecture marked the 50th anniversary of its return to Japan after 27 years of U.S. rule. In commemoration of the milestone anniversary, the Okinawa Prefectural Government has been implementing 42 of “the 50th Anniversary of Reversion Projects” since 2022 and this symposium will be held as one of these anniversary projects toward the realization of a peaceful and prosperous Okinawa.
“As the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region surrounding Okinawa becomes increasingly unstable, I believe that there is a greater need than ever to reduce tensions and build trust through peaceful diplomacy and dialogue among the nations concerned in the Asia-Pacific region as well as the understanding and actions of individual citizens to support these measures”, said Denny Tamaki, the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in his policy speech at the Okinawa prefectural assembly on February 14, 2023.
This symposium aims to disseminate information and raise public awareness about the importance of reducing tensions and building trust through peaceful dialogue and exchange in the Asia-Pacific region, and to deepen the understanding and engagement of as many people as possible.
The event will consist of a keynote speech and a virtual panel discussion by domestic and international experts and intellectuals. The first part will feature a keynote speech about Okinawa’s international position and future role by Masashi Takahashi, a former Japanese diplomat and an expert in cultural and public relations, economic partnership with foreign countries and Japan-bound tourism. The second part will include a panel discussion on the main topic of “The Importance of Cooperation and Potential between Okinawa and the Asia-Pacific Region”. Four experts from China, Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines in various fields, such as international politics, political science and historical science will be invited to join the discussion. The panel session will be moderated by Mr. Takahashi and will feature a panel consisting of Youngseo Baik, Professor Emeritus of Chinese Modern History at Yonsei University in Korea, Ge Sun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in China (virtual participation), Chun-Fang Wu, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Oceanic Culture of National Taiwan Ocean University and Aries A. Arugay, Professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman (virtual participation). The panel will explore the ideas of the possibilities for international cooperation and collaboration within the Asia-Pacific region and what Okinawa can and should do as a peace hub from the perspective of both local governments and citizens to realize a peaceful Okinawa and contribute to building stability in the region.
The symposium will take place both physically at Naha-city Bunka Tenbusu in Okinawa as well as virtually. The event is open to the public for free. Advance registration is required online at https://okinawasympo-0314.
*Okinawa Prefecture Government's official YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@
<Symposium Outline>
■ Date & Time: Tuesday, March 14, 2023 6:30pm-8:55pm
■ Venue: Naha-city Bunka Tenbusu | Live Stream
■ Admission: Free
■ Capacity: In-person attendees 200 people | Virtual attendees 400 people
■ Available Language: Japanese
■ How to register: Advance registration is required. (Registration is first-come, first-serve basis.)
Please make online registrations at https://okinawasympo-0314.
■Organizer: Okinawa Prefectural Government
*Programs and speakers are subject to change without notice.
<Profiles of a Speaker and Panelists> *listed in random order
Masashi Takahashi is a former Japanese diplomat and an expert in the field of cultural and public relations, economic partnership with foreign countries and Japan-bound tourism. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1989. As a diplomat, he was mainly in charge of cultural and public relations to promote Japan overseas as well as holding positions at Japanese Embassies and Consulates-General of Japan in several countries including Papua New Guinea and Germany. He had also been involved in the registration of various UNESCO World Heritage Sites and SDGs-related work at UN agencies. He is currently an advisor of Japan Organization for Regional Globalization.
Youngseo Baik is Professor Emeritus of Chinese Modern History at Yonsei University and Chairperson of Segyo Institute in Seoul, Korea. He obtained his Ph.D. from Seoul National University. His major publications are as follows: East Asia as Intellectual Thought: History and Practices from the Perspective of the Korean Peninsula (Beijing, 2011); The Way to Symbiosis and Core Locations: East Asia as Project (Tokyo, 2016); East Asia from the Horizontal Viewpoint (Taipei, 2016).
Ge Sun is currently a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and a visiting professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University School of Japanese and International Studies. She received her Ph.D. in Law and Politics from Tokyo Metropolitan University. For many years, she has been involved in the study of the history of Japanese political thought and has promoted in-depth dialogue with intellectuals in the East Asian region.
Chun-Fang Wu is Assistant Professor at the Institute of Oceanic Culture of National Taiwan Ocean University in Taiwan. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from Seoul National University. She has been carefully observing the peace process between China and Taiwan, and the role of Quemoy as a peace promotion medium.
Aries A. Arugay is Professor and Department Chair of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Georgia State University. As a practitioner of track II diplomacy, he has experience working as a visiting scholar in several countries including Japan, Korea, and Australia.
Please note that media registration is required to attend the symposium either in-person or virtually at https://okinawasympo-0314.
For media or press-related inquiries, please contact the administrative office by email.
<Media Contact>
Fumihiko Nakano | Kanae Yamamoto
Administrative Office for “Project for Promotion of Peace Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region”
(The Japan Travel Bureau Foundation)
Phone:03-5770-8430
Email: okinawa.sympo.0314@jtb.or.jp