Japan and Malaysia to Co-Host CEAPAD IV: A Strategic Platform for Palestine’s Long-Term Development
KUALA LUMPUR, July 7, 2025 (Voice of Malaysia)— Japan views the upcoming Fourth Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) as a vital and strategic platform to strengthen Palestine’s capacity building and sustainable development, moving beyond immediate humanitarian relief.
Scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur this Friday, the conference will be held alongside the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related gatherings. CEAPAD IV will be co-hosted by Japan and Malaysia.
Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, Noriyuki Shikata, emphasized in an exclusive interview with Bernama that CEAPAD stands out from other international forums by prioritizing long-term solutions—focusing on institutional resilience, economic self-reliance, and education for the Palestinian people.
“While the situation in Palestine is often addressed in political or humanitarian terms, CEAPAD focuses on what comes after — on rebuilding lives through capacity building and institutional strengthening,” he said.
Japan has long collaborated with key international bodies like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the World Bank to support Palestine’s institutional development. Ambassador Shikata noted that CEAPAD complements these efforts by incorporating East Asian expertise into the development agenda.
As the founding country of CEAPAD in 2013, Japan remains deeply committed to the initiative, especially amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“Given the scale of devastation, it is crucial that we help the Palestinian people rebuild with dignity. Malaysia has been a consistent CEAPAD participant since the beginning, and we value this shared commitment to the Palestinian cause,” he added.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya is expected to attend CEAPAD IV during his visit to Malaysia for the ASEAN meetings.
Malaysia’s active role in CEAPAD since its inception underscores its longstanding support for the Palestinian cause. The first CEAPAD conference, held in Tokyo and co-hosted by Japan and Palestine, marked the beginning of East Asian cooperation on Palestinian development—with Malaysia as one of its founding members.
Ambassador Shikata also highlighted potential opportunities for triangular cooperation between Japan, Malaysia, and Palestine in areas such as human resource development and training.
“For example, if Palestinian evacuees come to Malaysia, we may be able to support training programmes to help them prepare for the future,” he said, stressing the importance of education and skills-building for long-term peace and stability.
He further noted that CEAPAD serves as a bridge between East Asia and the Middle East—aligning regional resources and expertise with Palestine’s development needs.
Japan’s approach to development, he concluded, is rooted in the belief that durable peace must be built upon strong institutions and inclusive economic growth—goals that CEAPAD directly aims to achieve.
Japan’s engagement with ASEAN spans more than five decades, having become ASEAN’s first dialogue partner in 1973. Over the years, the partnership has deepened, culminating in the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023—reaffirming Japan’s support for ASEAN centrality across political, economic, and socio-cultural domains.