TOKYO: Malaysia is seeking to get Japan's expertise to elevate cybersecurity standards in the region.
Speaking in the opening session of the Japan-Asean Summit, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged Japan's expertise in cyberspace and hopes to foster more collaborations between the Asean region and Japan to tighten cybersecurity.
"With the expansion of the digital landscape, cyber threats are increasing exponentially. Together, we must prioritise the protection of our citizens from cyber exploitation related to terrorism, trafficking-in-persons and various cyber and transnational crimes.
"Recognising Japan's expertise in cyberspace, Malaysia encourages further Asean-Japan collaboration to elevate cybersecurity standards in our region by sharing best practices, knowledge and skills focusing on areas such as intellectual property protection, data privacy and threat intelligence," he said.
Also high up on the list of agenda is commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Anwar said that the close cooperation and and initiatives implemented through the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) reflect the commitment from both sides of the alliance.
He noted that Malaysia has benefitted immensely from the framework, particularly from the training programmes for vessel traffic and international law in the Straits of Malacca.
"The close cooperation and many initiatives implemented through the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific reflect the strong commitment on both sides to deepen relations and maintain peace and stability in the region.
"Asean appreciates Japan's continued commitment for Asean centrality and unity. Under this framework, both sides have benefited from the training programmes for vessel traffic and international law in the Straits of Melaka," he said.
Anwar added that Malaysia proposes further initiatives to help improve navigational safety and voyage planning in one of the busiest waterways (Straits of Melaka) in the world.
The Malaysian prime minister is among 10 Asean leaders attending the summit in Tokyo which started yesterday with a welcome dinner hosted by the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Both leaders from Japan and Asean mark their 50th anniversary of friendship at the summit which ends tomorrow (Dec 18).
A joint vision that emphasises security cooperation amid growing tensions with China in regional seas is high up on the agenda.