2016 August 31 - September 6 [
JCP]
JCP Chair Shii visits Malaysian gov’t think tank in Kuala Lumpur
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A Japanese Communist Party delegation led by Chair Shii Kazuo on September 2 visited the Malaysian government think tank, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur and met with Steven Wong, deputy chief executive of the ISIS Malaysia.
The JCP delegation is visiting the Malaysian capital to attend the 9th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) at which representatives of 87 political parties, both ruling and opposition camps, from 37 countries started discussions on the same day.
Wong talked about initiatives and challenges relating to peace and cooperation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. He also mentioned he is studying what role ASEAN can play to bring about true peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
Shii explained to Wong that the JCP is proposing an initiative to create a framework for peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia following the example of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
Wong in response said, “We’ve also begun discussing the possibility of a TAC-like framework in Northeast Asia,” and added, “We don’t need military alliances but alliances with peace loving friends.”
Regarding the issue of the abolition of nuclear weapons, Shii expressed his respect to the government of Malaysia for submitting a resolution every year to the UN General Assembly calling for the start of negotiations on a Nuclear Weapons Convention. He also said he appreciates the Malaysian contribution to the World Conference against A and H Bombs annually held in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Wong replied, “The elimination of nuclear weapons is a matter of human survival. Malaysia not only calls for establishing a nuclear-free zone in Southeast Asia but has been consistently working on a world without nuclear weapons. The Malaysian government will make further efforts in this regard.”
Past related articles:
> Ogata speaks on human trafficking in Japan at ICAPP workshop [March 13, 2016]
> Ogata joins ISIS Malaysia roundtable [June 1, 2011]