Prof. Nishimura was invited to the 11 th ASEAN Leadership Forum on "The Road Towards 2015 Community Building Towards Regional Prosperity, Resilience and Peace" on May 12, 2014.

This Forum is an annual event held alongside the ASEAN Summit in April/May organized by Asian Strategy & Leadership?Institute (ASLI) to discuss the critical issues and challenges facing ASEAN. This year, it was held as a sideline event of the 24th ASEAN Summit jointly organized by Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI). Around 300 participants from government, business sector, academia, and think tanks were attended. H.E. U Thein Sein, President of Republic of the Union of Myanmar made opening speech at opening ceremony of the Forum on May 11.

Prof. Nishimura attended the session on "ASEAN Economic Community- Creating Regional Prosperity, Resilience and Opportunities" as a panelist, together with H.E. U Win Myint, Minister of Commerce of Myanmar, H.E. Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia, and H.E. Gregory So, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Prof. Nishimura explained how much ASEAN did a remarkable achievements and stressed that ASEAN has most advanced production networks. In order that ASEAN maintain the momentum of reforms, institutional development, and community building, he pointed out the importance of "Responsive ASEAN", saying "ASEAN should be responsive to the concerns of the private sector and have a responsive regulation regime that involves the active listening and engagement of the government with various stakeholders". During the discussion time, H.E. Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia, commented in response to the presentation by Prof. Nishimura, saying that "Resposive ASEAN is very important concept for the chairmanship of ASEAN in the year of 2015".

The Forum shared valuable thoughts on the future direction of ASEAN community building by 2015 and beyond.