Mr. Takaya Imai, Deputy Director-General, Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan, called on Mr. Hidetoshi Nishimura at ERIA Annex Office on 9 August 2010.

Both parties discussed the outcomes of the 43rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Related meetings, and 2nd Breakfast Meeting for IMT-GT (Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand) Ministers recently especially on the statement that ERIA was mentioned.

They shared common views that Japan should put all strengths and conceptual power into creating an East Asian economic sphere. ERIA has an important role to play in this.