Japan hails Malaysia as pivotal partner in advancing regional clean energy under AZEC

JAPAN has identified Malaysia as a key strategic partner in driving clean energy initiatives across Southeast Asia, particularly under the framework of the Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC), a regional decarbonisation platform led by Tokyo.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida underscored Malaysia’s leadership during its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship and co-hosting of the AZEC ministerial meeting, describing the country as playing a “crucial role” in the region’s energy transition.

“As this year’s ASEAN Chair and co-host country of the AZEC ministerial meeting, Malaysia plays a crucial role in advancing various decarbonisation projects across the region,” Kishida told Bernama’s International News Desk during a recent visit to Kuala Lumpur.

Kishida, who now serves as the Supreme Adviser to the Parliamentary Association of AZEC and is the Special Envoy of the Japanese Prime Minister, said a growing number of AZEC-related initiatives are underway, with particular focus on power transmission, distribution, and renewable energy development.

“We expect these efforts to create strong synergies with ASEAN initiatives, including the ASEAN Power Grid concept,” he added.

Launched in 2022, AZEC seeks to promote decarbonisation throughout Asia through collaborative frameworks, technology transfers and public-private partnerships. The initiative is designed to balance robust climate action with sustainable economic growth, especially for developing economies in the region.

Tokyo, Kishida said, views Malaysia as a “very reliable partner” that has actively advanced its energy transition efforts, many of which have been inspired by AZEC’s objectives.

“I see great potential for collaboration between our two countries in advancing decarbonisation,” he said, highlighting joint projects in carbon capture and storage (CCS), ammonia technology, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and power grid infrastructure.

“During this visit, I strongly felt both the diversity of needs related to decarbonisation in the Southeast Asian region and the high expectations placed on Japan, as many projects are already underway,” he observed.

He noted that direct engagement with businesses and visits to project sites had reaffirmed the importance of government-led partnerships in realising the region’s energy goals.

Kishida also pointed to the increasingly active role played by the AZEC Parliamentary League in promoting the initiative within Japan and abroad.

“As a parliamentary group, we hope to contribute to the promotion of AZEC from a uniquely parliamentary perspective by leveraging each member’s broad network and facilitating dialogue with partner countries, businesses and other stakeholders,” he said.

Looking ahead to upcoming high-level AZEC meetings, Kishida confirmed that the Parliamentary Association plans to submit formal policy recommendations to the Japanese government, based on insights gathered during his Malaysian visit, to support the initiative’s continued progress. - May 10, 2025