During the meeting, delegates reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration under the ASEAN–Japan Sports Cooperation Framework 2030, which focuses on five key priority areas: Development of physical education teachers and sports coaches; Promotion of women’s participation in sports; Advancement of sports for persons with disabilities; Strengthening anti-doping capacity; and Improving sports governance and management.
The conference was co-chaired by Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Authority, and Ms. Higuchi Keiko, Director General of the Japan Sports Agency
Delegates noted positive progress made by ASEAN Member States in implementing specific action programs, particularly through three major initiatives.
The Gender Equality Initiative has recorded strong progress across national action plans, with an in-person workshop scheduled to take place in Cambodia in January 2026.
For the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) and Sports for Persons with Disabilities (SPD) initiatives, delegates discussed future plans and expressed expectations for further collaboration. Upcoming activities include the establishment of an ASEAN–Japan Professional Learning Community (PLC) to raise awareness and advocacy for PETE and SPD, alongside a face-to-face workshop in Tokyo in January 2026.
The meeting also expressed deep appreciation to Japan for organizing the study visits and workshops on sports policy development and coaching capacity building for ASEAN Member States, successfully conducted in Tokyo during 2024 and 2025.
In addition, the ASEAN Football4SDGs Project was highlighted as a successful initiative, culminating in the Football4SDGs Forum held in Singapore in April 2025, which brought together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. The project serves as a strong example of ASEAN’s commitment to implementing the ASEAN Declaration on the Role of Sports in Building the ASEAN Community and Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with expectations for future projects to build upon this momentum.
Within the framework of the meeting, delegates also exchanged views on the implementation of the ASEAN Work Plan on Sports 2021–2025, which includes 5 projects, 15 programs, and 56 activities. They commended Japan’s contribution to achieving a high completion rate of planned initiatives.
Delegates expressed hope for continued support under the ASEAN–Japan Sports Cooperation Framework 2030, moving toward the formulation of the ASEAN Action Plan on Sports 2026–2030.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to advancing ASEAN–Japan sports cooperation, with outcomes and recommendations to be submitted to the ASEAN Plus Japan Ministerial Meeting on Sports (AMMS + Japan) for further direction and endorsement.
PV