Since the late Prime Minister Abe first advocated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” a decade ago, its vision—an international order grounded in freedom, openness, diversity, resilience, inclusiveness, and the rule of law—has been widely shared across the international community, including with ASEAN. At the same time, FOIP has always adapted to the ever-shifting global environment with its principles unchanged. In this spirit, this past May, on its tenth anniversary, Prime Minister Takaichi announced an update to FOIP to address today’s challenges, reaffirming Japan’s determination to advance its own efforts and to work with like-minded countries to realize a FOIP. As this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Singapore, FOIP’s vision also provides a strong foundation for shaping the next chapter of the Japan-Singapore partnership, the region, and beyond.

About the Speaker

Ambassador ISHIKAWA Hiroshi is a career diplomat with about 40 years of experience in the Japanese Foreign Service.

Prior to his appointment as Ambassador of Japan to Singapore, Ambassador Ishikawa was Deputy Minister in the Foreign Minister’s Secretariat. He had also served as Director-General of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, Director of the First China and Mongolia Division, Director of the First North America Division and Director of the National Security Policy Division. He had also served overseas postings to the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations and the Embassy of Japan in China.

Ambassador Ishikawa graduated from the University of Tokyo with a Bachelor of Arts in Law in 1986 and obtained a Master of Arts in East Asian Studies from Stanford University in 1990. He speaks Japanese, English and Mandarin.