Toru Morikawa, the first Japanese to be named the executive director of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), hopes to serve as a bridge between Asia and Europe, the 51-year-old said in an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun.
Morikawa also expressed his willingness to cooperate with the World Health Organization and other bodies in handling the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The ASEF was founded in 1997 to promote people-to-people exchange between Asia and Europe, and encompasses 51 countries and two organizations.
Morikawa joined the Foreign Ministry in 1991. He came foward as a candidate for ASEF's executive director in June, while serving as an envoy at the Japanese Embassy in Iran, as he wanted to make use of his experience as a diplomat. Morikawa was ultimately chosen without a vote.
He will take up his new position in Singapore, where the ASEF's headquarters is located, as early as mid-August.
"Since Japan is in a position to understand opinions in both Asia and Europe, I feel that member countries in both regions expect me to be a bridge between them," Morikawa said. Amid the spread of the novel coronavirus, Morikawa emphasized, "The wisdom to overcome the pandemic will be created by exchanging different ideas. The importance of human exchange is increasing, and the role of the ASEF is now even more significant."
The ASEF is offering training for young people and promoting policy dialogue in various fields such as the environment, health and human rights.
"I want to actively participate in discussions to enhance communication," Morikawa said.
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