On 3–4 September, the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA), 　 together with the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), held the Annual Regional Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. More than 100 participants from 23 countries attended, including the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malaysia, the President of the Senate of Australia, ministers, parliamentarians, the Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, senior government officials, civil society representatives, and experts. The Conference reaffirmed AFPPD’s commitment to further advancing its work in the region and beyond through dialogue and cooperation to address shared population and development challenges.

In her opening remarks, Hon. Kamikawa Yoko, Chair of AFPPD, emphasized the importance of taking a broad, forward-looking approach to demographic change. She noted that investing in people is essential to building resilient societies. She also stressed that addressing the challenges arising from demographic change requires an all-of-society approach, involving not only parliaments and governments, but also local authorities, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, local communities, and individual citizens. The Conference featured 7 sessions on a range of issues, including population ageing, the demographic dividend and investment in youth, climate change, digitalization, and gender equality. Parliamentarians shared experiences from their respective countries and exchanged views with experts and representatives of relevant organizations such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). From Japan, Prof. Takemi Keizo, Chair of APDA, presented the challenges posed by Japan’s super-ageing society and the country’s responses.

Alongside the Conference, an inauguration ceremony was held for the new AFPPD Secretariat office, which had relocated from Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur. The new office is expected to serve as an important hub for strengthening cooperation among parliamentarians, fostering partnerships, and further advancing AFPPD’s work. AFPPD also signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the IPPF East and South East Asia and Oceania Region (ESEAOR), the Forum of Arab Parliamentarians on Population and Development (FAPPD), the Forum of African Parliamentarians on Population and Development (FPA), and APDA. The MoUs aim to strengthen cooperation among the organizations in addressing shared population and development challenges across Asia and beyond.

The Conference was held with the support of the Japan Trust Fund (JTF), UNFPA, and IPPF.