22 December 2025 – The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), represented by the new Special Advisor to the Governor on International Affairs, Mr. KUWABARA Atsushi paid a courtesy call on H.E. Dato’ Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany, Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan. The call was also attended by Mr. NISHIDA Yuichiro, Senior Director for International Strategy, Mr. TANIGUCHI Daisuke, Director for International Strategy and Mr. MORI Koki, Senior Staff Member for International Strategy. The Ambassador was accompanied by Ms. Nora Azlinda Jaapar, Counsellor (Politic – Economic Affairs).

The primary goals of the call was to introduce Mr. Kuwabara, who was recently appointed as the new Special Advisor to Ms. Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo, to the Ambassador and to outline the key aspects of the Global City Network for Sustainability (G-NETS), which was launched by the TMG in 2022. Mr. Kuwabara explained that the G-NETS would serve as a forum for cities to meet and discuss how to solve the common urban challenges from various angles, as well as from the various levels of mayors and governors, senior officials and working-level staff. G-NETS focuses on three (3) main themes, namely “Inclusive and Just Societies”, “Safe and Secure Cities”, and “Environment”.

During the call, Mr. Kuwabara expressed TMG’s hope to welcome YBhg. Datuk Fadhlun Mak Ujud, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur to the 3^rd G-NETS Leaders Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Tokyo from 27 – 29 April 2026. Mr. Kuwabara added that the summit will be held in conjunction with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, Asia’s largest innovation conference.  The Ambassador commended TMG’s initiatives and efforts in addressing challenges cities face and to make cities more sustainable. The Ambassador voiced optimism that Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur will give the invitation to the summit a favourable consideration.