5. Regional Initiatives 5.1 Asia Pacific Japan has a close relationship with the Asia Pacific region due to its geographical proximity and close economic ties. Close cooperation with the Asia Pacific region in countering cyber threats is crucial for the region to make united efforts. Within the Asia Pacific region, Japan’s relationship with the ASEAN is particularly important given its existing close ties and increased investment by Japanese enterprises in ASEAN countries. ASEAN and Japan have cooperated in ongoing initiatives through the ASEAN-Japan Information Security Policy Meeting, as well as the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Policy Meeting on Cybersecurity Cooperation. Japan will further strengthen these ties, by promoting initiatives such as capacity building for human resources development and for the creation of frameworks for information sharing and critical infrastructure protection. Moreover, Japan will comprehensively promote cooperation on cybersecurity technology with the ASEAN, by promoting the JASPER (Japan-ASEAN Security PartnERship) Project which combines the PRACTICE Project with warnings to computers infected with malware. In addition, under the TSUBAME Project, by cooperating with CSIRTs within the Asia region and installing sensors in CSIRTs, trends of cyber attacks within the Asia region are identified at an early stage and warning and response measures are taken quickly, thereby strengthening the cleanup of the cyber environment. Furthermore, in the area of countering cybercrime, Japan will strengthen cooperation with ASEAN and conduct capacity building and sharing of knowledge and best practices through frameworks such as the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting and the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC+Japan, SOMTC+Japan). Japan will also deepen relations with non-ASEAN countries as important partners, and will seek to address cybersecurity issues through cooperation and mutual assistance. Among others, Japan will continue to strengthen partnership with India, building on the existing initiatives such as the bilateral Japan-India Cyber Dialogue. 5.2 U.S. and Europe Partnership between Japan and the U.S. as our ally centered on the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements is of essential importance for Japan. The two countries have built a cooperative relationship to promote various efforts in the areas of policy consultation, information sharing and cyber incident response through such platforms as the Japan-U.S. Cyber Dialogue and the Japan-U.S. Policy Cooperation Dialogue on the Internet Economy. Japan will continue to deepen this partnership. As for European countries, Japan has also built cooperative relationship to promote various efforts with shared values. For instance, Japan held the bilateral Japan-UK Cyber Dialogue and the Japan-EU Internet Security Forum. Japan also concluded the Convention on Cybercrime adopted by the Council of Europe. Japan will continue to strengthen these partnerships. 10