To commemorate its 120th anniversary in 1999, Asahi Shimbun established Asahi Shimbun Asia Network (AAN) in October 1998. By establishing AAN, Asahi Shimbun wishes to deepen its readers' understanding of the Asian region, an area gaining strength in the world as the new century approaches, to make proposals for the region and publish them, and to increase the flow of information and ideas from Japan to Asia. The name of the organization reflects Asahi Shimbun's desire to form a network with the media, intellectuals and the general public in Asian countries.

　AAN's activities lie mainly in joint research projects by Asahi Shimbun with leading scholars and researchers and making proposals based on that research. Furthermore, among other activities AAN invites active Asian media reporters to Japan so that they can study and deepen their understanding of Japan, and in April 2000 will start publishing columns written by specialists from Asian countries in the Asahi Shimbun.

　For the joint research projects in 1999, two teams worked on two themes, "The Security of Northeast Asia" and "Rebirth of the Asian Economy," and the results were published in the Asahi Shimbun, the Asahi Evening News and other publications. This booklet is a compilation of the results of this research. We would appreciate hearing your opinions and impressions about the booklet.