We, the Ministers responsible for telecommunications / Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Asia-Pacific region, have gathered in Tokyo, Japan on 30-31 of May 2025 to discuss our joint efforts to further strengthen regional cooperation and collaboration in the field of telecommunications/ICT with the vision to support the digital transformation of the economy and society and deliver an open, interconnected, innovation-driven, inclusive, safe and sustainable digital future for all.
Recalling the commitments of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we acknowledge the efforts of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) in fostering development of regional telecommunication/ICT infrastructure, connectivity, and innovation through collaboration among the members.
We commend progress in developing broadband infrastructure and services, which has contributed to bridging digital divides and promoting sustainable growth in telecommunications/ICT. However, opportunities remain to further enhance connectivity, promote digital innovation, and harness the benefits of the digital economy.
Recognising the transformative impacts of telecommunication/ICT on socio-economic development and the opportunities and challenges of emerging technologies, we hereby resolve to collaborate with all stakeholders to co-create a connected digital future in the Asia-Pacific region, with targeted efforts in particular to address the needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This future will feature affordable, accessible, and sustainable telecommunications/ICT connectivity, foster innovation through digital technologies, promote an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, and empower all citizens with the skills and knowledge to benefit from the digital economy. This vision will be realised by implementing the respective six priority areas.
- Digital Connectivity
We aim to promote universal, meaningful and affordable connectivity across the Asia-Pacific region as a top priority by enhancing sustainable and resilient digital infrastructure and stimulating investment in advanced connectivity solutions. To promote connectivity for all, we will:
A1. (Digital infrastructure) Encourage the development of digital infrastructure that can embrace opportunity, meet emerging demands and effectively address unexpected challenges by taking proactive approach towards an affordable, robust, disaster-resilient, sustainable and secure digital infrastructure, and strive to ensure connectivity, including in remote and rural areas, with the aim of improving quality and coverage of digital services;
A2. (Enhancing network bandwidth) Promote sufficient international Internet bandwidth, particularly for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, to achieve universal and meaningful connectivity and higher minimum Internet speeds, while considering the cost of transit within the region where applicable. Facilitate and accelerate the deployment, operation and maintenance of telecommunications/ICT infrastructure, including terrestrial and non-terrestrial, for enhancing mobile and fixed broadband capabilities and paving the way for innovative applications that will drive economic growth;
A3. (Expand network access) Promote the expansion of access networks for last mile connectivity by collaborating with diverse stakeholders and incentivising broadband investment at the access level, using the existing, new and emerging network technologies;
A4. (Radio frequency and orbital resources) Ensure the development of fair, predictable and transparent policy and regulatory environments that enable access to radio frequency and orbital resources for mobile, fixed wireless, satellite and other radiocommunication services, and address new challenges in spectrum management while emphasising the importance of space sustainability and associated spectrum resources;
A5. (Harmonised spectrum usage) Develop spectrum roadmaps, harmonised band plans and action plans, encourage regional cross-border and international frequency coordination for the advancement of spectrum management infrastructure. Promote rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of radiofrequency spectrum and satellite orbits, taking into account the importance of information sharing on spectrum usage through the APT Frequency Information System (AFIS).
- Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship
We aim to drive innovation across the Asia-Pacific region, recognising it is key to sustainable development, economic growth, and digital transformation by fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem supports technological advancements, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. To achieve this, we will:
B1. (Technological advancement) Promote technological advancement by supporting telecommunication/ICT research and development, including into emerging telecommunication/ICTs, and initiatives that leverage telecommunications/ICTs across different economic sectors to improve public services, strengthen societal resilience across the region, and developing digital infrastructure and digital transformation;
B2. (Innovation ecosystem) Encourage the establishment of telecommunication/ICT-centric innovation ecosystems that are inclusive, open and fair, and that bring together diverse stakeholders, foster cross-sectoral and public-private collaboration, and promote knowledge sharing to drive sustainable economic growth across the region;
B3. (Entrepreneurial growth) Promote access to affordable digital infrastructure and/or platforms for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups and entrepreneurs, enabling them to develop innovative technologies and services. Put in place policies to support them to scale their businesses, adopt appropriate business and management models, improve their global competitiveness and contribute to the digital economy;
B4. (Telecommunications/ICT usage) Promote the use of telecommunications/ICTs and the inclusive development of technological innovations in a way that advances social equity, fosters responsible innovation practices, and ensures equitable access to the benefits of emerging telecommunications/ICTs for all;
B5. (Use of Artificial Intelligence for telecommunications/ICTs) Encourage potential cooperation to promote safe, secure and trustworthy use cases of AI for telecommunications/ICT, based on the needs of APT Member administrations, to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, while harnessing benefits and addressing risks and challenges. Foster enabling telecommunication/ICT ecosystems for the deployment of AI technologies. Enhance knowledge sharing and capacity building to promote the participation of all members, in particular LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.
- Trust and Safety
We aim to prioritise security, acknowledging the vulnerability of individuals and communities to both malicious activities and natural disasters, while supporting the establishment and maintenance of safe, secure, resilient and reliable telecommunication/ICT environments and facilitating cooperation among members. To achieve this, we will:
C1. (Resilience) Strive to ensure safe, reliable and secure telecommunication/ICT network environments in response to cyber threats and natural disasters. Enhance resilience with a view to rapid recovery and ensuring seamless and continuous availability of telecommunication/ICT networks and digital services;
C2. (Personal data protection) Safeguard online personal data by promoting policies and regulations that safeguard against data breaches and support entities to respond appropriately in the event of a breach;
C3. (Trust and transparency) Encourage sharing policies and good practice that promote trust and transparency in digital services. Facilitate safety, security and privacy by design in all stages of the lifecycle of digital products and services while promoting reliable and collaborative ecosystems among service providers, users, policy makers and regulators;
C4. (Online safety) Support the development of policies, regulations and strategies to safeguard all users from online harms such as scams, harassment, abuse, and mis/disinformation. Encourage stakeholder participation in policy, regulatory initiatives and strategies that empower users to access and share information online safely and responsibly while effectively addressing harmful or illegal content.
- Digital Inclusion and Capacity Building
We aim to enhance the digital skills of individuals and communities and their inclusion in society, expanding opportunities for all. To achieve this, we will:
D1. (Inclusiveness and digital empowerment) Collaborate with stakeholders to identify digital divides and develop policies, strategies, action plans and/or initiatives that ensure inclusivity in telecommunication/ICT services with a focus on ensuring telecommunication/ICT and its services are available, affordable and accessible for all, in addition to noting the important role of multilingualism in enabling the full participation of all users. Lead initiatives that empower women and girls, children and youth, older persons, persons with disabilities, rural communities and people in vulnerable situations to become digitally empowered;
D2. (Enhance capacity building) Enhance human and institutional capacity building efforts with a view to improving digital skills, literacy and competencies for all. Remove barriers to accessing telecommunication/ICT capacity building, particularly for women, children, persons with disabilities and people who may be made vulnerable by social, economic and environmental dimensions. Prioritise digital literacy programmes that build the skills necessary to navigate and thrive in an increasingly digital world by fostering partnerships with academic institutions, industry and international organisations;
D3. (Adaptability) Identify societal needs, determine digital skills that can address those needs, and develop and secure workforces equipped with those skills in a timely manner, ensuring adaptability in societies marked by rapid changes in technological innovation, business models, and changing industrial structures;
D4. (Diversity to strength) Promote capacity building programmes that enable individuals to recognise and appreciate their diverse backgrounds, views, and perspectives, which will enhance diversity in their communities and organisations, and embrace this diversity to strengthen society as a whole.
- Sustainability
We aim to use telecommunications/ICT to adapt to climate change and mitigate its impact while promoting sustainable digital transformation. To achieve sustainability, we will:
E1. (Environmentally sustainable telecommunications/ICT) Facilitate the adoption of policies and strategies that integrate sustainable practices throughout the telecommunication/ICT sector. This includes supporting renewable energy and energy-efficient devices, facilities and technologies, and sharing knowledge, experiences and good practices on mitigating the telecommunication/ICT sector’s environmental impacts as well as promoting its benefits across different sectors of economy, thereby supporting environmental protection and the continued growth of the digital economy in a sustainable manner;
E2. (E-waste management) Promote a proactive approach to e-waste management by developing and strengthening policies, regulations, frameworks, strategies and action plans that enable a shift towards a sustainable circular economy;
E3. (Telecommunications/ICT for climate resilience) Leverage telecommunications/ ICT to promote climate resilience, including by developing, strengthening, and sharing climate change responsive telecommunication/ICT solutions that enable adaptation, recovery and mitigation of impacts and integrate telecommunications/ICT into our environmental strategies, that can create ecosystems to foster a sustainable future.
- Partnership and Collaboration
We aim to promote extensive collaboration among APT Member administrations, public sector, private sector, academia and other stakeholders including governmental and non-governmental organisations to harness emerging technologies for sustainable, inclusive, and equitable digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific. To achieve this, we will:
F1. (Telecommunications/ICT across sectors) Support and promote different economic sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, finance, health and education, to understand and embrace opportunities for improved inclusion, efficiency and sustainability through telecommunication/ICT-centric innovation. Encourage knowledge sharing and exchange of use cases in this regard;
F2. (Multi-stakeholder ecosystem) Promote an inclusive multi-stakeholder ecosystem to enhance the development and deployment of inclusive, safe, secure, reliable and sustainable telecommunication/ICT-centric products and services for fostering sustainable development;
F3. (Regional and international collaboration) Further strengthen regional collaboration and information sharing among APT members in the areas of common interest and encourage the APT to strengthen partnership and collaboration with stakeholders to promote a development agenda focused on enhancing collaboration on telecommunication/ICT services and development of infrastructure in the region with a focus on supporting digital transformation of LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS. Continue close collaboration in the region to consolidate regional views on telecommunication/ICT issues, including the preparation of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conferences and assemblies.
We welcome contributions from all stakeholders to collectively achieve these priorities through actions at national, sub-regional, and regional levels.
We encourage the APT to consider these visions and objectives in its future Strategic Plans and facilitate the implementation of these commitments through its work programmes, while acknowledging the diverse needs of APT Members, we affirm that our shared vision for the future provides a foundation for our collective actions.
We reaffirm our commitment to advancing telecommunication/ICT development and connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region to promote the digital economy, achieve sustainable development, and enhance quality of life. Together, we will support the APT in realising a connected digital future with affordable, open, safe, sustainable, innovation-driven, inclusive and resilient telecommunications/ICT connectivity, enabling innovation, thriving businesses and empower citizens across the region.