Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call at the Prime Minister’s Office from the JENESYS 2.0 ASEAN-Japan Youth Football Exchange Delegation to Japan.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"Above all, I believe exchanges among young people are the most crucial element of exchanges between Japan and other countries in Asia.
Under JENESYS 2.0, the Government of Japan has started programs that invite many young people from Asia to Japan.
I announced the concept of holding football exchanges during the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit Meeting last December, a meeting which brought together leaders from the ten ASEAN member states to Tokyo.
And now you are here in Japan. I understand that through football, you interacted with Japanese boys as well as with boys from other ASEAN countries. 
I imagine you got to know each other while playing in matches and practicing hard together. I believe you learned that you all share a common appreciation for football even if you are of different nationalities, that you were all able to share the joy of playing together, and that it is important to respect differences between each other’s cultures.   
The Japan Professional Football League (J. League) is very popular and Mr. Irfan Haarys Bachdim, an Indonesian superstar, continues to actively play for Ventforet Kofu. In addition, until last year, Mr. Le Cong Vinh, a Vietnamese football player, played for Consadole Sapporo.
I hope there will be players from this delegation to Japan who will go on to play in the J. League or make outstanding plays and win a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
I would like to finish by expressing the hope that exchanges through football between ASEAN and Japan will boom and that you will make the most of this experience in your future endeavors."