History

January 1992
The Shanghai-Hangzhou Linear Motor Railway Construction Committee (Principal Advisor: Noboru Takeshita, Special Advisors: Hiromu Nonaka and Shizuka Kamei, Chairperson: Yoshihiro Kyotani, Chief of Secretariat: Akio Kawakami) is established in order to prevent the domination of the Asian continent by environmentally unfriendly automobiles and aircraft.
December 1994
The Asia Environmental Technology Promotion Institute (AET) is established as an organization supporting the committee by organizers represented by Ryu Shionoya as a member of the House of Representatives. AET starts activities to realize its vision of environmentally friendly transportation in the form of the “Asian Continent Linear Network” as a pioneering modal shift.
1996
The Shanghai-Hangzhou Linear Motor Railway Construction Committee is promoted to the Japan-China Joint Magnetic Levitation Railway System Committee and conducts a feasibility study into the maglev train as a high-speed rail option between Beijing and Shanghai, which contributes to laying the foundation for the Shanghai Maglev Train.
1997
At the request of the Chinese government, AET promotes a plan to construct renewable-energy-powered villages for communities beyond the reach of the electricity grid in China.
AET also promotes research and support for the construction plan of a renewable-energy-powered village in Georgia.
AET co-hosts the SYMPOSIUM on INTERNATIONAL MAGLEV TRAIN at Zhejiang University, China, together with the Japan-China Joint Magnetic Levitation Railway System Committee. With participation of more than 300 railway authorities from around the world, including Japan, the U.S., Germany, Canada and China, the symposium generates interest in maglev systems in Japan and paves the way for the construction of the Shanghai Maglev Demonstration Operation Line.
1998
With Taro Nakayama, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, as its Chairperson and Hirotaro Higuchi, Vice Chairman of Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), as its Special Advisor, AET sets the goal of “preventing Asia from becoming a source of environmental pollution.” AET starts aggressive promotion of specific environmental conservation activities.
Through cooperation with the Chinese Environmental Society, AET establishes the Japan-China Council for Environmental Science and Technology Exchange to address the issue of pollution in China.
AET organizes an international symposium, “For Shared Understanding across Asia” (co-organizer: Mitsubishi Research Institute, supporters: the Environment Agency, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and the Yomiuri Shimbunsha), to discuss issues related to energy and natural gas pipeline construction.
2000
As a specified nonprofit corporation, AET is joined by environmental experts Yoshinori Ishii, Director of the National Institute for Environmental Studies, who serves as President, as well as Itaru Yasui, Professor at the University of Tokyo, and Masaaki Naito, Professor at Kyoto University, who serve as Directors. The new officers work to promote a wide range of activities to address environmental issues in Asia.
2002
AET conducts an empirical examination of waste treatment that can minimize environmental impacts in core cities.
2007
AET co-hosts the Japan-China Joint Study Group on Urban Transportation at Keidanren Kaikan with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
AET organizes six meetings of the Asia Study Group on Environmental Transportation Systems, which comprises some 20 Diet members and is chaired by Yoko Kamikawa, a member of the House of Representatives, to discuss the importance of modal shift in Asia.
2008
AET is entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a study on environmental facilities for the Hokkaido Toyako Summit. Based on the AET report, solar-powered LED lights are installed around the summit venue.
2012
AET promotes a project celebrating the 40th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China.
2013
When the Mayor of Yangon and his delegation visit Kozo Yamamoto, Secretary General of the Japan-Myanmar Parliamentary League of Friendship, AET sits in on the meeting and, on behalf of the Myanmar Council, JAPIC and the Development Bank of Japan, proposes the establishment of the Japan Myanmar Vocational Training Institute (JMVTI) Aung San.
2014
The Ministry of Science and Technology of Myanmar and AET sign an agreement following the finalization of the policy regarding the joint project and partnership.
AET visits Myanmar together with the 11-member group of the Japan-Myanmar Parliamentary League of Friendship.
The League’s Secretary General Yamamoto expresses support for the project at a meeting with President Thein Sein and his Cabinet members.
2015
The Japan-Myanmar Parliamentary League of Friendship, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and AET invite the Minister of Science and Technology and 20+ people from Myanmar and organize the 1st “Industrial Human Resource Development” Symposium in Tokyo.
The project of Japan Myanmar Vocational Training Institute (JMVTI) Aung San is officially introduced.
AET sits in the first Steering Committee that is held under the direct command of the Minister of the Office of the President.
2016
The Japan-Myanmar Parliamentary League of Friendship and AET organize the 2nd “Industrial Human Resource Development” Symposium in Yangon.
With the Japan-Myanmar Parliamentary League of Friendship invite the deputy secretaries of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology and 6 people from Myanmar, then organize a conference to discuss with the said league, the Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and other members from the department concerned with ODA.
AET invites the Chairpeople from NLD Administration’s Education Promotion Committee, Transportation, Communication and Construction Committee and International Relations Committee and in total 15 diet members from Myanmar, and organized a conference to discuss about the industrial human resource development and the project of JMVTI Aung San with the concerned personnel from bureaucrats, politicians, big business and education.