Japan will expand intellectual and cultural exchanges with the Philippines and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, over the next 10 years.

The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines on Monday said this goal is part of its "Partnership to Co-Create a Future with the Next Generation: WA Project 2.0" launched Sunday at the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in Tokyo.

"Through this initiative, the Government of Japan aims to build a strong relationship of trust between ASEAN and Japan for the future, promote two-way exchanges, and strengthen a multi-faceted human network," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.

He said the two-part project is seen as benefiting over 10 million people in the Southeast Asian region.

First, the Two-way Intellectual and Cultural Exchange program will promote the research and exposure of primary and secondary school teachers to students of another ASEAN country.

Topics for discussion will include climate change and disaster prevention, art, theater, music, films and other audiovisual content, and sports.

Second, the NIHONGO Partners program aims to increase literacy in the Japanese language through more classes in ASEAN partner countries, and training sessions for non-Japanese teachers in Japan.