Young business leaders from Japan and ASEAN countries have participated in an event to promote ties.

The Japanese government hosted Wednesday's event as Japan and ASEAN mark the 50th anniversary of friendship and cooperation this year.

Many of the participants were startup entrepreneurs from Japan and Southeast Asian countries. They are mostly in their 20s and are referred to as "Generation Z."

A representative of a firm dealing with waste management in Indonesia explained how he set up a system using apps to directly connect households with trash collectors for recycling purposes.

The participants hope to enhance their connections with business people and officials in the region. An entrepreneur from Myanmar, Khun Kyaw Zayar Win, said he found the event to be a great business opportunity. He said that his country is unstable right now and the economic system is down, so "I need to expand my network to ASEAN, to Japan, and to the World."

Noro Yuki, the CEO and Founder of a Japanese startup firm, said Japan and ASEAN should not be donor and recipient nations, but should motivate and collaborate with each other.

Japan will also host a business leaders' summit in central Japan in December.