Acting Secretary-General, Ms. Atsuko Hirose, attended the Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) taking place in Milano, Italy, from 4-7 May 2025. 

On 4-5 May 2025, Ms Hirose met Director General of the Sectors Department 1 (Energy and Transport Sectors), Mr. Hideaki Iwasaki, Director General of the Sectors Department 2 (Digital, Agriculture, Food, Nature and Rural Development, and Urban Development Sectors), Ms. F. Cleo Kawawaki, and Senior Director, Energy Sector Office, Mr. Priyantha Wijayatunga. 

Given the large overlap in the member states of the ADB and those of the Energy Charter Treaty, and the importance of increasing energy investments and energy security in the ADB region, the parties discussed potential cooperation between the two institutions going forward.