In November of 2011, the 7th Conference on Countermeasures to Combat Infectious Diseases in Asia was held. Since it was the first time for Jakarta to hold the conference, Bureau for Gubernatorial Affairs and International Cooperation, Health Department, of Jakarta Capital City Government and the organizing city, Tokyo have coordinated to prepare for the conference. From the start of the conference preparations, the Jakarta representatives expressed their wish to hold an enjoyable conference including song and dance performances. Just as promised, the colorful reception including songs and dance succeeded in deepening relations between the cities.

The conference began with a salutation by the governor of Jakarta, Fauzi Bowo. Representatives from Hanoi, Seoul, Taipei, and Tokyo spoke about the H1N1 virus, and those from Jakarta spoke about the bird flu. As usual, information was shared between cities, and plans to continue collaborative efforts and research were affirmed.
Participating again after three years absence, Kuala Lumpur gave a presentation on their surveillance policies for dengue fever. While having advanced and sufficient medical facilities, Tokyo has a little experience in treatment of tropical infectious disease such as dengue fever and malaria. So the exchange of information among member cities was very fruitful.

One presentation that received particular interest was the report by Doctor Herai, Infectious Disease Control Section, Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health, who discussed infectious disease countermeasures in the disaster zones of the Great East Japan Earthquake. This report was made at the request of Jakarta. The report on the influenza group infection control and food poisoning control measures conducted in evacuation shelters in Miyagi prefecture gained a major reaction at the conference.

In February of 2012, Conference on the Joint Research and Survey was held in Tokyo. This conference discussed surveillance for the H1N1 virus, which seeks to swiftly detect outbreaks of the virus, and to create a system to share information among cities.

At the meeting, the reports from the participant cities on the surveillance for the H1N1 virus were followed by the discussion of the project plans from April 2012 to March 2013. As a result, the conference reached an agreement to conduct a joint research on surveillance for influenza using rapid test kit as well as information sharing among the cities after selecting a model city. Additionally, the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science demonstrated rapid test of influenza by using the kit. The rapid test kit is not so common among most of the ANMC21 member cities that the participants watched the explanation with strong interest.

In order to introduce Japanese culture, the welcome reception on the first day of the conference included a Japanese opera performance. After performances of Japanese songs such as "Kojo no Tsuki^*", all of the participants sang "Hana^*" together. Dr. Hoang, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Health, where the 2012 project conference will be held, sang a Vietnamese song with the Japanese performer.
This interaction transcended the langue barrier and offered a cross-cultural experience.

Building solid network among cities, countermeasures against infectious diseases will continue to progress.

* "Kojo no Tsuki(The Moon over the Ruined Castle)", with its uniquely mournful melody, and "Hana(Flowers)", which sings of the spring scenery of east Tokyo's Sumida river, are famous Japanese songs.