EFRAG/ASBJ: Bilateral meeting on development of high quality global accounting standards

24 January 2014

Representatives of the ASBJ and EFRAG exchanged views and information on the development of high quality global accounting standards.

Considering the recent developments including the creation of the Accounting Standards Advisory Forum (ASAF), both parties felt that it would be useful to formalise the past practice of holding bilateral meetings so as to better understand views and surroundings of each party.

At this meeting, the ASBJ and EFRAG both provided updates on their respective activities, and exchanged views on the opportunities for cooperation between the two parties as well as among the interested parties more broadly, including major national accounting standard-setters from the world. As for the technical topics, the ASBJ and EFRAG discussed respective views on the IASB’s major projects including the Conceptual Framework, Financial Instruments, Leases and Insurance Contracts. In addition, the ASBJ and EFRAG discussed how they can work together more effectively on research activities, including the topic of impairment and amortisation of goodwill on which both parties and the Organismo Italiano di Contabilità (OIC) have worked together.

Both parties agreed that they would continue to exchange views on issues faced and potential future concerns and confirmed that the next meeting will be held in Brussels.

Ikuo Nishikawa, Chairman of the ASBJ, stated: “I am very pleased to hold the meeting, and would like to thank Françoise for coming to Tokyo. I found it very meaningful for us to exchange information and views on major issues regarding global accounting standard setting with representatives of EFRAG. I believe this enables us to form more informed views when participating in the global discussions relating to accounting standards such as those at the ASAF meetings.”

Françoise Flores, EFRAG Chairman, stated: “To provide useful contribution to the international standard-setting process from a European perspective, it is essential to have a good understanding of the current thinking of other major stakeholders in the IFRS global community. EFRAG’s participation in the ASAF and our regular communication with the ASBJ are very valuable to serve this purpose. The meeting that we have just concluded in Tokyo has enhanced our understanding of the views of Japan on the major financial reporting issues which are open for discussion at present. ” 

Press release


© EFRAG - European Financial Reporting Advisory Group