TOKYO -- Nikkei's annual Future of Asia conference kicks off on Thursday, with a who's who list of top leaders due to deliver their perspectives on the region's current challenges and post-COVID era.

The event will be held in Tokyo and online through Friday. It opens with a keynote address from Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin will be followed by Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, among others.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will deliver a closing speech at the end of Thursday's session.

On Day Two, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad are among the scheduled speakers.

On the same day, experts will join panel discussions on themes such as "Asia and the new U.S. administration," "How can Asia build a fair society?" and "New frontiers for innovation in the COVID-19 era."