Internet Press Chat Conference, 24 May 2007

Meeting between Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Japan and UK
10th Japan-EU High Level Meeting on the Environment
Update of New Japanese ODA projects

I. Meeting between Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Japan and UK

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Let me start today's Regular Internet Chat Press Conference. Today, I would like to make several announcements.

On 22 May, Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a foreign ministerial meeting and a dinner with Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) in Tokyo.

Mr. Aso stated that "Japan hopes to further advance this cooperative relationship looking toward the year of 2008, which celebrates the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Japan-UK diplomatic relationship." Ms. Beckett said, "The bilateral relationship is extremely good, and I highly evaluate Japan's role in the international community. There still remains much room for Japan-UK cooperation, which I would like to further enhance."

On the matter of international development, the two ministers agreed to promote political consultations and cooperation at local levels, and strengthen the cooperative relationship for development in Africa toward TICAD 2008.

On climate change, it was decided to start Japan-UK Director-General-level consultations, and the first consultation was held prior to this meeting. The Foreign Ministers welcomed close cooperation between the two countries since the Gleneagles Summit in 2005 and agreed to further promote Japan-UK cooperation toward building an effective international framework with the participation of the main gas-emitting countries.

Related Information (Press Release)

II. 10th Japan-EU High Level Meeting on the Environment

Mr. Taniguchi: The 10th Japan-EU (European Union) High Level Meeting on the Environment was held in Brussels on Monday 21 May. This Meeting was co-chaired, on the Japanese side, by Mr. Mutsuyoshi Nishimura, Ambassador for Global Environmental Affairs, and on the EU side, by Mr. Peter Carl, Director-General of the Environment Directorate-General of the European Commission.

A wide-ranging policy dialogue was held on environmental issues such as climate change, the sustainable use of natural resources, and biodiversity.

On the issue of climate change, both Japan and the EU shared the recognition of the necessity of stabilizing the level of greenhouse gases and establishing an effective framework in which major greenhouse-gas-emitting countries can participate. On the issue of waste, both Japan and the EU agreed on promoting the 3R Initiative cooperatively to establish an international recycling-based society. On the REACH Regulation (the EU's regulations on chemical products) and the WEEE/RoHS regulations (the EU's regulations on recycling and limits of toxic materials), the EU side stated that they would provide information for Japanese industries and others, and give the Japanese side opportunities to submit opinions concerning the issue. Both sides exchanged opinions on issues related to dismantling discarded vessels, waste crossing borders, and other items of common concern.

Related Information (Press Release)

III. Update of New Japanese ODA projects

Mr. Taniguchi: The Government of Japan has decided to extend a grant aid for up to 4,868 million yen for five projects in three countries, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the Republic of Honduras, and Notes to this effect were exchanged on Wednesday 23 May and Thursday 24 May.

The project in Sri Lanka is the Project for Construction of New Mannar Bridge and Improvement of Causeway, and it intends to construct a bridge to connect Mannar Island in the Northern Province with the main island for improving the access for hospitals, schools and other important facilities.

The project in Ethiopia is the Project for Water Supply in the African Region, and it is intended to construct and rehabilitate the water supply system for about 34 thousand population to improve the access to safe water.

The projects in Honduras are the Project for the construction of Japan and Central America Friendship Bridge, the Project for the improvement of San Felipe Hospital, and the Project for the rehabilitation of the Guaymon Bridge. These are intended to bring about economic development and better access for the health service.

With that I would like to end today's Regular Internet Chat Press Conference. See you at the next Regular Internet Chat Press Conference.

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