Action Agenda for the Japan-Germany Partnership
The purpose of this joint Action Agenda, drawn up by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, is to further strengthen and deepen the friendly relations between the two nations in a variety of bilateral and multilateral fields. To this end, the Action Agenda sets out the aims, methods and details of joint Japan-Germany cooperation in five fields. Appended to this document is a list of all the fields in which the two Governments are currently engaged in some form of exchange, discussion, and/or cooperation.
The Governments of both Japan and Germany believe that this initiative will help ensure that their bilateral relations are both meaningful and commensurate with the global standing of both nations. The two Governments will review the progress of cooperation and continue developing the Action Agenda through the annual Japan-Germany Regular Foreign Ministerial Consultation.
The Governments of Japan and Germany invite the active participation of interested parties in both countries in the process of formulating, developing and implementing this Action Agenda.
- Contributing to the Peace and Stability of the International Community
- Contributing to the Development of the Global Economic System
- Contributing to the Welfare of the International Community
- Contributing to the Development of Closer Relations Between Asia and Europe
- Strengthening the bilateral Relationship
I. Contributing to the Peace and Stability of the International Community
(1) United Nations
The Governments of both nations will continue working together to promote comprehensive and balanced reform of the United Nations, in order to strengthen its functions and enable it to respond to the issues of the 21st century. The two Governments will also hold discussions on United Nations peace-keeping operations (PKO).
(2) Security
The Governments of both nations will work together to promote dialogue between Asia and Europe on security issues.
(3) Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
The Governments of Japan and Germany, both non-nuclear weapon States, will strengthen cooperation in the fields of arms control and disarmament of nuclear and other weapons, and nonproliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
The two Governments will work together to promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons based on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the decisions taken at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the NPT.
Both Governments will work closely with the United Nations and other international organizations on the removal of land mines and other related tasks in the more than 60 countries throughout the world where unexploded land mines still exist.
(4) Peaceful Use of Nuclear Power
The two Governments will promote cooperation in the fields of the peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear safety.
(5) Regional Cooperation
a. North Korea
The two Governments reaffirm their common belief in the importance of the four-party conference, and of the need to continue working together with the international community on the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) and other initiatives to resolve the question of nuclear development in North Korea, in order to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
b. Former Yugoslavia
The two Governments will actively participate in the efforts of the international community to restore peace to the former Yugoslavia and to rebuild and rejuvenate the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
c. Russian Federation
The two Governments will continue to conduct an ongoing dialogue on the Russian Federation and to support the reform process in Russia.
d. Newly Independent States (NIS)
The two Governments will work together to provide bilateral Japan-Germany support to NIS countries.
e. People's Republic of China
The two Governments will promote mutual understanding of and coordination between their respective positions on and policies toward China.
f. The Middle East and Gulf Region
The two Governments affirm their common belief in the need for further efforts by the international community (including Japan and Germany) to bring about comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East region.
Similarly, both Governments see the stability of the Gulf region as crucial to the maintenance of peace and stability in the international community.
II. Contributing to the Development of the Global Economic System
(1) Coordinated Efforts to Achieve Stable Growth in the Global Economy
The two Governments will endeavor to coordinate government policy among G-7 member nations to ensure stable growth in the global economy.
At the same time, both Governments acknowledge the importance of dealing with various problems generated during the process of economic globalization.
(2) Coordinated Efforts to Strengthen the Multilateral Trading System
The two Governments will promote bilateral cooperation in order to strengthen the multilateral trading system based on the World Trade Organization (WTO). Both Governments will pursue further liberalization at the WTO.
III. Contributing to the Welfare of the International Community
(1) Coordinated Assistance
The two Governments, as leading aid donors, will boost Japan-Germany bilateral cooperation in order to support the economic development of developing countries. The relevant authorities of both countries will endeavor to coordinate aid policy more closely, enhance mutual understanding of economic aid programs in each country, develop new joint aid projects.
(2) Environment
The two Governments will boost bilateral cooperation on environmental issues. Similarly, both Governments will boost cooperation in the field of environmental technology within the frameworks of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA).
(3) Human Rights
The two Governments, believing human rights to be a universal value, will work together to protect and promote human rights.
(4) Social Issues
The two governments will enhance information exchange and discussion on the response to issues common to developing nations, including employment, the aging of society and social security. Both Governments welcome discussion of social values in relation to these issues.
IV. Contributing to the Development of Closer Relations Between Asia and Europe
(1) Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)
The two Governments acknowledge and applaud the success of the first ASEM as heralding the advent of closer cooperative relations between Asia and Europe. Both Governments will coordinate their follow-up responses to ASEM.
(2) The Relationship Between the European Union (EU) and the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum
The two Governments will work together to promote mutual understanding between the EU and APEC.
V. Strengthening the bilateral Relationship
(1) Official Visits
The two Governments will work together to increase the number and frequency of official visits in both directions, and welcome a higher level of parliamentary exchange of representatives of both nations.
(2) Cooperation Between Diplomatic Authorities
The two Governments will expand all forms of diplomatic cooperation at the executive level, promote discussion between Japanese and German diplomatic representations in other countries, and boost the exchange of diplomatic officials.
(3) Fora for Bilateral Dialogue
The two Governments acknowledge the contribution to mutual understanding and closer relations furnished by fora for bilateral dialogue involving academics and leading figures in all areas, and look forward to the continuing development of such dialogue.
(4) Economic Ties
The two Governments seek to build closer economic ties between Japan and Germany.
To this end, government departments responsible for trade, economic and monetary policy will meet regularly to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the two Governments in these fields.
The Government of Germany welcomes dialogue between the individual German states and the Government of Japan and the Japanese private sector (which plays a central role in promoting economic activity), and supports the development of closer economic relations between Japan and individual states in the former East Germany.
The two Governments encourage exchange between leading Japanese and German industry group, and between Japanese and German companies working in Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and elsewhere.
Both Governments welcome the initiative shown by German industry toward Japan, and support, in particular, the efforts of small- and medium-sized German enterprises to develop closer ties with Japan.
Both Governments look forward to greater use by potential Japanese investors of German Government measures designed to stimulate foreign investment in the former East German region.
The two Governments will work together to protect intellectual property rights.
(5) Science and Technology Exchanges
The two Governments will promote cooperation in the science and technology fields, with particular emphasis on greater personnel exchange.
Both Governments look forward to an increasing level of activity by the Japan-Germany Cooperation Council for High-Technology and Environmental Technology, an initiative of both leaders.
(6) Culture and Youth Exchange and Legal Exchanges
The two Governments will investigate all aspects of youth exchange policy in order to boost youth exchange.
Both Governments welcome greater exchange at the prefectural/state and local levels, and a related expansion of the Sister Cities Exchange Program.
Similarly, both governments hope to see a greater level of exchange in legal fields.
Back to Index
