Energy

(1) On November 25 and 26, Japan hosted the 27th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference in Tokyo as the chair, for the first time in East Asia.(Program (PDF)) Representatives from 69 countries and regions, including 32 Ministerial-level participants, among them Ministers from Georgia, Afghanistan, Iran, Jordan, Romania, Slovakia, Swaziland, Uganda, and 9 international institutions attended the meeting. (List of Ministerial-level participants (PDF)) In total, 400 people including government officials, international organizations, business circle, academic circle and diplomatic corps in Tokyo attended during the two days.

(2) Following the Statutory Session in the morning on November 25, the Ministerial Session was held on November 26 and Mr. Kentaro Sonoura, State Minister for Foreign Affairs delivered the opening remarks (English (PDF) / Japanese (PDF)) and led the proceedings of the session as acting chair of the Energy Charter Conference. State Minister Sonoura also hosted the special lunch for Ministerial-level participants. At the Ministerial Session, participants engaged in a lively discussion on how the Energy Charter Process can address the major global energy challenges, including responding to climate change and sustainable development. The “Tokyo Declaration on the Energy Charter” (English (PDF) / Japanese (PDF)) was issued as an outcome document.　Mr. Kazuo Kodama, Ambassador of Japan to the European Union, Vice-Chair of the Energy Charter Conference, chaired the Statutory Session and assisted State Minister Sonoura at the Ministerial Session.

(3) The outreach side-event on the theme of “Global Architecture and Its Implications in Asia” will be held in the afternoon on November 25. Mr. Motome Takisawa, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan attended the side-event and discussions was held on the impact and future prospects for strengthening energy security in Asia.

(4) In addition, the welcome reception hosted by Foreign Minister Kishida and the signing ceremony of the International Energy Charter was held under the patronage of Foreign Minister Kishida in the evening on November 25. The International Energy Charter is a political declaration supporting the modernization of the Energy Charter Process. The six parties, namely Iran, Guatemala, Iraq, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Permanent Secretariat of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel) and the East African Community (EAC), signed the Charter and became recognized as Observers of the Energy Charter Conference.