Disaster Risk Reduction

1. At the beginning, Prime Minister Abe expressed Japan’s gratitude as the host country, and stated that the leader-level dignitaries’ participation in the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction shows the international community’s political commitment to disaster risk reduction.

2. As a guest speaker, to begin with H.E. Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group mentioned a cyclone causing damage in Vanuatu, said disaster risk reduction is extremely important in terms of efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and rectify economic gaps, and expressed his thanks for Prime Minister Abe’s personal political leadership and Japan’s efforts in continuing to keep disaster risk reduction on the international agenda. Furthermore, he cited infectious diseases such as the Ebola virus disease and natural disasters as major risks currently facing the international community, and said advance preparations are important in both cases. He said that in particular, this year the post-2015 development agenda will be adopted and will present an important opportunity to engage in important challenges, including disaster risk reduction and health, and expressed gratitude for Japan’s leadership in the two fields of disaster risk reduction and universal health coverage.

3. Next, H.E. Miss Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said she highly appreciates the “Sendai Cooperation Initiative for Disaster Risk Reduction” that was announced on the same day by Prime Minister Abe (unanimously applauded by the participants). She also appreciated Japan’s cooperation for disaster risk reduction based on the basic concept of “Build Back Better.” Administrator Clark said that she has been inspired by Sendai’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, disaster risk reduction in which only individual measures are taken is inadequate, and there is a need to spread disaster risk reduction in development policies overall. She also expressed her gratitude for Prime Minister Abe’s personal leadership, Japan’s support, and Sendai’s hospitality.

4. The food served at this lunch meeting was arranged on Sendai Tansu (chests of drawers), a traditional Sendai craft product, in order to convey Sendai’s appeal and the recovery of disaster-affected regions.