Japan-WHO Joint Meeting on Early Response to Potential Influenza Pandemic
Remarks by Mr. Katsutoshi Kaneda, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs

(January 12, 9:00-)

Japanese

Your Excellency,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great honor and pleasure to declare, on behalf of the Government of Japan, the opening of the Japan-WHO Joint Meeting on Early Response to Potential Influenza Pandemic resulted from avian influenza. I would like to take a moment here to express my sincere gratitude to WHO for their dedication and cooperation to realize this conference.

The spread of highly pathogenic influenza among birds and increasing cases of its spread to human beings are indicative of a growing danger of the development of a new influenza that are transmittable among human beings. With today's level of developed transportation networks, infectious diseases easily spread across borders and sweep throughout the world. Under the circumstances, it is essential that countries cooperate to make every effort to stop the new global flu pandemic under the spirit of "human security", an idea aiming at creating societies that ensure human dignity through empowering and protecting individuals and communities.

The Government of Japan has taken measures as a member of the Asian region which has seen a particularly high number of new influenza cases. Prime Minister Koizumi announced, at the East Asia Summit last December, plans to provide assistance of approximately 135 million dollars by the end of March to combat avian and pandemic influenza in Asia. As a part of these plans, Japan will assist in the stockpiling of necessary supplies such as antiviral drugs for 500 thousand people. We will continue our efforts with other governments both in and around the region and WHO to help Asia take firm countermeasures.

Your Excellency,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have already entered into the phase of "Pandemic alert" defined by WHO. This meeting aims at seeking necessary conditions for successful early response, concrete actions for containment, possible order of actions, as well as realizing necessary preparatory measures to contain the pandemic as soon as possible when it breaks out. Here at this conference, with the presence of the specialists from Asia, donor countries, partners and international organizations, we have gathered for the first time to discuss on these issues putting focus exclusively on "early response." I hope that this meeting will make concrete recommendations for Asia to respond this new menace.

Finally, I wish to end my remarks by expressing my hope to see further advancements through today's and tomorrow's discussions in concrete measures for early response to a new flu pandemic resulted from avian influenza.

Thank you very much for your attention.