Press Releases
Election of Mr. ONOE Seizo as Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
(Statement by Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa)
September 30, 2022
- On September 30, the election of the Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was held, and a Japanese candidate, Mr. ONOE Seizo, was elected as the next Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. Japan welcomes Mr. ONOE’s election.
- Mr. ONOE’s election follows that of Mr. METOKI Masahiko, who assumed the post of Director General of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in January 2022, and is another case of a Japanese being elected to a senior post at a UN specialized agency in the field of telecommunications and postal services. From the perspective of enhancing Japan’s presence in terms of rule-making in the international community as well as strengthening the relationship between Japan and international organizations, it is significant that talented Japanese individuals play active roles in important positions in international organizations.
- The election of Mr. ONOE is a testament to the international community’s high appreciation of his exceptional qualification as well as of Japan’s contributions in the field of telecommunications. His election is also important in terms of ensuring economic security.
- Japan also welcomes the election of Ms. Doreen BOGDAN-Martin of the United States, the incumbent Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, as the next Secretary-General of the ITU. Japan will continue to deepen its cooperative relationship with the ITU, in cooperation with the United States, and proactively contribute to fair and open rule-making in the field of telecommunications network standardization, including the rapidly advancing 5G and Beyond5G (6G) fields, and the development of telecommunications throughout the world, including developing countries.