Press Conferences

Mr. Norio Maruyama, Foreign Press Secretary: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold the 3rd international symposium on the law of the sea “20 Years of Development of the Law of the Sea and Emerging Challenges” in Tokyo (at the Mita Conference Hall) on February 2 and 3.

The symposium will review how the law of the sea has steadily developed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which has been in effect for just over 20 years. There will also be discussion of emerging challenges faced by the international community in the field of the law of the sea today through the discussion of the contributions made to date by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, which were established under the Convention as well as specific examples of conflict resolution. Japan hopes to contribute to the healthy development of the law of the sea and further promote the rule of law at sea, a key pillar of Japan’s diplomatic policy, through discussions such as those that will be taking place at this symposium.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi is scheduled to deliver opening remarks on February 2, the first day of the symposium.

Please inquire with the Law of the Sea Division of the International Legal Affairs Bureau for details. The event is still open to media personnel so please contact the related division.

Foreign Press Secretary Maruyama: The Government of Japan offers its congratulations upon the election of Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat as the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU) in the election held on January 30 (same day local time) at the 28th AU Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mr. Moussa Faki Foreign is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and African Integration of the Republic of Chad.

The Government of Japan wishes to pay tribute to the achievements and leadership of H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the current AU Chairperson, and to express gratitude for the great contribution made by the AU Commission as a co-organizer of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) process to the success of TICAD VI last August, the first TICAD summit held in Africa.

The Government of Japan will continue to support the efforts of the AU, which embody Africa’s ownership, and to cooperate closely with the new leadership of the AU Commission.

Bloomberg, Reynolds: Defense Secretary James Mattis of the United States will be visiting Japan. Have you decided the schedule?

Foreign Press Secretary Maruyama: Defense Secretary Mattis will be visiting Japan and the Republic of Korea on February 1-4. He will arrive in Japan on February 3 and leave on February 4.

Bloomberg, Reynolds: Whom will he be meeting with?

Foreign Press Secretary Maruyama: During the visit, he is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, meet with Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, and then hold a Japan-US Defense Ministers’ Meeting.

NHK, Kobayashi: Defense Secretary Mattis will meet with Foreign Minister Kishida. Please explain what outcomes you expect from the meeting. What are your expectations?

Foreign Press Secretary Maruyama: In the meeting with Minister Kishida, the goal is establishing personal trust with Defense Secretary Mattis, who will be a partner in security and defense cooperation in the Japan-US “2+2” Foreign and Defense Ministers' Meeting and other forums, and engaging in a broad exchange of views on a variety of issues between Japan and the United States.