Press Conferences

Mr. Norio Maruyama, Foreign Press Secretary: On November 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is going to hold the Third Forum of Youth Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons in Hiroshima City.

As has already been explained, MOFA is scheduled to hold the first meeting of the Eminent Persons Group for a Substantial Progress of Nuclear Disarmament in Hiroshima City from November 27 to 28. And similarly, the 27th United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues will be held in Hiroshima City from November 29 to 30. This Third Forum of Youth Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons is to be held in conjunction with these events, on November 26.

The purpose of this forum is to try to maintain and strengthen momentum for a world without nuclear weapons by seeking to invigorate the activities of the Youth Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons, as well as strengthen the network of people with experience as Youth Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons at home and abroad in order to spread correct understanding of the realities of atomic bombings beyond borders and generations.

Foreign Press Secretary Maruyama: The Japan’s Friendship Ties Program is a program that is intended to promote understanding of Japan’s politics, economy, society, culture, history and foreign policy, between Japan and the various nations and regions of the Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, and Central and South America, particularly by inviting and dispatching future leaders with ability to convey information abroad, and to explore pro-Japanese groups and people who are knowledgeable about Japan, as well as to enhance Japan’s diplomatic foundation by having participants proactively convey Japan’s foreign policy positions and appeal.

The program covers the Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, and Central and South America, and the MIRAI Program is targeting Europe and the Central Asia and Caucasus region this time.

84 undergraduate and graduate students from the various countries and regions are invited from today, October 4, until October 11. 82 students from the same countries and regions are scheduled to be invited to participate in this program in December this year also.

During their stay in Japan, participants will look around Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kyoto and experience traditional arts, as well as attend lectures on Japanese politics, economics and society at Keio University and hold discussions with Japanese students. In Hiroshima, they will visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and listen to a talk by an atomic bomb survivor in order to deepen their understanding of the realities of atomic bombings.

On the final day, October 10, participants will attend a lecture on Japan’s foreign policy and exchange views based on their experiences visiting Hiroshima, at MOFA. They are also scheduled to hold a debriefing session with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Iwao Horii.

Ono, Asahi Shimbun: Are Minister, State Ministers, or Parliamentary Vice-Ministers from MOFA scheduled to attend the Third Forum of Youth Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons?

Foreign Press Secretary Maruyama: As I mentioned earlier, this forum will be held in Hiroshima City, and MOFA officials are also scheduled to attend the forum, but the arrangement regarding what level of officials will attend, and in what capacity, will take place from here on.