Press Releases
The 27th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference: Welcome Reception hosted by Foreign Minister Kishida and Signing Ceremony of the International Energy Charter
November 25, 2016
- On November 25, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, hosted a welcome reception as part of the 27th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference held under the Japanese Presidency on November 25-26 in Tokyo. The reception was attended by about 200 people, including 22 Ministerial-level participants of the Meeting and 50 Ambassadors to Japan, as well as from the governments, international organizations and the private sector.
- 2. At the beginning of the reception, the signing ceremony of the International Energy Charter was held under the patronage of Foreign Minister Kishida. The International Energy Charter is a political declaration supporting the modernization of the Energy Charter Process. The representatives of six parties –H.E. Mr. Hamid Chitchian, Minister of Energy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Rodrigo Estuardo Fernández Ordóñez, Vice Minister of Energy and Mines in charge of energy area of the Republic of Guatemala, Mr. Ihsan Al-Saade, President of South Gas Company of the Republic of Iraq, Amb. Ahmad Allam-Mi, Secretary General of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)), Mr. Najim El Hadj Mohamed, Permanent Secretary of the Permanent Secretariat of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel) and Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC) –signed the Charter and became recognized as Observers of the Energy Charter Conference.
- Foreign Minister Kishida then made a welcome speech and toast, in which he expressed gratitude that Japan had become the first country in East Asia to take the Presidency of the Energy Charter Conference this year, while the Energy Charter Treaty was gaining importance as the foundation of international cooperation and a contributor to strengthening the rule of law in the energy sector. Foreign Minister Kishida also reaffirmed Japan's continued contribution to the modernization and internationalization of the Energy Charter Process.
- 4. At the reception, Foreign Minister Kishida exchanged views with Dr. Urban Rusnák, Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat and other participants on the importance of the role of the Energy Charter for addressing global energy issues.