Press Releases

1. Today, on July 29, the first meeting of the “Advisory Panel on Science and Technology Diplomacy” was held with the attendance of Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Seiji Kihara, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs. Dr. Takashi Shiraishi, President of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, who serves as the chairman of the panel; experts from fields such as science and technology, industry and international relations; and representatives from relevant ministries and organizations participated in the meeting.

2. Foreign Minister Kishida stated that world-class science and technology are precious diplomatic resources of Japan and he expected the participants to discuss how such science and technology could be utilized for diplomacy and how international cooperation for enhancement of science and technology/innovation should be implemented at the panel from a viewpoint of both development of science and enhancement of national interests, taking into consideration the current international situations. President Shiraishi of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, who chairs the panel, raised issues for future discussion that he would like the panel to discuss, notably specific measures, including systems and structures, for utilization of science and technology for the diplomacy of Japan. Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave explanations on the current situation and issues of science and technology diplomacy and on the basis of the explanation, opinions were exchanged between panel members and participants.

3. The panel is scheduled to be held several times, approximately once every two months, and is expected to submit a recommendation to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on measures necessary for fulfilling and enhancing future science and technology diplomacy.