Press Releases
First Meeting of the Advisory Board for the Promotion of Science and Technology Diplomacy
1. The First Meeting of the Advisory Board for the Promotion of Science and Technology Diplomacy was held on 3 February.
2. At the opening, Mr. Seiji Kihara, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, introduced remarks by Mr. Fumio Kishida, the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Japan, in the foreign policy speech at the National Diet, regarding his intention to promote science and technology diplomacy in a various aspects of foreign policy, including security, global issues, and international cooperation, under the leadership of the Science and Technology Advisor. To that end, Mr. Kihara requested that at today’s meeting the members of the Advisory Board for the Promotion of Science and Technology Diplomacy bring together Japan’s strengths in a multidisciplinary manner under the Science and Technology Advisor, and that they discuss the content of the Science and Technology Advisor’s future activities, taking account of diplomatic opportunities such as the G7 Ise-Shima Summit and the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI).
3. Mr. Teruo Kishi, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, explained the state of activities thus far with a focus on initiatives to build networks at home and abroad and near-term plans, including cooperation with science and technology advisors from the United States and the United Kingdom.
4. This was followed by explanations by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet Office, and the Science Council of Japan regarding initiatives in preparation for the G7 Ise-Shima Summit and G7-related meetings for the science and technology field. Board members and attendees exchanged views on science and technology issues that Japan should address utilizing these opportunities. There was also a discussion of upcoming activities for the Science and Technology Advisor, such as initiatives in preparation for TICAD VI.
5. Board members presented opinions and proposals regarding future activities for the Science and Technology Advisor, in light of their expertise and from a wide variety of perspectives, with topics that included basic views on scientific advice, international cooperation, security, health and medicine, environment and climate change, information and communications technology (ICT), and science and technology policy.