Press Releases
The 27th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference to be Held
1. On November 25 and 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host the 27th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference in Tokyo.
2. This year, Japan will become the first country from East Asia to chair the meeting of the Energy Charter Conference, and will be hosting the 27th Meeting in Tokyo. At the Conference, discussions will be held on how the Energy Charter Process can address the major global energy challenges, including responding to climate change and sustainable development.
3. On the evening of November 25, the signing ceremony of the International Energy Charter will be held during the Welcome Reception under the patronage of Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. The International Energy Charter is a political declaration supporting the modernization of the Energy Charter Process. The Ministerial Session will be held on November 26, which Mr. Kentaro Sonoura, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, is scheduled to attend as the representative of the Government of Japan.
4. In addition, an outreach side-event on the theme of “Global Archtecture and Its Implications in Asia” will be held on November 25. Mr. Motome Takisawa, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, will open the event and, discussions will be held on the impact and future prospects for strengthening energy security in Asia, in light of climate change.
(Reference) The Energy Charter Conference and The Energy Charter Process
The Energy Charter Conference is the decision-making body of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), which is held annually. The ECT was drafted in 1994 and is designed for the purpose of liberalizing trade and transit flows for energy materials and products, and protecting and liberalizing investment in the energy sector, based on the Europearn Energy Charter, and entered into force in 1998(Japan signed the treaty in 1995 and ratified it in 2002.). The European Energy Charter was signed on purpose to promote market-oriented reform in the energy sector, and encourage stable and favorable climate for energy trade and investment against the backdrop of the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. Also, in order to modernize the Energy Charter Process, the International Energy Charter, which is based on the European Energy Charter, was compiled and signed in May 2015.
(Reference) Program (to be confirmed)
Friday 25 November 2016
| 14:00～16:45 | Outreach Side Event: “Global Energy Architecture and its Implications in Asia” |
| 14:00-14:05 | Opening Remarks by Mr. Motome Takisawa, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan |
| 14:05-14:20 | Keynote Speech by Dr. Urban Rusnák, Secretary General, Energy Charter Secretariat |
| 14:20-14:35 | Keynote Speech by Dr. Sun Xiansheng, Secretary General, International Energy Forum |
| 14:45-15:45 | Session 1: Panel Discussion “How to strengthen Energy Security by better mobilizing global energy architecture while addressing climate change: Implication and Future Prospects in Asia ” |
| 15:45-16:40 | Session 2: Panel Discussion “Global Energy Architecture for better global energy future: Challenges and Opportunities” |
| 16:40-16:45 | Closing remarks and closing session |
| 17:45-19:00 | Welcome Reception hosted by Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan |
| 18:23 | Signing ceremony of the International Energy Charter |
| Remarks by Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan |
Saturday 26 November 2016
| 09:00-15:30 | Ministerial Session |
| 09:15-10:00 | Welcome and Opening Session |
| Opening remarks by Mr. Kentaro Sonoura, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan | |
| 10:30-11:40 | Plenary Session 1 “How can the Energy Charter contribute to global climate change and sustainable development including energy access?” |
| 11:40-12:00 | Ceremonial hotography |
| 14:00-15:20 | Plenary Session 2 “What kind of roles the Energy Charter can play to address global energy challenges with views of Asian and African emerging countries?” |
| 15:20-15:30 | Closing Session |