Press Releases

1. The symposium, with the theme “Co-Creation, Solidarity, and the Future: Toward a Free and Open International Order and a New Era of Development Cooperation,” opened with a speech by Ms. Obuchi Yuko, a member of the House of Representatives and President of the JICA Parliamentary Union then followed keynote speeches by Mr. Takeshi Iwaya, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan (read by State Minister for Foreign Affairs MIYAJI Takuma on his behalf) and Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator for UNDP.
   Thereafter, the panels consisting of key figures from Japan, other countries and international organization, as well as experts from various fields, reviewed the history of Japan’s seven decades of international cooperation, while also presenting a vision for new approaches to development partnership under the updated Development Cooperation Charter.
2. In the first part, participants discussed an evaluation of Japan's 70 years of international cooperation, challenges the countries and international organizations are facing in light of global issues and changing international circumstances, the future potential of Japan’s international cooperation.
   
   Panelists:
   ・Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator for United Nations Development Programme
   ・H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation of the Arab Republic of Egypt
   ・Ms. Phonevanh Outhavong, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
   ・Dr. Hussain Niyaaz, Secretary, Economic and Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Maldives
   ・H.E. Mr. Jean Antoine Diouf, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Senegal to Japan
   ・H.E. Mr. Ahmed Chafra, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tunisia to Japan
   ・Mr. Kazuhiko Nakamura, Director-General for Global Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
   
   Moderator:
   ・Ms. Aiko Doden, Distinguished Senior Fellow, The Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies, Johns Hopkins University
    
3. In the second part of the session, under the theme of “New Approaches to International Cooperation”, the participants discussed new forms of international cooperation, including the significance and potential of international cooperation in solving common social challenges in international society and in Japan.
   
   Panelists:
   ・Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
   ・Mr. Masataka Uo, President & CEO, Japan Fundraising Association
   ・Dr. Tokutaro Hiramoto, Director, Center for SDGs Promotion, Kanazawa Institute of Technology; Professor, Department of Management Information
   ・Mr. Yosuke Mizukami, Executive Director, Ocean Solution Technology Co., Ltd.
   ・Ms. Yuika Oku, Chairperson, Teto Company NPO
   
   Moderator:
   ・Mr. Hideo Ishizuki, Director-General, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
    
4. The symposium concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator for UNDP. This symposium serves as the finale of the series of events to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) held throughout the year.

(Reference 1)
Keynote speech by Mr. Takeshi Iwaya, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan (read by State Minister for Foreign Affairs MIYAJI Takuma on his behalf)
(Japanese (PDF) / English (PDF) )

(Reference 2)
The 70th anniversary of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) and commemorative events (Japanese Only)