Press Releases
Holding of the Stakeholder Meeting Towards the Implementation of the Voluntary National Review (VNR) concerning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Results)
March 21, 2025
On 21st March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a stakeholder meeting towards the implementation of the Voluntary National Review (VNR) concerning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs IKUINA Akiko in attendance.
- Japan plans to present its third VNR, after a four-year period, at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July 2025. In preparation for the VNR, a stakeholder meeting was held with participants from the SDGs Promotion Roundtable, comprising members of civil society, experts, private enterprises, and other relevant parties. The meeting facilitated an exchange of views among stakeholders from various fields.
- At the outset, Parliamentary Vice-Minister IKUINA delivered a greeting on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She underscored the significance of the VNR and emphasized the necessity of strengthening collaboration across Japanese society, with the support of stakeholders, to achieve the SDGs by 2030 and build a sustainable future.
- Approximately 150 individuals (including online participants) from civil society, experts, private enterprises, government officials and other relevant parties attended the meeting, centered around the SDGs Promotion Roundtable. In the thematic sessions on (i) Sustainable Economic and Social Systems, (ii) Leaving No One Behind, (iii) Global Issues, and (iv) International Cooperation and Peace Development, lively discussions were held concerning the contents of the VNR report, the ways Japan can contribute, how to communicate domestically as well as internationally, and how to advance efforts towards the achievement of the SDGs.
- The VNR report is scheduled to be finalized by the SDGs Promotion Headquarters, following a period of public comment.