JAPANESE-FRENCH JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ ON A GLOBALISATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL

In a globalised and open world, where trade is growing and technological progress is advancing, but where inequality, instability and threats persist at the same time, the Governments of Japan and France feel that it is more essential than ever to be able to protect every individual's dignity. With this in mind, and in the spirit of the French-Japanese joint action plan, both Governments assert their determination to promote the reinforcement of international institutions in all areas in order to ensure peace and shared prosperity. To achieve these goals, the establishment of rules to be respected by all and the pursuit of further efficiency of the multilateral system are crucial.

1. The United Nations :

　- The United Nations, and the group of specialised institutions and agencies attached to it, constitute the forum of primary importance. In view of France's and Japan's major responsibilities in financing, administrating organisations efficiently, especially in the field of development and managing international programmes, both governments will intensify their co-operation within these organisations and will continue to promote reform of the United Nations System with the goal of making its bodies more effective and more representative.

　- Both governments reassert the central role of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security, and the importance that they attach to maintaining its authority. In this light, both reaffirm the necessity of the early achievement of the Security Council reform.

　- France reasserts its support for giving Japan a seat as a permanent member of the Security Council as part of the enlargement process for this body.

　- Both governments reaffirm the necessity of the UN financial reform, including the realisation of efficient budget and equitable scale of assessments,

　- Both governments, regarding climate change, recognise the importance of the entry into force of Kyoto Protocol in 2002 at the latest and reassert their intention to co-operate toward the success of the sixth session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

　- Both governments reaffirm the importance of humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters and conflicts, through the co-ordinated efforts of the international community, including UN humanitarian organisations, donor countries and NGOs in an appropriate manner

　- Both governments reaffirm their commitment to the adoption of the Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, as well as the Protocols by the end of the year 2000.

　- Both governments reaffirm the importance of the role of UNESCO in defending universal values and the coexistence of various cultures and their determination to co-operate to further improve this organisation.

2. International Financial Architecture:

　- The Governments of Japan and France have been working closely to strengthen the international financial system and hope to make further progress in this area. They reaffirmed their commitment to reinforcing their cooperation in implementing the wide range of measures agreed upon at the Cologne Summit to strengthen the international financial system.

　- The Governments of Japan and France are committed to strengthening the governance, the accountability and the decision-making rules of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs). In this context, they reaffirmed that the newly created International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) should play a central role in addressing promptly the main international monetary and financial issues. They are committed to strengthening and enhancing the role of the IMF, as well as the other IFI's one, in providing appropriate support to countries in need. The newly created G-20 should help increase informal dialogue with emerging economies and complement the system of Bretton Woods institutions.

　- The Governments of Japan and France have agreed on the importance of appropriate prudential regulations and supervision of financial activities. They agreed that progress should be made in the critical fields, such as Private Sector Involvement (PSI), appropriate monitoring of capital flows and exchange rate regimes for emerging market economies, regulatory implications of Highly Leveraged Institutions (HLIs) such as hedge funds, and the fight against financial crime, including through the regulation of off-shore centres.

　- They welcomed the euro having played an important role in international financial markets since its introduction in January, 1999. The introduction of the euro is an important contribution to the stability of the international monetary and financial system. The Governments of Japan and France have always been committed to improving the stability of the exchange rates of major currencies, and they will continue to cooperate closely in the context of the G7.

3. World Trade Organisation :

　- The Governments of Japan and France regret the result of the Ministerial Conference in Seattle, which was supposed to mark the start of a new round of multilateral trade negotiations. They will work together to get the process back on track as expeditiously as possible so that the new round of negotiations can be launched in the near future with the support of WTO members.

　- Both Governments, emphasising the need for constructive commitment by all parties, wish the WTO to evolve towards a more open, more transparent and more effective multilateral system with full involvement of developing countries. They stress the need to continue close consultations with civil society.

　- Both Governments will continue their co-operation not only in improving market access but also in reinforcing rules and disciplines including, among others, in the field of competition, investment, government procurement, TBT and anti-dumping.

　- The Prime Ministers declare that they are determined to work for recognition of the multifunctionality of agriculture including food safety, sustainable utilisation of resources and the social and environmental aspects of world trade, and to exert efforts for maintenance and strengthening of the multilateral trading system, with a view to achieving sustainable development of all WTO members.