Countries & Regions
Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida and Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
June 1, 2013
On June 1, commencing at 11:50 a.m. for around 40 minutes, Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida met with Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) at the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V). The overview of the meeting is as follows:
1. At the start of the meeting, Minister Kishida welcomed Secretary-General Ban’s participation in TICAD V and expressed his wish to further cooperate with the UN for peace, stability, and development in Africa. Secretary-General Ban commended Japan’s initiative to host TICAD V and expressed gratitude for Japan’s contributions to Africa.
2. Foreign Minister Kishida expressed concern for the worsening situation in Syria, and the two shared the view that they would cooperate toward the second Geneva conference on Syria. And UN Secretary-General appreciated the Japan’s contribution for peace keeping operation in the Republic of South Sudan. In response, Minister Kishida announced the decision that Japan would be expanding the activities area of its dispatched engineering unit. In addition, Minister Kishida brought up the Special Conference on Somalia held on the previous day, expressing the desire to contribute to nation building in Somalia in the future. Furthermore, the two shared the view that Japan and the UN would continue to cooperate closely on the response to missile and nuclear tests by North Korea as well as the abduction issue.
3. The two reaffirmed the importance of UN reform, especially the reform of Security Council. Minister Kishida emphasized the importance of the post-2015 development agenda, and said that he hoped to send a powerful message at TICAD V about it, including crucial concepts such as human security. In addition, Minister Kishida pointed out the importance of universal health coverage (UHC) in the development of states, and said that he valued the placement of this concept within the post-2015 development agenda. Secretary-General Ban expressed his appreciation and expectation to the Japanese contribution in the field of human security as well as UHC.
4. Minister Kishida commended upon that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been placing importance on gender issues. Minister explained that Japan has donated approximately USD 4.5 million to UN initiatives for the prevention of sexual violence against women in conflict, and that Japan has been strengthening gender issues initiatives, including the formulation of “National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325” related to women, peace and safety.
5. Lastly, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon valued Japan’s efforts for hosting the Third World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) in Sendai, and he also invited Japan to cooperate for the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). In response, Minister Kishida asked Secretary-General Ban’s cooperation for the success of the coming WCDR, and he expressed his idea that Japan would play a positive and constructive role in the field of arms trade.
2. Foreign Minister Kishida expressed concern for the worsening situation in Syria, and the two shared the view that they would cooperate toward the second Geneva conference on Syria. And UN Secretary-General appreciated the Japan’s contribution for peace keeping operation in the Republic of South Sudan. In response, Minister Kishida announced the decision that Japan would be expanding the activities area of its dispatched engineering unit. In addition, Minister Kishida brought up the Special Conference on Somalia held on the previous day, expressing the desire to contribute to nation building in Somalia in the future. Furthermore, the two shared the view that Japan and the UN would continue to cooperate closely on the response to missile and nuclear tests by North Korea as well as the abduction issue.
3. The two reaffirmed the importance of UN reform, especially the reform of Security Council. Minister Kishida emphasized the importance of the post-2015 development agenda, and said that he hoped to send a powerful message at TICAD V about it, including crucial concepts such as human security. In addition, Minister Kishida pointed out the importance of universal health coverage (UHC) in the development of states, and said that he valued the placement of this concept within the post-2015 development agenda. Secretary-General Ban expressed his appreciation and expectation to the Japanese contribution in the field of human security as well as UHC.
4. Minister Kishida commended upon that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been placing importance on gender issues. Minister explained that Japan has donated approximately USD 4.5 million to UN initiatives for the prevention of sexual violence against women in conflict, and that Japan has been strengthening gender issues initiatives, including the formulation of “National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325” related to women, peace and safety.
5. Lastly, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon valued Japan’s efforts for hosting the Third World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) in Sendai, and he also invited Japan to cooperate for the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). In response, Minister Kishida asked Secretary-General Ban’s cooperation for the success of the coming WCDR, and he expressed his idea that Japan would play a positive and constructive role in the field of arms trade.