1.
PM Kan Calls for “Opening Japan and Reinventing KIZUNA” in Davos
2.
The Adoption of the Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in
the DPRK
3.
The Second Meeting of the Japan-Arab Economic
Forum
4.
The Third Bali Democracy Forum
5.
Climate Change
6.
Japan's Assistance Package to Afganistan
7.
Launch of the “Visa for Medical Stay”
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JICC
Newsletter
No.2, February 2011 |
1. PM
Kan Calls for “Opening Japan and Reinventing KIZUNA” in Davos
H.E. Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the 2011
Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, known as “Davos,” held
from January 26 to 30 in Switzerland. On January 29, he delivered a
special speech entitled “Opening Japan and Reinventing KIZUNA.”
In his message, Prime Minister Kan appealed the
need to “Open Japan” by breaking the impasse in people’s minds and
in the economy while reinventing “KIZUNA” (interpersonal bonds) so
that the opening of the nation will not bring about a rupture among
the people. The Prime Minister conveyed the message to the world
according to the following points:
(i)
Opening ourselves up (tackling the new reality, building on
150-year-old lessons learned on opening the country, promoting
economic partnerships to give concrete form to our opening,
revitalizing agriculture based on a nation-opening spirit, and
overcoming growth limitations with innovation based on a
nation-opening spirit);
(ii)
Creating new bonds (“KIZUNA”) (generating the new bonds needed for a
society with the least unhappiness, redefining the value of work
from the perspective of bonds, developing a spiral-staircase model
for revitalizing traditions with new values, promoting international
contributions built on the concept of “human security,” and
accelerating “inclusive growth” in the APEC Growth Strategy); and
(iii)
Conclusion - achieving cross-coupling for Japan, and for the wider
world
Japanese Nobel Prize winners in Chemistry have invented a scientific
method known as cross-coupling, which is the act of separating bound
atoms and molecules and forming different bonds among them.
In its challenge to build an open future, Japan is
driven to reconnect people by utilizing new bonds, “KIZUNA,” through
cross-coupling, so as not to have them separate from society.
Prime Minister Kan also attended the opening of
a session on “Reinventing Japan” and stressed the need for Japan and
its people to restore confidence and step outside into the world.
H.E. Mr. Banri Kaieda, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and
Dr. Sadako Ogata, President of the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA), also attended the session as panelists.
During his visit to Davos, Prime Minister Kan also
engaged in intense exchanges of views with experts in international
affairs, including Mr. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the
United Nations. The experts made references to, inter alia, a high
evaluation of “human security”; the importance of changing mindsets
and of the movement of people in opening the nation; expectations
for Japan’s leadership in the Doha Round negotiations in the World
Trade Organization (WTO) and economic partnerships; and expectations
for Japan’s Growth Strategy including the reduction of corporate
taxes.
Please also refer to the website of the Prime
Minister of Japan and His Cabinet below for further information on
his attendance at the Davos Meeting, including the entire text of
the speech.
►http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/kan/actions/201101/29davos_e.html
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