1. The Reconstruction Process Enters Full Swing

2. PM Noda and FM Gemba Attend the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly

- PM Noda’s address to the General Assembly

- Third Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI)

- G8 Foreign Ministers Meeting (ministerial follow-up meeting on the Deauville Partnership)

- Ministerial-level side event on the MDGs

3. IAEA General Conference

1. The Reconstruction Process Enters Full Swing

Adoption of the “Basic Guidelines for Reconstruction”, etc.

Basic Guidelines for Reconstruction in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake

On July 29, the Reconstruction Headquarters in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, headed by the Prime Minister, finalized the government’s basic guidelines for reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, which was formulated with the greatest possible respect for the suggestions of the Reconstruction Design Council in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and the opinions of local governments and other entities in the disaster-struck areas. The content of the guidelines incorporates initiatives from the following four perspectives as basic concepts for reconstruction and measures towards recovery: (a) building disaster resistant and resilient regions, (b) restoration of life in communities, (c) revival of local economic activities, and (d) nation-building which incorporate lessons learnt from the Great Earthquake, in addition to incorporating (e) initiatives towards reconstruction from the nuclear accident. The following are also incorporated as initiatives to support reconstruction in the disaster areas: (a) setting up a “System of Special Zone for Reconstruction” and “Easy-to-use Grants”, as well as (b) providing support to ensure that the private sector will be activated to its maximum extent. In conjunction, the scale of the project anticipated going forward (at least approximately 23 trillion yen overall during the ten-year reconstruction period, of which at least approximately 19 trillion yen will be used in the “intensive reconstruction period” that refers to the first five years when reconstruction demand is highest) and the means of securing financial resources are also incorporated into the guidelines. Based on these guidelines, the Government of Japan intends to support the reconstruction of local governments struck by the disaster with its utmost capabilities.

“Open Reconstruction” and Rebuilding the so-called “Japan Brand”

During the reconstruction process, while strengthening bonds (kizuna) with the international community and incorporating various types of vigor from foreign countries, it is also a goal of this basic concept to strive for a reconstruction that is open to the world, rather than being focused inwardly. We also wish to show the world that the appeal of Japan is unchanged despite the disaster, as well as Japan’s resilience displayed during the earthquake. We cordially welcome everyone’s presence at exhibitions of Japanese products, tourism, and photos taken in the disaster-affected areas to be held hereafter. Furthermore, we are planning to hold a memorial service with the themes of remembrance, appreciation, and recovery around March 11 of next year to mark the first year since the earthquake. We hope that these initiatives Japan is taking with renewed recognition of the fact that “Japan exists together with the world”, spurred by the Great Earthquake, will continue to garner attention.

Submission of Supplemental Report to the IAEA on the TEPCO’s Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station Accident

For the IAEA Executive Board (held on September 12 to 16) and General Conference (19 to 23) in Vienna, the Government of Japan (Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters) compiled and submitted a supplemental report detailing the situation concerning the TEPCO’s Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station Accident since the IAEA Ministerial Conference on nuclear safety in June, and held a briefing on the accident at the IAEA General Conference. The report was written to provide (a) additional information on the accident gleaned following the report that was submitted in June and the current status of efforts to settle the accident, (b) the status of efforts on the 28 lessons from the accident listed in the report submitted in June, and (c) the status of response to the nuclear accident victims (off-site plan) and the status of investigations into the mid- to long-term plan (on-site plan) at the power station after the settlement of the accident, and it also contained points for Japan to reflect on with regard to the use of support and expertise from each country and institutions, as well as provision of information and other matters, under the heading “Cooperation with the International Community.” I would like you to accept once again our heartfelt gratitude for your country’s support after the Great East Japan Earthquake.