Courtesy Call from Ms. Malala Yousafzai and Joint Press Announcement
Cabinet Secretariat, Friday, March 22, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On March 22, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from Ms. Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, at the Prime Minister’s Office. Following this, both held a joint press announcement.
Courtesy Call from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Cabinet Secretariat, Friday, March 22, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On March 22, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from Ms. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Luncheon for Female Ambassadors to Japan
Cabinet Secretariat, Thursday, March 14, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On March 14, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a luncheon at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence for female ambassadors accredited to Japan.
Closing Session of the B20 Summit
Cabinet Secretariat, Friday, March 15, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On March 15, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the Business 20 (B20) Tokyo Summit closing session held in Tokyo.
The Prime Minister said in his address,
“I am extremely honored to say a few words as the Chair of the G20 Osaka Summit in front of leading figures of the business circles of the participating countries.
On behalf of the Government of Japan, I welcome all of you to our country. It has been ten years since the leaders of major economies came under the same roof and held the inaugural G20 summit with the determination to maintain sustainable growth through the unity of international community.
During this period, the G20, the leaders of twenty countries, have gathered regularly and communicated to the world our determination to tackle various issues while exchanging views on the state of the global economy. Indeed, the G20 has played a major role in driving the global economy forward.
The prospect of the global economy has been increasing its uncertainty due to the ongoing development of the trade frictions between the United States and China, and Brexit. Against this backdrop, the importance of the G20 is increasing more significantly. Unity is the starting point of the G20. At this year’s Osaka Summit, I intend to confirm once again the strong commitment of the G20 towards sustainable growth of the global economy.
Under the Abe Cabinet, the Japanese economy has grown by more than 10 percent thanks to our economic policy, known as the three arrows of Abenomics. Now, the number of job openings exceeds the number of applicants in all 47 prefectures in Japan, which is the first time in our history.
We will further consolidate the growth path for our economy. To that end, our Growth Strategy, which looks ahead to our future among the three arrows, is more important than anything else.
Artificial intelligence, robots, big data – the world is currently in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. While the world is facing various issues such as expanding inequality, declining birthrate, and aging societies, we must work on overcoming these challenges through making full use of innovative technologies.
It is the G20, a group of economies that account for 80% of the world’s GDP, and most importantly, the leaders of business circles that should take the lead of such efforts. In this regard, the role of the B20 is quite important.
Your recommendations today have come out at truly a timely manner, and I intend to work together to pave the way to the new era, which we call “Society 5.0.” Data can be seen equivalent to oil in the era of Society 5.0; we must ensure a free flow of data cross the world, while protecting privacy and security.
At the recent Davos meeting, I proposed the concept of Data Free Flow with Trust (D.E.F.T.). I would like to launch the Osaka Track for global rule making on the occasion of the G20 Osaka Summit. By doing so, I hope to bring new momentum towards the reform of the WTO. I intend to bring this to further progress of the trade system based on free and fair rules.
It is also crucial to create a virtuous cycle between environmental protection and growth by expanding investments in this field. We must combine forces to accelerate innovations such as technologies making full use of CO2 as a resource material. By doing so, we will make significant progress towards the resolution of climate change. If we are successful in mass production of bioplastics that dissolve in the sea, we will see a significant improvement on the issue of ocean plastic pollution.
Advancing our efforts on global issues is also one of the agendas of this year’s G20 towards a sustainable world. Any single country is not capable of solving these issues alone; Collective efforts of the international community are indispensable.
At the same time, it is true that many pessimistic views exist over the progress of international cooperation regarding the current status of world affairs. Nevertheless, I will close my remarks by sharing a quote from the French philosopher, Alain (Émile Auguste Chartier) – “Pessimism comes from the temperament, optimism from the will.” We will surely be able to come up with policies toward the solution to various issues at this year’s G20 Summit. I am an optimist in this regard. That is because the leaders of the twenty countries come together because we share a strong will towards the resolution of global issues. I will exercise leadership as the chair with such a strong will and exert every effort to seek a consensus by identifying our common grounds not emphasizing our differences. I would like to ask the members of the B20 for your cooperation.
I intend to make the G20 Osaka Summit a success through cooperation with the business circles. I would like to close my remarks by clearly stating that intention in front of you. Thank you for listening.”
Courtesy Call from the L20
Cabinet Secretariat, Monday, March 18, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On March 18, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from the Labour 20 (L20, representatives of labour unions of the G20 countries), at the Prime Minister’s Office.
National Defense Academy Graduation Ceremony
Cabinet Secretariat, Sunday, March 17, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On March 17, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the graduation ceremony at the National Defense Academy in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, delivered an address to the graduates.
Courtesy Call from the President of the National Assembly of the Lao PDR
Cabinet Secretariat, Tuesday, March 19, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On March 19, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from H.E. Mrs. Pany Yathotou, President of the National Assembly, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Ministerial Council on the Monthly Economic Report and Other Relative Issues
Cabinet Secretariat, Wednesday, March 20, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On March 20, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a meeting of the Ministerial Council on the Monthly Economic Report and Other Relative Issues at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Regarding the assessment of the current state of the Japanese economy, the March Monthly Economic Report states, “The Japanese economy is recovering at a moderate pace while weakness is seen recently in exports and industrial production in some sectors.” Furthermore, concerning short-term prospects, the Report states, “The economy is expected to continue recovering, supported by the effects of the policies, while employment and income situation is improving. However, attention should be given to the effects of situations over trade issues on the world economy, the prospect of the Chinese economy, the uncertainty of situations and policies in overseas economies and the effects of fluctuations in the financial and capital markets.”
Ministerial Council on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities in the Public Service
Cabinet Secretariat, Friday, March 22, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On March 19, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the third meeting of the Ministerial Council on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities in the Public Service, at the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the meeting, a discussion was held on the further enhancing and strengthening of measures based on the Basic Policy on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities in the Public Service.
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
“Even as we were promoting initiatives aimed at creating a society in which all citizens are dynamically engaged – a society where everyone, including those with disabilities and those without, can fully demonstrate their capabilities – it came to light last year that many of the Administrative Organs of the State have continuously failed to meet the legal employment quota for persons with disabilities for many years. This is truly regrettable, and we must repent and reflect deeply this once again.
In response to this case, we decided on the basic policy at this ministerial council in last October, and have worked on meeting the legal employment quota for persons with disabilities swiftly, and expanding the opportunities for persons with disabilities to play an active role, in addition to implementing a series of measures to prevent the recurrence of this case.
As reported by Minister Nemoto earlier, we will submit, to this Diet session, a bill to amend the Act on Employment Promotion etc. of Persons with Disabilities, which includes items such as collection of reports. In addition to that, today we compiled a set of government’s responses; we must thoroughly work on implementing them in unity with a view that these measures will further enrich and strengthen our initiatives based on the Basic Policy.
Going forward, I ask all the ministers to exert every effort to expand opportunities for those with disabilities so that they can play an active role making full use of their enthusiasm and talents.”
Courtesy Call from a Delegation of Legislators Participating in the U.S.-Japan Legislative Exchange Program
Cabinet Secretariat, Wednesday, March 20, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On March 20, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from a delegation of legislators participating in the U.S.-Japan Legislative Exchange Program at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Ministerial Council on Child Abuse Prevention Measures
Cabinet Secretariat, Tuesday, March 19, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On March 19, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a meeting of the Ministerial Council on Child Abuse Prevention Measures at the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the meeting, a discussion was held on measures to prevent child abuse.
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
“The five-year-old-girl, Yua, who wrote out, in hiragana characters that she had just learned, her desire to meet her parents’ expectations even as she was abused by them, and Mia, who sent out heart-wrenching pleas for help—We cannot stop regretting that these painful and tragic incidents claim young lives as a consequence of abuse, and our feelings of remorse may never pass. It is the responsibility of all of us grown-ups to protect the lives of children.
With this strong resolve, we have just compiled this document on.
In order to implement these measures, the Government will submit a bill to amend to the Child Welfare Act and other relevant acts in this Diet session. This bill includes a series of enhanced measures to deal with the issues that have recently come to light, such as the provisions that clearly prohibit corporal punishment and provisions to review the right to discipline. It also includes separating the assignments between those officers in charge of intervention such as temporary protection and those in charge of parental support so as to enable the authorities to enforce temporary protection without hesitation as well as strengthening synergies with measures against domestic violence implemented by the counseling and support centers for spousal violence.
In addition to these, we also decided enhance and strengthen social child care such expanding the benefits of child welfare officers, strengthening the structure of child guidance centers, including the expansion of temporary protection facilities for children, as well as providing school lawyers to the boards of Education and former police officers to schools, expanding support to foster parents and reviewing the special adoption scheme. We will strongly promote these measures with a sense of urgency.
Furthermore, through the emergency safety check that I instructed at this ministerial council on February 8, there have been several cases reported that resulted in temporary protection or other measures. I ask you to continue to take all possible measures to provide such care and protection for children.
Amidst growing awareness among communities and relevant organizations, the number of child abuse reports has increased annually. Even under such circumstances, it is important to implement seamlessly the series of measures of prevention and early detection of child abuse, immediate and accurate response when such cases occur, and support toward the self-reliance of abused children.
I ask all the ministers, in particular, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Nemoto, to work on this issue with a strong determination such that we will exert every effort towards the eradication of child abuse – we will take all possible measures to protect the children suffering from abuse.
Message of condolences from Foreign Minister Taro Kono following the shooting incident in Christchurch, New Zealand
Foreign Affairs, Friday, March 15, 2019
On March 15, following the shooting incident in the mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, Mr. Taro Kono, Foreign Minister of Japan sent the following message of condolences to Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand.
“Dear Minister Peters,
Japan firmly condemns the atrocious terrorist attack carried out in Christchurch, New Zealand on 15th March. I extend my sincere condolences to those who lost their lives and their bereaved families and express sympathy for those injured.
The people of Japan share the same pain that the people of New Zealand are feeling. Such brutal act of terrorism cannot be justified for any reason. Japan expresses its sincere solidarity with New Zealand in overcoming this difficult time.
Taro Kono
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan”
Signing of Memorandum of Cooperation between Japan and the Philippines on the Basic Partnership Framework for the Proper Operation of the System pertaining to Foreign Human Resources with the Status of Residence of “Specified Skilled Worker”
Foreign Affairs, Tuesday, March 19, 2019
1. On March 19 (Tuesday), the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Basic Partnership Framework for the Proper Operation of the System pertaining to Foreign Human Resources with the Status of Residence of “Specified Skilled Worker” was signed in Tokyo between the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the National Police Agency of Japan and the Department of Labor and Employment of the Republic of the Philippines.
The Republic of the Philippines is the first country to sign the Memorandum of Cooperation concerning this system.
2. The purpose of this Memorandum of Cooperation is to establish a basic framework for information partnership in order to ensure smooth and proper sending and accepting specified skilled workers, in particular the elimination of malicious intermediary organizations, and to resolve the problems of sending, accepting and residing in Japan of specified skilled worker.
3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs enhances the mutual benefits of both countries through cooperation for proper operation of the system, cooperating with the relevant ministries and agencies of Japan.
Joint Statement on Japan-United States Strategic Energy Partnership
METI, Wednesday, March 20, 2019
The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Japan.
The United States and Japan emphasized their commitment to strengthening energy security and promoting energy access in the Indo-Pacific region and in sub-Saharan Africa during the third meeting of the Japan-United States Strategic Energy Partnership (JUSEP) in Washington, DC, on February 28, 2019. The United States and Japan reaffirmed the importance of coordinating investments and priorities through JUSEP in an effort to align the Japanese government’s target of $10 billion in public and private investment and capacity building training with the United States’ Asia EDGE (Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy). They also confirmed the importance of working closely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector development and on fostering business-to-business connections. This meeting showcased public-private events that have been held in the Indo-Pacific region and previewed an Indonesia-U.S.-Japan LNG workshop held in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 5, 2019 that highlighted opportunities for U.S. and Japanese firms to partner with Indonesia to further develop the LNG sector.
Monitoring and surveillance activities by UK against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers
Foreign Affairs, Tuesday, March 19, 2019
1. The UK deployed Royal Navy Frigate MONTROSE for monitoring and surveillance activities against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean flagged vessels prohibited by United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) in waters surrounding Japan including the East China Sea from the end of February to the beginning of March, following last year’s deployment of Royal Navy Frigate SUTHERLAND (the middle of May), Royal Navy Flagship ALBION (from the middle of May to the beginning of June) and Royal Navy Frigate ARGYLL (the middle of December and the beginning of January 2019) . Japan and the UK cooperated in such activities as information sharing from the perspective of enhancing the effectiveness of the UNSCRs.
2. Japan believes that international community needs to fully implement the relevant UNSCRs while maintaining the solidarity for the realization of North Korea’s dismantlement of all WMDs and ballistic missiles of all ranges in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner. In this regard, Japan welcomes and highly appreciates the monitoring and surveillance activities by the UK. Japan will continue to work closely with all partner countries to ensure effectiveness of the relevant UNSCRs.
Performance Review of The Bank of Japan's Strategic Priorities for Fiscal 2014-2018
Bank of Japan, Friday, March 22, 2019
The Bank of Japan's Strategic Priorities for Fiscal 2014-2018 states that the Bank shall conduct a comprehensive review of its performance over the entire period. The Bank has done so with this five-year period ending in March 2019 and released the results today.
Release of Medium-Term Strategic Plan (Fiscal 2019-2023)
Bank of Japan, Friday, March 22, 2019
The Bank has released the Medium-Term Strategic Plan (Fiscal 2019-2023).
Emergency Assistance to Malawi in Response to the Floods Disaster
JICA, Friday, March 22, 2019
The Japan International Cooperation Agency will provide emergency relief goods as below in response to a request from the Government of Malawi relating to the serious floods.
1. Disaster situation
The floods disaster, which happened around the beginning of March, has caused serious human and property damage. According to the government of Malawi, the damage situation as of March 16 was as follows:
Deaths: 56
Injured: 577
Affected: 840,330
Missing: 3
Evacuees: 94,090
2. Goods supplied
A. Emergency relief goods (from the JICA warehouse in Dubai)
Tents
Blankets
Plastic sheets
Sleeping pads
B. Shipping schedule
The goods will be transported from the JICA warehouse in Dubai to Lilongweon the next available flight.
Emergency Assistance to Afghanistan in Response to the Floods Disaster
JICA, Friday, March 22, 2019
The Japan International Cooperation Agency will provide emergency relief goods as below in response to a request from the Government of Afghanistan relating to the serious floods.
1. Disaster situation
The floods disaster, which happened around the beginning of March, has caused serious human and property damage. According to the government of Afghanistan, the damage situation as of March 19 was as follows:
Deaths: 63
Injured: 31
Affected: 122,600
Collapsed houses: 4,787
Damaged houses: 7,567
2. Goods supplied
A. Emergency relief goods (from the JICA warehouse in Dubai)
Tents
Blankets
Plastic sheets
Water purifiers
B. Shipping schedule
The goods will be transported from the JICA warehouse in Dubai to Kabul on the next available flight.