UK-Japan 21st Century Group
The 22nd Annual Meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group was held at Ware in Hertfordshire, UK, on March 16–18, 2006. The meeting was co-chaired by the Hon. Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Member of the House of Representatives and Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Rt Hon Lord Cunningham of Felling.
Before the meeting, the Japanese delegation, accompanied by Lord Cunningham, called on Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, both of whom noted the excellent state of the bilateral relationship and emphasized the scope for cooperation in a multilateral context, notably on aid to Africa, counter-terrorism, Iraq, WTO, the NPT, and UN issues. The significance of the rise of China and India was also discussed. The Prime Minister expressed continued support for Japan's bid for a permanent seat in the Security Council and looked forward to the Japanese chairmanship of the G8 in 2008. He also expressed appreciation for the Japan's contributions in Iraq.
The group discussed recent economic and political developments in the UK and Japan; the global energy challenge and its impact on the two countries; the challenges posed by the movement of people, including issues related to immigration and multicultural societies; and the current and future implications of the rise of China and India for Europe and Asia.
Agenda
Wednesday, March 15 |
| Dinner hosted by the Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom |
Thursday, March 16 |
Japanese delegation visit with Prime Minister Tony Blair |
Lunch for Japanese delegation in the House of Commons |
Japanese delegation visit with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw |
Friday, March 17 |
Session I: Economic and Political Developments in the UK and Japan in their Regional Context The UK and Europe:• The Lord Grenfell of Kilvey, Chairman, European Union Select Committee, House of Lords Japan and East Asia:• Hitoshi Tanaka, Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange |
Session II: Japan and the UK and the Global Energy Challenge • Taizo Yakushiji, Executive Member, Council for Science and Technology Policy of the Cabinet Office of Japan • Hajime Sasaki, Chairman, NEC Corporation • John Mills, Vice President, Group Strategy, Shell |
Session III: The Movement of Peoples: Issues Relating to Immigration and Multicultural Societies Japanese Speaker:• Isami Takeda, Professor, Dokkyo University UK Speaker:• Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Public Policy Research |
Saturday, March 18 |
Session IV: The Impact of the Rise of China and India in Asia and Europe UK Speaker:• Bill Emmott, Editor, The Economist Japanese Speakers:• Makio Miyagawa, Director, The Japan Institute of International Affairs • Takako Hirose, Professor, Senshu University |
Concluding Session: Chairmen's Summary and Recommendations |