Tetsuro Fukuyama, Vice President of the House of Councillors, paid tribute to Tshilidzi Marwala, the Rector (UN Under-Secretary-General) of the United Nations University, and to Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN Resident Coordinator in China. Drawing on the G20 Speakers’ Summit held this month in South Africa, he noted that countries share deep concern over the rule of law and the current international situation. He reflected on the dramatic shifts in the global environment over the past decade and affirmed Japan’s determination to uphold and strengthen a free and open international order. Referring to the timing of ASEAN and APEC, he emphasized that gatherings like this play a vital role in enabling Japan to fulfill its responsibilities in the international community.
Reporter: Koki Imon
For more details of this meeting, please see here.
Full Statement (English Translation)
“Thank you. I am Tetsuro Fukuyama, currently serving as Vice President of the House of Councillors.
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on holding this forum today with UN Under-Secretary-General Tshilidzi Marwala and UN Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee, and express my respect.
This October, I traveled to Mr. Marwala`s home country, the Republic of South Africa this month and attended the G20 Speakers’ Summit. The participating countries shared strong concern about the rule of law and the current international situation, and we held very meaningful discussions.
I understand that Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee is the son-in-law of former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. When we were the ruling party in the government, I met Secretary-General Ban about four times, but compared with that period, the UN environment has changed dramatically. Over the past ten years, the international situation has shifted extremely rapidly, and I believe there are many causes for concern going forward.
I am delighted to have this opportunity for discussion today with the two of you present. As you know, Japan intends to devote itself to upholding and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law. Precisely today, ASEAN and APEC are underway, and I believe President Trump is probably arriving in Japan around now. To ensure that Japan can fulfill its responsibilities within the international community, meetings like today’s play an extremely important role.”
