Prime Minister Fukuda: Focus on health, water, and education at the G8 Summit

Japan Water Forum
Japan, 21 Mar 08

On this World Water Day 2008, Japan is preparing to host both the 2008 G8 Summit and the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV), with Japan intending to bring water issues to the table, the JWF News Extra Edition reports.

"From the perspective of "human security," I intend to focus on health, water, and education at the G8 Summit." - Special Address by Prime Minister Fukuda on the occasion of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos (January 26, 2008), see http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/wef/2008/address-s.html.

"Japan, as a hosting country of TICAD IV and the chair the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, will play a leading role in the international community's discussions concerning water and sanitation." - Speech by Foreign Minister Koumura at Water and Sanitation Symposium "The International Year of Sanitation - A Platform for Action in Africa and Asia"(22 February 2008), see http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/environment/speech0802.html.

Strong from its own inter-regional cooperation exercise, the Japan Water Forum, as the Asia-Pacific Water Forum will be seeking opportunities to establish a framework for inter-regional cooperation between Africa and Asia, with the objective of exchanging experiences, knowledge and know-how for effective water resources management between the two continents.

Contact: Noriko Yamaguchi <yamaguchi@waterforum.jp>