Statement by State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Mr. TAKEI Shunsuke at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)

I am honored to be here at the HLPF to introduce Japan’s efforts on this important year that marks the halfway point towards achieving the SDGs.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine significantly delayed progress on many SDG targets. In this context, the international community must further accelerate its efforts to achieve these goals. To this end, it is important to “walk the walk” in the spirit of solidarity.
 
During the G7 Hiroshima Summit held in May this year, we reaffirmed our commitment to engage with international partners in solidarity to address global challenges.
 
“Human resources development” is key upon sustaining the effects of development. Basing ourselves on this concept, Japan has continued to place emphasis on the “investment in people”. To date, more than 54,000 experts have been dispatched to 98 countries as JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs). This scheme is highly appreciated both at home and abroad. In light of Prime Minister Kishida’s nomination as “Global Champion for Education” last year, Japan will continue to support “investment in people”.
 
To realize a society where no one is left behind, it is also important to promote efforts in the areas of global health and disaster risk reduction as well as to enhance global resilience.
 
To strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) against future pandemics, we launched the MCM Delivery Partnership for equitable access, based on the principles set out in the “G7 Hiroshima Vision for Equitable Access to Medical Countermeasures”.
 
Making use of lessons learnt from past disaster experiences, Japan promotes investment in disaster risk reduction that helps preserve development outcomes, as well as international cooperation to realize the concept of "Build Back Better".
 
In the area of climate change, Japan is promoting the Asian Zero Emissions Community (AZEC) concept to contribute to the realization of green transformation in Asia, which accounts for more than half of global emissions. Japan also promotes various forms of cooperation which meets the needs of vulnerable countries such as in the Pacific Island region or in Africa.
 
Rulemaking to strengthen global governance is likewise important for sustainable development. Bearing this in mind, Japan actively participates in the negotiations of the Convention on Plastic Pollution and the Pandemic Convention.
 
In order to achieve the SDGs, it is also necessary to maximize the power of digital through strengthening global digital cooperation. We would like to contribute to such development through the Internet Governance Forum Kyoto 2023, which Japan is going to host in October this year.
 
Seizing this HLPF as an opportunity to look ahead to the SDG Summit, the G20 Summit and COP28, while building on the outcomes of the G7 Hiroshima Summit, under the concept of human security, Japan is committed to playing a leading role so that the entire international community can achieve the SDGs in full.
 
I thank you.