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PRIME MINISTER'S DIARY

G8 Deauville Summit

On May 24, Prime Minister Naoto Kan arrived in Paris to pay an official visit to the French Republic and to attend the G8 Summit in Deauville. On May 25, he held talks with French Prime Minister Fran巽ois Fillon at the Prime Minister's Office, after which he participated in a working lunch summit meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Presidential Palace.

At the start of the meeting, President Sarkozy expressed his solidarity with and support for the Japanese people in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. On the topic of nuclear safety, Prime Minister Kan stated that Japan would aim to establish the world's highest levels of nuclear safety while thoroughly investigating the causes of the nuclear accident. He also said that Japan would share the information and lessons learned with the international community and lead international discussion on the topic.

On the nuclear accident, the Prime Minister explained that with the cooperation of the international community, Japan is working to settle the situation and stabilize the nuclear reactors. He thanked France for the support given related to the clean up of highly irradiated water.

In the evening of May 25, Prime Minister Kan attended the Commemoration Ceremony of the 50th Anniversary of the OECD, on the occasion of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting at its Headquarters, and delivered a speech in which he said that Japan would review its basic energy plan and address four challenges, as well as renewed Japan's commitment to continuing to work together with the OECD.

The first challenge, he said, is the safety of nuclear energy, and to achieve the highest standard of nuclear safety by drawing on the lessons from the nuclear accidents. The second is the environmental challenge of fossil fuels, which is to promote the efficient use of fossil fuels and minimize the emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the limit by drawing on the most advanced technologies. The third challenge concerns the practical use of renewable energy, which is to mobilize all of Japan's resources to break the barrier to practical use due to such aspects as technology and costs, and will elevate renewable energy to one of society's core energy sources. The fourth challenge is the potential of energy efficiency, which is to achieve energy efficiency without compromising the comfort of life in households and communities.

Prime Minister Kan stated, "In Japan there is an old dictum, 'Learn to be contented.' What this dictum teaches us is not to endlessly increase our own desire, but to learn where an appropriate level is.

"As the whole of humankind is facing global environmental challenges and various conflicts arise due to energy issues today, I wonder if this is indeed the question that we, who live on this earth, are now confronted with."


Prime Minister Naoto Kan attended the Deauville G8 Summit on May 26 and 27. In his remarks at the beginning of the Summit, he expressed his gratitude for the assistance and friendship from around the world as well as explaining that Japan would do its utmost to bring the nuclear accident under control and achieve recovery. The prime minister also laid out the four challenges that he unveiled the previous day at the OECD. In response, the other leaders renewed their heartfelt sympathy to and solidarity with Japan, paying tribute to the courage and dignity shown by Japanese people amid the difficult situation.

In addition, Prime Minister Kan stated that Japan would fulfill its responsibility by sharing the experiences and lessons learned from the nuclear accident and explained that he has launched the Accident Investigation and Verification Committee to promote the highest levels of nuclear safety worldwide. He also announced an initiative to host an international meeting on nuclear safety in Japan in the latter half of 2012 in cooperation with the IAEA.

The leaders discussed wide-ranging issues regarding the current world situations. Prime Minister Kan led the discussion on North Korea, and the G8 leaders jointly sent a strong message against North Korea.

With regard to the Middle East and North Africa, Prime Minister Kan expressed Japan's intention to contribute to assistance for the region, focusing on (a) fair political process and government, (b) human resource development, and (c) job creation and fostering of industries. At the dialogue with African leaders, Prime Minister Kan expressed Japan's resolve to continue to contribute to African development by implementing the comprehensive pledges it made at the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV).

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