Asia-Pacific Water Forum

Briefing Session on the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) and 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit

On November 14th, a briefing on the Asia-Pacific Water Forum and 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit took place at the Tokyo Development Learning Center of the World Bank. The JWF, secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum, organized this briefing session, which was intended for embassy officials and representatives of international organizations of the region, in order to explain the background and the activities of the APWF and the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit. The briefing was attended by approximately 100 representatives of governments of 26 countries and international organizations in the Asia-Pacific region, including ambassadors from Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, The Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Singapore.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Yoshiro Mori, president of the APWF, delivered a speech. He said that the JWF would make thorough preparations for the Summit, which was to take place on December 3rd and 4th, 2007 in Beppu City, in close cooperation with the Japanese government. Towards the end of his speech, he expressed his hopes that the Summit would be well attended by leaders of governments and companies from throughout the region. He also referred to what His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince had mentioned on the occasion of the imperial garden party in autumn: "I hear the Asia-Pacific Summit is to be held in Oita. I eagerly hope to participate in it."

Following Mr. Mori's speech, Mr. Takeshi Iwaya, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Michio Tanahashi, Director-General, Water Resources Department, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, speaking as representatives of the Japanese government, expressed their strong expectations for the Summit and promised their full support of it. Representing partner organizations, Mr. Kyosuke Shinozawa, Governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and Mr. Yukio Yoshimura, Vice President of World Bank, delivered speeches. After that, Mr. Katsusada Hirose, Governor of Oita Prefecture, and Dr. Monte Cassim, President, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, spoke on behalf of the host city. This briefing session was televised via a video-conferencing system at the Asian Development Bank in Manila and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Beppu City.

The JWF, as secretariat of the APWF, intends to make every possible effort for the resolution of water problems and will work hard to hold the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit in cooperation with partners both at home and abroad.