Statement by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kiyoto Tsuji at the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology starting on Wednesday, 28 November 2018
2018/11/28
Madam Co-chair,
Mr. Yukiya AMANO, Director General of the IAEA,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Now, I would like to deliver a statement in my national capacity.
Nuclear science and technology are not only about energy use. They are also about the improvement of Quality of Life (QOL) in a wide range of fields such as advanced science and technology, industrial application and medical care, and thus have a great potential.
Furthermore, applications of nuclear science and technology are closely related to achievement of the SDGs. The IAEA plays an important role in line with its motto of "Atoms for Peace and Development" in this area.
Given this importance, I truly welcome this first-ever Ministerial Conference of its kind, with a particular focus on the potential role of nuclear science and technology in achieving the SDGs.
As a country which attaches a great importance to nuclear science, technology and their applications, Japan is honored to take an active part in co-chairing this Conference together with the Republic of Costa Rica and to contribute to the outcome of this Conference.
Madam Co-chair,
Japan promotes the application of radiation technology in different areas by formulating a solid national policy framework, in order to contribute to improving the QOL as well as tackling global issues, and we also underline the importance of enhancing international cooperation and technological development in this field.
Nuclear science and technology are utilized in a wide range of fields, which is beyond our imagination. To take some examples of Japan, we make use of radiation technologies in nuclear medicine research, as well as in heavy ion beams therapy, which addresses specific cancer tissues and destroys them, with causing fewer complications to normal tissues.
Nuclear science and technology can also be utilized for species improvement in agriculture, which can come up with species with more harvesting or stronger resilience to harsh weather conditions.
Research and development is also being conducted regarding even more new utilization methods, through which innovation is expected to take place including in previously unexpected fields.
You can see some of these technologies displayed at the Japan’s exhibition booth in the center of rotunda. I hope you can stop by a minute, to experience the potential of our work in nuclear science and technology.
Madam Co-chair,
I would like to draw your attention to Japan’s cooperation with the IAEA. Given the potential of our advanced technologies, our commitment remains strong. Japan contributes in various fields of cooperation related to nuclear science and technology.
Japan has contributed to the activities of the IAEA through the Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI) on human health, environment, nuclear safety, food supply and so on.
I am pleased to announce today that we have decided to allocate about 1.2 million euro in total through the PUI to the IAEA’s projects to address urgent needs, such as infectious diseases prevention, cancer treatment, and agricultural productivity. Including this, Japan has contributed a total of 24.7 million euro since 2010.
At the same time, research and development as well as human resource development are also important in order to make full utilization of nuclear science and technology.
In this regard, Japan highly appreciates that the Nuclear Applications Laboratories in Seibersdorf have played a key role as a basis for those activities, especially for the development of Member States.
Japan has strongly supported the ReNuAL and ReNuAL+ project, aimed at modernizing the facilities, and therefore has contributed approximately 5.2 million euro to the project.
Madam Co-chair,
Japan has been cooperating with the IAEA in the areas of agriculture, medical care, environment and industrial applications under the framework of Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA). In particular, Japan is proactively promoting medical care projects as a lead country.
As another example of our cooperation, I am delighted to share with you that the IAEA and the consortium of 11 Japanese universities and institutions will sign the practical arrangements tomorrow with a view to enhancing their cooperation for human resources development in nuclear medicine field.
In this way, it is important to further strengthen partnerships between the IAEA and the private sectors, development agencies, universities, research institutes. This collaboration will put nuclear science technology research and development into practical use, and bring about positive socioeconomic impact in a sustainable manner.
We hope that human and technical cooperation between the IAEA and such Japanese organizations will be further strengthened through the implementation of IAEA projects.
In addition to these cooperation, Japan has also been promoting peaceful uses of nuclear technology through the framework of the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA).
Madam Co-chair,
Last but not least, let me draw your attentions to the fact that the benefit of nuclear science and technology is not yet widely known to the public despite our efforts.
It is crucial that its benefits will be widely shared and promoted through strong commitment by the distinguished delegates gathered here today, discussion among experts from tomorrow, and exhibitions by Member States and other organizations.
I believe they will lead to further broadening of the benefits of nuclear science, technology and their application, and that is our mission.
Thank you very much.
(end.)
Mr. Yukiya AMANO, Director General of the IAEA,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Now, I would like to deliver a statement in my national capacity.
Nuclear science and technology are not only about energy use. They are also about the improvement of Quality of Life (QOL) in a wide range of fields such as advanced science and technology, industrial application and medical care, and thus have a great potential.
Furthermore, applications of nuclear science and technology are closely related to achievement of the SDGs. The IAEA plays an important role in line with its motto of "Atoms for Peace and Development" in this area.
Given this importance, I truly welcome this first-ever Ministerial Conference of its kind, with a particular focus on the potential role of nuclear science and technology in achieving the SDGs.
As a country which attaches a great importance to nuclear science, technology and their applications, Japan is honored to take an active part in co-chairing this Conference together with the Republic of Costa Rica and to contribute to the outcome of this Conference.
Madam Co-chair,
Japan promotes the application of radiation technology in different areas by formulating a solid national policy framework, in order to contribute to improving the QOL as well as tackling global issues, and we also underline the importance of enhancing international cooperation and technological development in this field.
Nuclear science and technology are utilized in a wide range of fields, which is beyond our imagination. To take some examples of Japan, we make use of radiation technologies in nuclear medicine research, as well as in heavy ion beams therapy, which addresses specific cancer tissues and destroys them, with causing fewer complications to normal tissues.
Nuclear science and technology can also be utilized for species improvement in agriculture, which can come up with species with more harvesting or stronger resilience to harsh weather conditions.
Research and development is also being conducted regarding even more new utilization methods, through which innovation is expected to take place including in previously unexpected fields.
You can see some of these technologies displayed at the Japan’s exhibition booth in the center of rotunda. I hope you can stop by a minute, to experience the potential of our work in nuclear science and technology.
Madam Co-chair,
I would like to draw your attention to Japan’s cooperation with the IAEA. Given the potential of our advanced technologies, our commitment remains strong. Japan contributes in various fields of cooperation related to nuclear science and technology.
Japan has contributed to the activities of the IAEA through the Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI) on human health, environment, nuclear safety, food supply and so on.
I am pleased to announce today that we have decided to allocate about 1.2 million euro in total through the PUI to the IAEA’s projects to address urgent needs, such as infectious diseases prevention, cancer treatment, and agricultural productivity. Including this, Japan has contributed a total of 24.7 million euro since 2010.
At the same time, research and development as well as human resource development are also important in order to make full utilization of nuclear science and technology.
In this regard, Japan highly appreciates that the Nuclear Applications Laboratories in Seibersdorf have played a key role as a basis for those activities, especially for the development of Member States.
Japan has strongly supported the ReNuAL and ReNuAL+ project, aimed at modernizing the facilities, and therefore has contributed approximately 5.2 million euro to the project.
Madam Co-chair,
Japan has been cooperating with the IAEA in the areas of agriculture, medical care, environment and industrial applications under the framework of Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA). In particular, Japan is proactively promoting medical care projects as a lead country.
As another example of our cooperation, I am delighted to share with you that the IAEA and the consortium of 11 Japanese universities and institutions will sign the practical arrangements tomorrow with a view to enhancing their cooperation for human resources development in nuclear medicine field.
In this way, it is important to further strengthen partnerships between the IAEA and the private sectors, development agencies, universities, research institutes. This collaboration will put nuclear science technology research and development into practical use, and bring about positive socioeconomic impact in a sustainable manner.
We hope that human and technical cooperation between the IAEA and such Japanese organizations will be further strengthened through the implementation of IAEA projects.
In addition to these cooperation, Japan has also been promoting peaceful uses of nuclear technology through the framework of the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA).
Madam Co-chair,
Last but not least, let me draw your attentions to the fact that the benefit of nuclear science and technology is not yet widely known to the public despite our efforts.
It is crucial that its benefits will be widely shared and promoted through strong commitment by the distinguished delegates gathered here today, discussion among experts from tomorrow, and exhibitions by Member States and other organizations.
I believe they will lead to further broadening of the benefits of nuclear science, technology and their application, and that is our mission.
Thank you very much.
(end.)