COPUOS科技小委第57会期：議題4「一般発言」ステートメント（日本代表団長）

The Japanese delegation congratulates you on your election. I would also like to warmly welcome Singapore, Rwanda and the Dominican Republic as new members of the Committee.

Japan recognizes the paramount need for securing stable use of the outer space environment. We underline the importance of international norms of behaviors in outer space. In this respect, Japan welcomes the adoption of the LTS Guidelines and the establishment of a new working group under the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. Japan calls upon all states and international organizations to implement the guidelines.

Japan organizes a few events to promote the stable use of the outer space. We will host "International Symposium on Ensuring Stable Use of Outer Space - Challenges for Further Space Development and Utilization -" on February 27 and 28 in Tokyo. Moreover, at the lunchtime today, Japanese Ambassador Hikihara and Ms. Dipippo of UNOOSA will sign a joint statement on space debris. There will be a signing ceremony followed by a seminar discussion and a reception. We would like to invite all of you to attend this event.

Madam Chair, Distinguished Delegates,

Let me briefly touch upon the recent developments of our space activities.

In 2010, a Japanese asteroid explorer Hayabusa accompanied the world’s first sample return mission from an asteroid. Following on the success of the earlier mission, Hayabusa2 arrived at the asteroid “Ryugu” in 2018 and successfully conducted surface exploration and two touchdowns. Last November, Hayabusa2 departed from Ryugu. It is scheduled to return to the earth at the end of this year.

In last October, Japan decided to join the US-led moon exploration program including the construction of inhabited lunar-orbital platform, Gateway, on the basis of international cooperation with a prospect for Mars exploration. Japan will contribute to advancing the frontiers for humanity through using technologies fostered through International Space Station (ISS).

ISS has been expanding people’s access to space. Japan, in cooperation with UNOOSA, launched a program called KiboCUBE, in 2015, to offer the UN member states the opportunity to deploy a satellite from Kibo. So far, Kenya, Guatemala, Mauritius, and Indonesia were selected for the previous rounds. During the lunchtime tomorrow, Japan, Guatemala and UNOOSA will host a side event highlighting the development of Guatemala’s first satellite.

Furthermore, ISS is open to the private sector as well. In 2018, JAXA selected several private entities to provide small satellite deployment services from Kibo on the ISS. Japan intends to further promote access to space.

Space technology is indispensable for the achievement of the SDGs. The Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) is one of the examples of an international framework, facilitating uses of space technology for sustainable development. Last year, Japan hosted the 26th session of APRSAF in Nagoya. For more information, please refer to our technical presentation on Monday, February 10. Moreover, we will elaborate on our remote sensing activities to monitor climate change in our statement for agenda 7 and deliver a technical presentation on global health on Wednesday morning.

I will end my statement by reiterating that Japan will continue to cooperate for the peaceful exploration and use of outer space in close cooperation with COPUOS.

Thank you for your kind attention.