Activities of Secretary-General in Japan, 13-17 March
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, accompanied by Madam Ban Soon-taek, arrived in Tokyo in the afternoon of Friday, 13 March. They then flew to the city of Sendai, in the north of Japan, arriving on the same evening.
The Secretary-General’s first engagement on Saturday morning was a courtesy call to Eriko Yamatani, Japan’s Minister of State for Disaster Management.
He then met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, noting that the country is an exemplary United Nations Member State. They also conferred on countering violent extremism and countering the threat posed by Da'esh.
Following an audience with the Emperor and Empress of Japan, the Secretary-General opened the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. In his remarks, he said that this Conference was the “first stop on our journey to a new future to put our people of the world and this world onto a sustainable path,” noting that disaster risk reduction advances progress on sustainable development and climate change. (See Press Release SG/SM/16591.)
“An ambitious outcome from this meeting will put us on a path to a new sustainable development agenda with a set of sustainable development goals; a universal, meaningful climate change agreement; and financing to turn plans into actions,” the Secretary-General said. “Sustainability starts in Sendai.”
He also met with President Baldwin Lonsdale of the Republic of Vanuatu. In their meeting, the Secretary-General said that his thoughts were with the people of Vanuatu as it faced the impacts of tropical cyclone Pam, adding that Vanuatu's situation further highlighted the importance of the Sendai conference, as well as the urgent need for ambitious action on both disaster risk reduction and on climate change.
The Secretary-General then met with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, incoming President of the Twenty-first Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and they exchanged views on progress towards the climate change summit scheduled for Paris in December 2015.
He then met with Viet Nam’s Vice-President, Nguyen Thi Doan, with whom he discussed the cooperation between the country and the United Nations; Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, with whom he discussed climate change; and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.
The Secretary-General attended a luncheon hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Abe before taking part in a United Nations high-level special event on the theme “Actions and People for Resilience”. In his remarks, the Secretary-General stressed that disaster risk reduction is at the nexus of development aid, relief and environment, adding that it is critical to prepare high-risk societies so that a natural disaster does not turn into an all-out catastrophe. “Communities understand this. They want the tools to save lives,” he said. “We will succeed when we empower people.” (See Press Release SG/SM/16592.)
The Secretary-General, joined by Margareta Wahlström, his Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, held a press conference. He said that over the last two decades, more than four out of every five disasters were related to the climate change phenomenon. “Disaster risk reduction saves lives and protects the most vulnerable. It helps maintain political stability and business continuity,” he said. “That is a smart investment in our common future.”
The Secretary-General then met with Prayuth Chan-ocha, Prime Minister of Thailand, and they discussed the political transition and human rights in the country.
The Secretary-General was interviewed by Miki Ebara and Go Kamoshida of NHK, the Japanese broadcaster, before meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia. In their meeting, the Secretary-General voiced hope for Cambodia's continuing political dialogue and electoral reforms.
His day ended with a reception hosted by Japanese Minister of State for Disaster Management Yamatani.
The Secretary-General's first appointment of the day on Sunday, 15 March, was a breakfast meeting with the Global Champions for Disaster Risk Reduction.
He then met with Japan’s Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida. The Secretary-General said that he expects Japan to continue to play a leadership role in achieving a transformative post-2015 development agenda and a meaningful, universal climate change agreement.
The Secretary-General gave a lecture at Tohoku University entitled “Our Message to the Future: Lessons Learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake”. In his speech, he recalled his visit to Fukushima Minami High School, a few months after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. He said that he had expected the students to ask for aid, but instead they asked how they could work with the United Nations to help people in other parts of the world to avoid this kind of tragedy. (See Press Release SG/SM/16593.)
“That really struck me and inspired me,” the Secretary-General said. “I was truly moved. The people of Tohoku are true global citizens. This is the true spirit and dignity of the Japanese people.”
The Secretary-General visited a wastewater treatment plant in the Minami Gamo area of Sendai. That plant suffered extensive damage in the 2011 tsunami. The Secretary-General received an explanation from the staff there about how a new facility is under construction and measures are being put in place to reduce disaster risk, and will also house a new research centre for extracting oil from wastewater.
He also visited a community centre in Minami Gamo, where he met with a community leader and with children affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The children performed a traditional fan dance for him and Madam Ban.
Speaking to the press at the centre, the Secretary-General said that the Japanese people have shown great courage and resilience by “turning the tragedy into a better and brighter future.” He also said in Japanese that the United Nations and the world support Japan and urged the country to continue doing its best.
Following his field visits, the Secretary-General met with King Mswati III of Swaziland and then El Hadj As Sy, Secretary General of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The Secretary-General attended a luncheon hosted by Japanese Foreign Minister Kishida.
In the afternoon, he attended a youth forum at Tohoku University, where he exhorted young people to be global citizens.
The following morning, Monday, 16 March, the Secretary-General travelled by bullet train to Tokyo.
His first engagement in Japan’s capital was a tea ceremony with tea master Genshitsu Sen, who also serves as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Goodwill Ambassador.
He then attended a luncheon with the Global Compact’s Japan Network, where he stressed the importance of gender equality in business. (See Press Release SG/SM/16594.)
The Secretary-General then met separately with Natsuo Yamaguchi, the leader of the Komeito Party, and with Nobutaka Machimura, Speaker with the House of Representatives. In both meetings, the Secretary-General commended Japan for its strong support for the work of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General also met with Katsuya Okada, the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, with whom he discussed United Nations reform and disarmament, including the upcoming Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) review conference.
The Secretary-General and Madam Ban had an audience with Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako of Japan before the Secretary-General, together with Prime Minister Abe, spoke at a symposium on the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General said “when we think of a child born today, we cannot just ask what kind of a world she will grow up in. We have to resolve to create a world where she can contribute to our common progress.” “In 2015,” he added, “the United Nations is mobilizing partners to empower people for a new future.” (See Press Release SG/SM/16595.)
The Secretary-General’s evening ended with a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister.
On Tuesday morning, 17 March, the Secretary-General and Madam Ban met with several Goodwill Ambassadors: Genshitsu Sen of UNESCO, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Kurara Chibana of the World Food Programme (WFP).
He then held a town hall meeting with staff serving the United Nations in Japan before he and Madam Ban departed Tokyo for Rome, Italy.