The 22nd Annual Meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group was held at Ware in Hertfordshire, UK, on March 16–18, 2006. The meeting was co-chaired by the Hon. Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Member of the House of Representatives and Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Rt Hon Lord Cunningham of Felling.
Before the meeting, the Japanese delegation, accompanied by Lord Cunningham, called on Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, both of whom noted the excellent state of the bilateral relationship and emphasized the scope for cooperation in a multilateral context, notably on aid to Africa, counter-terrorism, Iraq, WTO, the NPT, and UN issues. The significance of the rise of China and India was also discussed. The Prime Minister expressed continued support for Japan’s bid for a permanent seat in the Security Council and looked forward to the Japanese chairmanship of the G8 in 2008. He also expressed appreciation for Japan’s contributions in Iraq.
The group discussed recent economic and political developments in the UK and Japan; the global energy challenge and its impact on the two countries; the challenges posed by the movement of people, including issues related to immigration and multicultural societies; and the current and future implications of the rise of China and India for Europe and Asia.
March 15
Dinner hosted by the Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom
March 16
Japanese delegation visit with Prime Minister Tony Blair
Lunch for Japanese delegation in the House of Commons
Japanese delegation visit with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
March 17
SESSION 1: Economic and Political Developments in the UK and Japan in their Regional Context
The UK and Europe
The Lord Grenfell of Kilvey, Chairman, European Union Select Committee, House of Lords
Japan and East Asia
Hitoshi Tanaka, Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange
SESSION 2: Japan and the UK and the Global Energy Challenge
SPEAKERS
Taizo Yakushiji, Executive Member, Council for Science and Technology Policy of the Cabinet Office of Japan
Hajime Sasaki, Chairman, NEC Corporation
John Mills, Vice President, Group Strategy, Shell
SESSION 3: The Movement of Peoples: Issues Relating to Immigration and Multicultural Societies
SPEAKERS
Isami Takeda, Professor, Dokkyo University
Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Public Policy Research
March 18
SESSION 4: The Impact of the Rise of China and India in Asia and Europe
SPEAKERS
Bill Emmott, Editor, The Economist
Makio Miyagawa, Director, The Japan Institute of International Affairs
Takako Hirose, Professor, Senshu University
CONCLUDING SESSION: Chairmen’s Summary and Recommendations
|
JAPANESE PARTICIPANTS |
|
|
CO-CHAIR |
|
|
YASUHISA SHIOZAKI |
Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs; Member, House of Representatives (LDP) |
|
PARTICIPANTS |
|
|
HATSUO AOKI |
Chairman, Astellas Pharma Inc. |
|
TERUAKI AOKI |
Advisor, Sony Corporation |
|
TAKAKO HIROSE |
Professor, Senshu University |
|
YOSHIO ISHIZAKA |
Senior Advisor to the Board, Toyota Motor Corporation |
|
TADAKAZU KIMURA |
Bureau Chief of European General Bureau, The Asahi Shimbun |
|
YOSHIJI NOGAMI |
Japanese Ambassador to UK |
|
HAJIME SASAKI |
Chairman of the Board, NEC Corporation |
|
ISAMI TAKEDA |
Professor, Dokkyo University |
|
KOICHI TAKEMASA |
Member, House of Representatives (DPJ) |
|
KEIZO TAKEMI |
Member, House of Councillors (LDP) |
|
HITOSHI TANAKA |
Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange; Former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs |
|
ISAMU UEDA |
Member, House of Representatives (NKP) |
|
TAIZO YAKUSHIJI |
Executive Member, Council for Science and Technology Policy of the Cabinet Office of Japan; Professor, Political Science, Keio University; Executive Research Director, Institute for International Policy Studies |
|
TADASHI YAMAMOTO |
President, Japan Center for International Exchange |
|
UK PARTICIPANTS |
|
|
CO-CHAIR |
|
|
RT. HON LORD CUNNINGHAM OF FELLING |
House of Lords |
|
PARTICIPANTS |
|
|
SIR JOHN BOYD KCMG |
Chairman, Board of Governors, British Museum |
|
RT HON SIR MENZIES CAMPBELL QC MP CBE |
House of Commons |
|
NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN |
Director, AMEC plc; Former Chairman, URENCO |
|
MARTIN CHANDLER |
Vice President Regional Marketing, Asia Pacific, BAE Systems plc |
|
BILL EMMOTT |
Editor, The Economist |
|
SIR GRAHAM FRY KCMG |
HM Ambassador, Tokyo |
|
MELVILLE GUEST |
Senior Advisor, Imperial College London; UK Executive Director, 21st Century Group |
|
RT HON LORD HOWELL OF GUILFORD |
House of Lords |
|
JEREMY HUNT MP |
House of Commons |
|
SUE ION |
Executive Director of Technology, BNFL |
|
ANTHONY LOEHNIS |
Chairman, Alpha Bank London |
|
RT HON ALAN MILBURN MP |
House of Commons |
|
JOHN MILLS |
Vice President, Group Strategy, Shell |
|
RT HON SIR RICHARD NEEDHAM |
Former Minister of State for Trade |
|
MIKE SHEARS |
Chairman, Arup Foundation |
|
IAN GOW |
Provost for China, Nottingham University |
|
KEITH WHITE |
Chief Executive, Crown Agents |
|
LORD WOOLMER OF LEEDS |
House of Lords |
|
SIR DAVID WRIGHT GCMG |
Vice Chairman, Barclays Capital |
|
OUTSIDE SPEAKERS |
|
|
LORD GRENFELL OF KILVEY |
Chairman, European Select Committee, House of Lords |
|
DANNY SRISKANDARAJAH |
Senior Fellow, Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) |
