2007-08-29

Prospective Agenda for the 2008 G8 Hokkaido Summit

Issues

Climate Change and Sustainable Energy
Environment
On May 19, 2007. Kyodo News reported that Abe, while visiting Tokayo, stated that "I was convinced that it is the right place to speak about the environment, which is one of the themes next year."[7]

Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Dialogue
On June 8, 2007, Agence France Presse reported that Japan will continue the climate change debate when it hosts the summit in 2008.[8] According to Japanese Prime Minister Abe, "The achievement at the Heiligendamm summit will be a precious base for next year's summit... From this base, we want to make an effort to show big results."[9]
On March 20, 2007, Agence France Presse reported that Japanese "Prime Minister Abe will ask his cabinet ministers to develop a package of proposals to present to next year's Group of Eight summit of world leaders which Japan will host, they said. Japanese government ministers will "discuss proposals on a new framework that will ensure participation by the United States and China, the world's largest greenhouse-gas emitters," a foreign ministry official said."[10]
On February 18, 2007, Jiji Press English News Service reported that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated that he will lead discussions of environmental protection and climate change in Heiligendamm, where it will be a major topic.[11] Jiji Press English News Service also reported that "Environmental issues will remain at the fore at next year's G-8 summit in Japan, where attendees are seen to discuss how Japan and other advanced nations should achieve their targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions set out in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. A post-Kyoto Protocol framework for tackling global warming will also likely be on the agenda at the 2008 summit among Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States, Abe said."[12]
In the G8 leaders' 2005 official document on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development, the text read "We welcome Japan's offer to receive a report at the G8 Summit in 2008 [to take the sustainable energy dialogue forward]."[13]

Nuclear Energy

On May 20, 2007, BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific reported that "Japan plans to discuss compiling international safety guidelines for nuclear power plants with other members of the Group of Eight nations, with an eye to reaching agreement at next year's G-8 summit in Hokkaido, government sources said... The guidelines are expected to include assistance from the G-8 nations on techniques for safety inspections and maintenance, as well as stipulating training for local staff and unified regulations on management in order to prevent the transfer or leakage of technologies or nuclear-related materials."[14]

Africa

On April 16, 2007, Agence France Presse reported that following a meeting in Tokyo between Italian Prime Minister Prodi (who will host the summit in 2009) and Japanese Prime Minister Abe, Abe stated that "As both our countries will be chairing these summits, cooperation is essential. The issues to be taken up at the G8 summit meeting are long-term issues."[15] Prodi stated that "It is necessary to build a joint policy towards Africa... Africa is developing economically amid globalisation. We have up until now discussed major environmental and human disasters in Africa at our G8 meetings... Africa is developing economically amid globalisation. We have up until now discussed major environmental and human disasters in Africa at our G8 meetings [such as investment]."[16]
On November 18, 2006, a senior official from Germany announced that Germany will not focus on debt relief and increased aid to Africa, stating that the 2005 report of the Commission for Africa left the issue to be taken up again by the Japanese G8 presidency in 2008.[17]
According to a report by Julius Court, of the Overseas Development Institute: "In [2008], Japan will be Chair of the G8 and host the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development — a 5-yearly gathering of African leaders and their development partners. Africa will be in the spotlight again."[18]

Intellectual Property Rights

On June 9, 2007, Daily Yomiuri reported that "On intellectual property protection, the declaration recognized, for the first time as a summit meeting document, the importance of streamlining and harmonizing the international patent system. A treaty to prevent the spread of counterfeit and pirated products, which Japan aims to establish, was not included in the declaration. But it said, "We recognize the need for continued study by national experts of the possibilities of strengthening the international legal framework pertaining to intellectual property right enforcement," suggesting the treaty may be included in a document at the next G-8 summit meeting to be held in Hokkaido."[19]

Ministerials

On June 6, 2007, representatives from the Japanese government released the following information on ministerial meetings to journalists covering the Heiligendamm summit:
· Summit: July 7-9, Toyako, Hokkaido
· Foreign Ministers: June 26027, Kyoto
· Finance Ministers: June 13-14, Osaka
· Energy: Early June Aomori
· Justice and Interior: June 11-13, Tokyo
· Environment: May 25-27, Kobe
· Labour: May 11-13, Niigata
· Development: Early April, Tokyo
· G20 Dialogue: March 14-16, Chiba
· Tokyo International Conference on African Development, May 28-30, Yokohama[20]

On May 29, 2007 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan released dates for ministerial meetings: G8 Foreign Ministers on June 26-27 in Kyoto, G8 Development Ministers in early April in Tokyo and the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development on May 28-30 in Yokohama.[21]
On May 19, 2007, Mainichi News reported that "Finance ministers will meet in the western city of Osaka, foreign ministers in the ancient capital of Kyoto and environment ministers in the nearby port town of Kobe. Justice and home affairs ministers are slated to meet in Tokyo, while labor ministers will convene in the northern coastal city of Niigata. The Tokyo suburb of Chiba will host a Group of Twenty conference on global warming and clean energy, and Yokohama will hold talks on African development."[22]
On May 10, 2007, Associated Press Newswires reported that a G20 conference on global warming and clean energy will be held in Toyko.[23]
On April 24, 2007, Jiji Press English News Service reported that the first ministerial meeting is set to be held in March 2008.[24] The Japanese government is also considering holding a meeting of justice and internal affairs ministers in Tokyo.[25]
On April 23, 2007, Kyodo News reported that the following cities have informally been selected to host ministerial meetings in 2008: Kyoto will host the foreign ministers meetings, Osaka will host the finance ministers meeting, Kobe will host the environment ministers and Niigata will host the labour ministers.[26]

Preparations

Physical Preparations
On June 18, 2007, Kyodo News reported that according to Kazuya Nashida, director of the Economic Policy Division of the Foreign Ministry's Economic Affairs Bureau, the media centre for the summit will be set up in Rusutsu Resort hotel in the village of Rusutsu.[27] It is located 30 minutes by car from the Windsor Hotel Toya Report and Spa, where the Hokkaido-Toyako summit will be held.[28]
On June 12, 2007, BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific reported the summit will be held at the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort and Spa.[29]

Government Preparations

On June 12, 2007, BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific reported that a government spokesperson stated that the Japanese government will set up a G8 preparatory committee headed up by Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki and composed of Cabinet Secretariat officials and senior ministry and agency officials.[30] The committee will liaise with government organs, prepare the summit venue, press centre, facilities and security, and coordinate member delegations' accommodations.[31] Prime Minister Abe is quoted as instructing cabinet to make "thorough preparations for smoothly receiving" the leaders, and according to the BBC "Kensei Mizote, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, vowed to take "all possible security measures" by assembling police forces nationwide amid "concerns over possible violence by anti-globalization activists and terror attacks by Islamic radicals.""[32] The foreign ministry will set up its own preparatory committee, according to Foreign Minister Taro Aso, to be established in July to coordinate climate change policy.[33]

Notes

1 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific (June 12, 2007), "Japan official vows top security for 2008 G8, preparatory panel set up."
2 Kyodo News (May 19, 2007), "Japan to host G-8 summit next year from July 7-9: Abe," accessed: May 22, 2007: http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=315544
3 Kyodo News (May 19, 2007), "Japan to host G-8 summit next year from July 7-9: Abe," accessed: May 22, 2007: http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=315544
4 Kyodo News (May 19, 2007), "Japan to host G-8 summit next year from July 7-9: Abe," accessed: May 22, 2007: http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=315544
5 Jiji Press English News Service (April 24, 2007), "Japan Eyeing G-8 Summit in July 2008."
6 Agence France Presse (April 16, 2007), "Italy, Japan say G8 to focus on Africa, warming."
7 Kyodo News (May 19, 2007), "Japan to host G-8 summit next year from July 7-9: Abe," accessed: May 22, 2007.
8 Agence France Presse (June 8, 2007), "Japan to take over G8 climate change debate."
9 Agence France Presse (June 8, 2007), "Japan to take over G8 climate change debate."
10 Agence France Presse (March 20, 2007), "Japan aims to lead post-Kyoto climate change fight."
11 Jiji Press English News Service (February 18, 2007), "Japan's Abe Ready to Lead Talks on Green Efforts at G-8 Summit."
12 Jiji Press English News Service (February 18, 2007), "Japan's Abe Ready to Lead Talks on Green Efforts at G-8 Summit."
13 G8 Official Document (July 8, 2005), "Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development," accessed December 20, 2006, http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/summit/2005gleneagles/climatechange.html
14 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific (May 20, 2007), "Japan wants to discuss nuclear plant safety guidelines at G8."
15 Agence France Presse (April 16, 2007), "Italy, Japan say G8 to focus on Africa, warming."
16 Agence France Presse (April 16, 2007), "Italy, Japan say G8 to focus on Africa, warming."
17 Hugh Williamson and Alan Beattie (October 18, 2006), "Germany to focus G8 on Africa investment," Accessed December 20, 2006, http://www.ft.com/cms/s/01a1136a-5ed6-11db-afac-0000779e2340.html
18 Julius Court (2005), "Live8, the G8 and Africa: How bold will Japan be?," Overseas Development Institute, Accessed December 20, 2006, http://www.odi.org.uk/rapid/Projects/UK_Japan/docs/DY_OpEd.pdf
19 Eiji Hirose (June 9, 2007), "G-8 eyes more flexible yuan," Daily Yomiuiri.
20 Japanese Government (2007), "the Japan G8 Presidency in 2008: Locations of Ministers Meetings," Available in the G8 Information Centre archives.
21 MOFA (May 29, 2007), "Announcement of the Schedule of the G8 Ministerial and other Meetings in 2008," accessed July 3, 2007, http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/event/2007/5/1173657_848.html
22 Mainichi News (May 19, 2007), "Japan to hold 2008 G-8 summit on July 7-9," accessed May 22, 2007: http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/business/news/20070519p2g00m0bu019000c.html
23 Associated Press Newswires (May 10, 2007), "Japan picks far-flung cities for ministerial meetings during 2008 G-8 summit."
24 Jiji Press English News Service (April 24, 2007), "Japan Eyeing G-8 Summit in July 2008."
25 Jiji Press English News Service (April 24, 2007), "Japan Eyeing G-8 Summit in July 2008."
26 Kyodo News (April 23, 2007), "G-8 ministerial meetings set in Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Niigata."
27 Kyodo News (June 18, 2007), "Media center for G-8 summit to be set up in Rusutsu Resort."
28 Kyodo News (June 18, 2007), "Media center for G-8 summit to be set up in Rusutsu Resort."
29 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific (June 12, 2007), "Japan official vows top security for 2008 G8, preparatory panel set up."
30 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific (June 12, 2007), "Japan official vows top security for 2008 G8, preparatory panel set up."
31 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific (June 12, 2007), "Japan official vows top security for 2008 G8, preparatory panel set up."
32 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific (June 12, 2007), "Japan official vows top security for 2008 G8, preparatory panel set up."
33 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific (June 12, 2007), "Japan official vows top security for 2008 G8, preparatory panel set up."

[http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/evaluations/2008hokkaido/2008agenda/2008agenda.html]

Source: G8 Information Centre