Ambassador Monji attends the 3rd Joint Meeting of the Japan-Canada Chambers Council

On April 7th, the 3rd joint meeting of the Japan-Canada Chambers Council (JCCC) was held in Sendai, Japan. Over 100 business representatives and government officials from the two countries attended the meeting, engaging in lively discussions to strengthen Japan-Canada relations.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Monji spoke about the stronger bilateral government relations over the past year, changing circumstances following U.S. President Trump’s inauguration, forward-looking developments and issues to be addressed in Japan-Canada economic relations, and Canada’s attractiveness as a trade and investment partner. Ambassador Monji also mentioned that this year marks Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation, and the next year will be the 90th anniversary of Japan-Canada diplomatic relations.

During the ensuing four sessions, Ambassador Monji spoke about the priority areas under the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Japan on Cooperation in Science and Technology: nanotechnology, health research，sustainable energy technologies，arctic research cooperation and research mobility. The Ambassador also spoke about the potential for broad-based science and technology cooperation in various areas including artificial intelligence, and the increasing number of Japanese students studying in Canada, with prospects for additional increase. Ambassador Monji further expressed his expectations for Japanese companies accepting long-term internships for Canadians - an initiative that is being facilitated and supported by Mitacs, a Canadian non-profit organization.

On the previous day, the attendants visited the reconstruction sites in the city where the Great East Japan Earthquake struck in 2011, and participated in a special briefing session concerning progress in reconstruction efforts, as well as the assistance provided by Canada.

At the end of the joint meeting, the “Joint Statement on the 3rd Joint Meeting,” which includes the following points, was adopted:

• We continue to acknowledge the importance to endeavor concluding the TPP.
• We urge our two governments to recommence CJEPA negotiation as quickly as possible.
• Bilateral industry=academia=government collaboration is required in the fields of science and technology, as well as in securing and cultivating the human resources needed to promote such collaboration.
• We should further strengthen tourism- and education-related information dissemination and marketing activities.