"The World and Japan" Database (Project Leader: TANAKA Akihiko)
Database of Japanese Politics and International Relations
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS); Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA), The University of Tokyo

[Title] Video Message by Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the Raisina Quad Think Tank Forum

[Place]
[Date] February 24, 2014
[Source] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
[Notes]
[Full text]

Distinguished participants,

I’m KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. I’d like to extend my congratulations on this first Raisina Quad Think Tank Forum. And I also thank the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Observer Research Foundation for organizing this event.

Allow me to pay tribute to Minister Jaishankar’s leadership in bringing the G20 meetings to a successful conclusion last year. I recall meeting him shortly after I took office as Foreign Minister last September. We had a frank and productive discussion. I look forward to having him to Raisina Tokyo in March and to continuing to work together for Japan-India relations.

Today, competition among states over security and global issues has sharpened. Precisely because we face such deepening divisions in the world, I believe it is necessary to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

For this reason, Japan, together with its allies and like-minded countries, is working to further develop a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” based on the rule of law. It goes without saying that the Quad is one of the most important initiatives to this end.

To date, the Quad has steadily implemented initiatives that have benefited the Indo-Pacific region in various areas, including maritime, critical and emerging technologies, cyber, and counter-terrorism.

The Quad’s initiatives must continue to move forward. This year, I will chair the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues of India, Australia, and the United States to promote initiatives that involve various stakeholders beyond national, regional, gender and other boundaries.

For the Quad to further develop with its inclusiveness and diversity, let us deepen our cooperation even more, including collaboration among think tanks and the promotion of "Women, Peace and Security (WPS)."

These efforts would not be possible without the new ideas and international outreach of the experts like you gathered here. I hope you will have a lively discussion today.

Thank you very much.