and exports, and then

3) Facilitating imports/exports of CRs.

These principles were agreed among Asian countries at the Second Asia 3R Conference in 2008.

Creating a SMC Society in East Asia in line with these basic principles, with the properties of CRs also taken into consideration, is not only beneficial to East Asian countries but also meaningful in the context of sustainable development across the region. In addition, an East Asian SMC Society designed to allow optimal movements of CRs can also contribute to combating global warming and solving resource and energy issues. To achieve results such as these, Japan should share its experience with other countries and effectively and efficiently promote relevant efforts by combining initiatives to improve East Asian countries' capability to responsibly use and process CRs with initiatives to ensure the appropriate transboundary movement of CRs.

If this approach fails, the closely interrelated societies and economies of the East Asian region could face crises such as the expansion of environmental pollution and the exhaustion of resources. East Asian countries therefore share a common destiny and need to work in cooperation in order to realize a scenario for the responsible use and disposal of CRs in line with a common vision to establish a SMC Society.

Japan therefore plans to formulate an East Asia Sound Material-Cycle Society Vision by 2012, stipulating the basic principles and targets for the development of an East Asian SMC, as set forth in the Fundamental Plan for Establishing a SMC Society.

To achieve this goal, Japan is implementing several measures designed to improve East Asian countries' internal capability to responsibly use and process CRs. These measures include (i) support for the formulation of national 3R plans and strategies, (ii) policy dialogue, (iii) establishment of 3R-related information center and research networks, (iv) technology cooperation on the 3Rs and waste management and assistance for the development of associated infrastructure, and (v) international dissemination of 3R and waste management technologies. Japan is also working to ensure the appropriate transboundary movement of CRs by (i) strengthening the enforcement structure for Japanese regulations regarding illegal imports and exports, and clarifying which items are subject to regulation, and (ii) supporting joint initiatives with Asian countries to foster information exchange and improve the relevant authorities' enforcement capacity. The details of these initiatives are described in the following sections.

# Establishing a SMC Society in Asia and provision of cooperation tailored to the needs

It is essential that Japan contribute to the improvement of Asian countries' capability for CR use and processing so that they can implement the 3Rs and responsible waste management as a step towards establishing a domestic SMC Society. A major challenge for many developing countries is how best to manage waste appropriately, for example, by establishing a public waste collection system or by ensuring the sanitary disposal of wastes. In contrast, rapidly growing economies, such as those of many typical East Asian countries, are faced with the need to curb waste generation and recycle waste materials because the amount of waste has increased, even when waste collection and disposal systems have already been developed, especially in urban areas. In addition, concerns about soaring resource prices and constraints on resource supply are creating a growing need to use resources more effectively. This means that an essential challenge for Asian countries is to step up their efforts toward responsible waste management, while also promoting the 3Rs. Another important approach to the urgent issue of global warming is to take measures that bring about co-benefits (measures that can benefit both public hygiene and global warming issues) by promoting CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) projects and other initiatives directed towards responsible waste management and the 3Rs in order to prevent global warming.

Japan’s new Fundamental Plan for Establishing a SMC Society stipulates that Japan should address the international dissemination of its systems, technologies and experience as follows:

“Japan will make its accumulated knowledge of advanced schemes and outstanding technologies and systems regarding the 3Rs and waste management, as well as the experience accumulated by domestic entities by means of relevant activities and collaborations, available to other countries. This will include rapidly developing Asian countries and potentially emerging African countries, and will thereby support these countries’ establishment of a