## Section 8 Promotion of International Strategy

### 1. Promotion of international policy

## (1) Promotion of international development in the Asia-Pacific region

The MIC has been making various efforts concerning the promotion of international policy in the Asia/Pacific region, which include cooperation with the member countries of APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation), the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In 2010, Japan is the chair of APEC, and is scheduled to conduct a wide range of APEC-related high-level meetings including a summit of heads of state. These include the Meeting of Telecommunications and IT Ministers (TELMIN 8), to be held in Okinawa Prefecture in October 2010. Goals for TELMIN 8 include evaluation of the Universal Internet Access target set for 2010, promotion of ICT utilization to tackle the issue of climate change and address other issues through incorporation of cloud computing, and adoption of the Okinawa Declaration outlining measures for utilization of ICT during natural disasters.

## (2) Promotion of international developments among international institutions and multiple nations (except for Asia-Pacific region)

In the ICT field, it is to be hoped that highly anticipated new products and services will be developed by a wide range of domestic and international operators under open specifications and offering users as broad a range of options as possible. To this end, it is essential to consider measures for promotion and dissemination of specifications that can be adopted as the de facto standard through designation by public bodies and acceptance by a large number of participants in the market.

In August 2009, the MIC advised the Information and Communications Council on standardization measures for integrated communications and broadcasting environments. In response, the Committee on Standardization Measures for Integrated Communications and Broadcasting Environments has been formed and is pursuing deliberations on a basic policy for promotion of standardization.

Meanwhile, the UN telecommunications organization ITU (International Telecommunications Union), composed of (1) the Radio-communication Sector (ITU-R), (2) Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) and the (3) Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D), is engaged in activities for standardization of frequency allotment and telecommunications technology and support for telecommunications sector development in developing countries. Japan has produced a larger number of ITU research subcommittee chairpersons and vice-chairpersons and research leaders within this organization, and is making active contributions through proposals for recommendations, etc.

## (3) Promotion of international policy in bilateral relationships

For the purpose of facilitating sustainable growth through dialog between Japan and the United States, the Japan-US Economic Partnership for Growth was agreed at the Japan-U.S. summit meeting held in June 2001, and annual multifaceted discussions, including vice-ministerial-level economic talks, have been held under the auspices of various conferences on initiatives for regulatory reform and competition measures, etc.

As part of the eighth-year discussions on Japan-US regulatory reform and competition initiatives, petitions of demands on related topics were exchanged between the governments of the US and Japan in October 2008, followed by exchanges of opinions between working groups, and in July 2009, the compilation and release of a report.

The MIC engages in policy consultations with ministries and agencies responsible for information and communications from the EU, western countries, China, and India, etc. Also, the MIC is making active effort to conclude EPA (Economic Partnership Agreements).