realization of this vision, and formulating a strategic plan of action. As well as establishing a common vision of the information society at the summit level, the WSIS also formulated a declaration of principles and plan of action for the realization of this vision and so on.

Japanese Minister of the MPHPT Taro Aso made a statement at the summit, introducing Japan’s efforts to promote broadband and realize a ubiquitous network society and emphasizing their importance. Minister Aso also explained that Japan was actively promoting the Asia Broadband Program and would contribute to the declaration of principles and plan of action.

A second phase of the WSIS, which among other things will undertake a follow-up of the Geneva plan of action, is scheduled to be held in Tunis in November 2005. Preparations for the second phase will take place from now on, but it is expected that studies will go ahead on the establishment of a fund to alleviate the digital divide and the form of Internet governance, which were the focal points of discussions in the first phase.

Japan is scheduled to contribute as much as possible for the second phase of the WSIS in cooperation with the ITU and a wide range of international organizations and others.

Regarding the form of Internet governance, in order to contribute to the international debate, including a working group that will be established from now on, the MPHPT is holding the Meeting for Information-sharing on Internet Governance with the aim of exchanging information with Internet-related persons in Japan.

### 2. Promoting International Cooperation

Information and communications are attracting a great deal of expectation as a form of infrastructure that, among other things, leads to economic development, the expansion of employment, and improvement of the national life. In developing countries, though, there are still, for example, about 30 countries in which the telephone diffusion rate does not even reach one unit per 100 persons, and the international digital divide is widening. Therefore, there is a growing need to construct information and communication networks around the world, including in developing countries.

As well as, among other things, supporting human resource development in the IT field, assisting the formulation of IT policies and systems through policy dialogue with information and communication ministries in developing countries, assisting the construction of information and communication infrastructure through the implementation of joint international experiments and so on, and supporting international and regional organizations that promote global cooperation for resolving the international digital divide, the MPHPT contributes to the continuous development of the information and communications field in developing countries in cooperation with such organizations as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Japanese Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC), mainly through official development assistance (ODA).

### 3. Promoting International Standardization Activities

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) plays a central role in international standardization in the information and communications field. Within the ITU, the Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) and the Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) engage in standardization activities. The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) will be held in October 2004 and is scheduled to decide the setup of ITU-T study groups in the next study period (2005 – 08) and study topics, appoint the chairs and vice-chairs of study groups, review work methods, and so on. Japan also must consider its response to these issues as quickly as possible.

Also, giving proper consideration to the opinions of industrial circles and others, since standardization has been the subject of lively discussions in private forums in recent years, it is necessary to further strengthen cooperation among government, industry, and academia and, grasping a full picture of the issues relating to international standardization that Japan should tackle, not just the ITU-T, consider the standardization issues that should be promoted from now on. In light of these circumstances, with regard to Japan’s response to the WTSA, the MPHPT’s Telecommunications Council is scheduled to issue a partial report sometime in the summer of 2004.