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

### A. Participating in ITC (International Telecommunication Union) Activities

ITU is a specialized agency of the United Nations in the telecommunication field. Japan is making a positive contribution to the work of the ITU; for example, Japan has accepted assignments of a chairperson and vice-chairperson to the Study Group, and supports human resource development.

Regarding the World Summit on Information Society, based on discussions at the second phase of the WSIS that took place in Tunis, the first meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was held in Athens (Greece) during late October and early November 2006.

As well, Japan is also actively contributing to a new round of negotiations of the G8 Summit, WTO (World Trade Organization), and activities of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) and WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization).

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

Japan has been having multifaceted discussions with the United States every year since June 2001, based on “US-Japan Economic Partnership for Growth”, which was created to promote sustainable growth through dialogue. In June 2006, as a result of 5th year dialogue on the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative, a report concerning regulatory reform and competition policy in various fields including telecommunication was summarized and announced. Then in December 2006, petitions were exchanged during the 6th year dialogue.

As well, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is having consultations on policy with other countries' ministries and agencies of information and communication, including bilateral policy dialogues with European countries and China. Also, the Ministry is making active effort to conclude FTA (Free Trade Agreements) and EPA (Economic Partnership Agreements).

### 2. Promotion of international cooperation

The information gap (digital divide) has been growing internationally, and there is an increasingly recognized need to build information and communications networks on an international scale, including developing countries. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications provides various supports, including ICT human resources development, support for ICT policy and system formulation through policy dialogue with the information and communications ministries of developing countries, support for the development of information and communication infrastructure by implementing international joint experiments, etc., and support for the international and regional organizations that promote international cooperation in eliminating the digital divide. The Ministry also contributes to sustainable development in the information and communications field in developing countries through Official Development Assistance (ODA) in cooperation with various agencies and organizations, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

# Section 7 Development of Postal Service Administration

### 1. Smooth and secure execution of privatization of Japan Post

On October 1 2007, Japan Post Corporation (holding company) and 4 other business corporations (a mail delivery company, an over-the-counter service network firm, a postal savings company and an insurance services company), together with Organization of Postal Savings and Postal Life Insurance (independent administrative agency), were established based on the Japan Post Law. The services of Japan Post are supposed to be transferred to above companies and organization.

To facilitate privatization and splitting up of Japan Post, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has started a preparation towards privatization, such as approving “Execution Plan for Transferring Services of Japan Post” regulating transfer of assets, services and personnel of Japan Post to Japan Post Corporation and respective companies while improving fiscal performance and management efficiency to ensure sound management and encourage compliance.