## (3) Development of international policy in other frameworks

In the G8, the Internet was raised as one of three priority issues at the Deauville Summit held in May 2011.

At the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in the June 2011 High Level Meeting on the Internet Economy, the “Communiqué on Principles for Internet Policy-Making” was adopted, and these principles were adopted as an OECD recommendation in December 2011. Also, “Protection of Children Online” began by a proposal of Japan, and the OECD recommendation on this was adopted in February 2012.

## (4) Development of international policy in bilateral relations

Regarding policy cooperation with the U.S., the “U.S.-Japan Policy Cooperation Dialogue on the Internet Economy” and “Creation of Japan-United States Trade Principles for Information and Communication Technology Services” were carried out. Policy consultations on information and communications are being held with European ministries and agencies in charge of information and communications, and cooperation on information and communications is being offered mutually with Asian ministries and agencies in charge of information and communications. In addition, work is being done on concluding an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

## Section 8

## Development of Postal Service Administration

### 1. Promotion of postal service administration

Japan started the privatization of its postal services in October 2007, and what had previously been a single company was divided into five separate companies. It has become apparent that this and other changes have led to a weakening of the postal service administration's operational foundations and a decline in the ability to offer the public convenient services.

In December 2009, a law was passed and enacted to freeze the sale of government-held shares in Japan Post Holdings and its banking and insurance units, and in April 2010, a postal reform bill formulated by the Cabinet was placed before the 174th Ordinary Session of the Diet that would reorganize the five-company Japan Post group into three companies and that set forth assurances that the new Japan Post Holdings would be responsible for providing universal postal, banking, and insurance services. The bill was rejected. The same bill was formulated again by the Cabinet in October 2010 and submitted to the 176th Extraordinary Session of the Diet, and was continually deliberated in the 177th Ordinary Session of the Diet, 178th Extraordinary Session of the Diet, 179th Extraordinary Session of the Diet and 180th Ordinary Session of the Diet. As a result of the discussion held among three political parties (Democratic Party of Japan, Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito), it was decided to submit a Diet Member Drafted Bill to partially revise the Postal Service Privatization Act. The March 30, 2012 Cabinet Meeting decided to "withdraw" the government submitted postal service reform related bill, and after obtaining consent of the Diet Lower House plenary session, the "Bill for Partial Revision of the Postal Service Privatization Act, etc." was submitted to the Diet Lower House on the same date. This bill passed through deliberation in the Lower House and Upper House, was approved on April 27, and the "Act for Partial Revision of the Postal Service Privatization Act, etc." was proclaimed on May 8, 2012.

### 2. Promotion of correspondence delivery business

The Law Concerning Correspondence Delivery Provided by Private-Sector Operators paved the way for private enterprises to enter the correspondence delivery business, which had been monopolized by the state. Correspondence delivery falls into two categories: general correspondence delivery and special correspondence delivery. Since the law went into force in April 2003, 374 operators have entered the special correspondence delivery business as of the end of March 31, 2012, although there have been no entrants in the general correspondence delivery business.