### B. Participating in International Telecommunication Union (ITU) activities

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized organization of the United Nations for telecommunications and comprises three sectors: (1) International Telecommunication Union-Radio-communications (ITU-R), (2) International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization (ITU-T) and (3) International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunications Development (ITU-D), and its activities include the allocation of radio frequencies, standardization of telecommunication technologies and development support for the telecommunications of developing countries. Japan is making a positive contribution to the work of the ITU; for example, Japan has accepted the assignments of chairperson and vice-chairperson to study groups in different sections and submitted various recommendations.

Japan also actively participates in the Internet Governance Forum (IFG), whose secretariat was established by the United Nations as a forum to discuss various public policy issues concerning the Internet; as well as in the negotiations at the Doha Round of WTO talks and the negotiations at OECD.

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

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.

In 2007, as a result of 6th 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 October 2007, petitions were exchanged during the 7th year dialogue.

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

### 2. Promotion of international cooperation

Recently, the international digital divide has been growing; for instance, there are about 30 developing countries with less than one telephone subscriber per 100 people, although ICT networks are a critical part of the infrastructure necessary for realizing economic growth, employment expansion and improving people’s lives. Therefore, there is an increasingly recognized need to build information and communications networks on an international scale, including in developing countries.

The MIC provides various support, 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 MIC 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 and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), etc.