developing our railway industry, as well as inheriting and developing railway technology, but is also important for strengthening the relationship between countries through contributing to the economic and social development of partner countries, as well as to contribute to environmental problems.

Therefore, Japan makes its business to work on the introduction of its railway system to the continuing railway projects in various countries, such as by carrying out top-level sales activities under the cooperation of the government and the private sector, internationally standardizing our railway technology and standards, and public financial assistance in cooperation with related government ministries.

In November 2009, the Prime Minister presented our Shinkansen to the President of the United States during his visit to Japan. In January of 2010, the Senior Vice Minister of MLIT held the High-Speed Rail Seminar with the executives from major Japanese railway companies in Washington D.C. and met with government officials, such as Secretary of Transport. At the same time, the Parliamentary Secretary of MLIT visited Brazil with the Japanese consortium. He met the government officials of Brazil and delivered a letter signed by the Prime Minister.

## Section 4 – Multilateral and Bilateral Negotiation Measures

### 1. Efforts related to multilateral negotiations and forums

(1) World Trade Organization (WTO)

Japan is the current chair of WTO meetings related to maritime and construction measures and also actively participating in the negotiations for various measures related to trade in the service sector. Moreover, with regard to the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), Japan is pursuing negotiation revisions to ensure the transparency of procedures and the expansion of market access.

(2) Efforts related to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

The purpose of APEC is to promote the liberalization and facilitation of free trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region. With respect to economic and technical cooperation in the region, MLIT is actively engaged and focused on participating and contributing to working-level meetings (e.g. Transport Working Group and Tourism Working Group). In particular, during the transport Working Group meeting, experts discussed various issues related to land transport, maritime, aviation and intermodal developments. Moreover, the Tourism Working Group discussed measures related to the promotion of tourism in the APEC region. The $ 6^{th} $ Tourism Ministerial Meeting was held in Nara, Japan from September 20-23, 2010.

(3) Measures toward the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

For the construction of a healthy ship-building market at the Council Working Party on Shipbuilding in OECD, the development of normal competitive conditions and the enhancement of discussion with emerging ship-building economies, the international tourism promotion at the tourism committee and the Territorial Development Policy Committee (TDPC), measures are being actively taken including the policy review of all signatories regarding national and regional policies and the comparative policy review regarding their cities' competitiveness in dealing with climate change. At the same time, the Joint OECD/ITF Transport Research Centre is performing the duty of chairman in “the working group regarding the strategy of reducing the exhaust emissions of greenhouse gases in the transport sector” and is actively taking action, such as by holding the popularization seminar of the research report in Tokyo in October 2009.

(4) Measures toward the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO)

As the leading country of marine transport and shipbuilding in the world, our country is actively participating and is playing a leading role in IMO activities. Recent activities include the review of the reduction of greenhouse gases from ships and air pollutants, as well as the target-directing standards for newly built structure $ ^{1} $ , etc.

In February 2006, the MLC Maritime Labour Convention, which is the convention adopted by ILO for working out the assurance of fair competitive conditions in the improvement of the working environment of crews and international marine transport, was held. Aiming at the conclusion of our country, at the same time as reviewing and coordinating with the related parties in the country, it is cooperating with all related countries and taking measures actively such as drawing out guidelines on inspecting ships flying the national flag.

(5) Measures towards the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

For the safe and methodical development of international civil aviation, and the healthy and economic operation of the international air transport business, certain rules are prescribed. Our country is bearing the $ 2^{nd} $ largest proportion of shared cost among the signatories. Moreover, as a category-1 council country, our country is participating actively in various ICAO activities and contributing to the development of international civil aviation.