It is more cost-effective in various matters to nip conflicts in the bud before they occur, rather than respond to conflicts once they have erupted. From this viewpoint, recently the international community has increasingly come to recognize the importance of preventing conflicts in the stages before they erupt. Moreover, once a conflict does occur, it is necessary to stop it as quickly as possible, and the international community must take measures to prevent the recurrence of the conflict, and achieve a peace that can be sustained in the long-term. As matters stand now, the concern of conflict prevention has no established definition, and the scope of its objectives is also not clearly prescribed.
Japan intends to continue to further promote similar views.
Up to this point in time, Japan has cooperated for the prevention, settlement and recurrence prevention of numerous conflicts, and has participated actively in debates at the United Nations and the G8, among other forums. In particular, as President of the G8 for the year 2000, Japan cooperated with various countries and brought together debate concerning conflict prevention.