Marking the UN’s 80th anniversary, Banri Kaieda, Secretary-General of the Japanese Parliamentary Committee for World Federation, welcomed dignitaries including United Nations University Rector and UN Under-Secretary-General Tshilidzi Marwala and UN Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee. He recalled previous Diet resolutions (the UN’s 60th anniversary; the 60th anniversary of Japan’s UN membership) committing Japan to reforming international institutions, developing international law, advancing disarmament diplomacy, and pursuing world federalism, and he expressed determination to adopt a new resolution. In discussion, he raised concerns about China’s stance on Security Council reform and asked Mr. Chatterjee for his views.
Reporter: Koki Imon
For more details of this meeting, please see here.
Full Statement (English Translation)
“Good afternoon. I am Banri Kaieda, Secretary-General of the Japanese Parliamentary Committee for World Federation, the organizer of today’s forum.
Needless to say, the United Nations was founded in October 1945, eighty years ago. To mark this, our Committee decided to hold the UN 80th Anniversary Forum.
Today we have invited senior UN officials, including United Nations University Under-Secretary-General (Rector) Tshilidzi Marwala and Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee. Thank you very much for joining us.
It is a pleasure and an honor to have the opportunity to hear from those who play vital roles at the UN. The United Nations University addresses urgent global issues concerning the survival, development and welfare of humankind, which aligns with our World Federalist concerns. Hearing directly from Rector Marwala will greatly nourish our future activities.
Given the tense situation in East Asia, I also look forward to Mr. Chatterjee, who serves as the UN’s Resident Coordinator in China, speaking about the realities of China as seen through the lens of multilateral diplomacy at the UN.”
“In Japan’s National Diet, the House of Representatives marked the UN’s 60th anniversary and the House of Councilｌors marked the 60th anniversary of Japan’s UN membership with resolutions pledging international contributions. These resolutions state that Japan should strive to reform and strengthen international organizations, develop international law, advance disarmament diplomacy—including on nuclear weapons—and explore the path toward realizing a world federation, making every possible effort to secure a peaceful future.
On the UN’s 80th anniversary, I hope today’s forum with senior UN officials will, while recalling those resolutions of both Houses, lead us toward a new resolution for this 80th year—though there has been a hiatus in the Diet and a resolution has not yet been adopted. I have not given up; I intend to continue striving toward it.
Amid today’s turbulent international environment, I conclude by hoping this will be a valuable opportunity to consider future peacebuilding and the development of the rule of law. Thank you.”
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“Regarding China’s stance toward the UN, it appears to have become particularly active in recent years.
However, if we truly seek to make the UN function effectively, we inevitably encounter the question of the Security Council.
As Counsellor Miyake noted earlier, Security Council reform is unavoidable, and Japan’s role in it is very significant.
Yet, as far as I understand, while China professes to value the UN, it seems not very positive about Security Council reform itself—especially Japan’s active involvement in that discussion.
Am I mistaken in this perception?
I would very much like to hear Mr. Chatterjee’s views.”