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Welcome address on the occasion of the 3rd German-Japanese Dialogue Forum on the Environment, "Key technologies for the establishment of a Low Carbon Society - Technologies in the field of e-mobility"
Berlin
7th September 2010
Director-General Steinkemper,
Mr Ueda,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1.
Our world is facing great challenges, the like of which we have never seen before. One of the most striking examples is the financial crisis which began with the so-called Lehman shock. This crisis has now reached a new dimension with the recent debt crisis that occurred in Greece and the concomitant concern over the euro. Another major challenge facing mankind today is the theme of this event, namely the establishment of a low carbon society to combat global warming.
We must be careful, however, with the term "Low Carbon Society" which is on everyone's lips. In the global society in which we humans live, there would be no matter without carbon, and fertilizers and other chemical products which have so benefited humanity are made of carbon. The problem is the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, and our job is to find ways to reduce this concentration. Without this clarification, we would presumably have to listen to harsh criticism from chemists—and I would receive nasty emails.
2.
Japan and Germany are in the possession of philosophies pertinent to finding a way out of the current crisis. There is the foundational moral principal among Japanese people, namely, "to know one’s own limitations", and then there is among the people in Germany the attitude toward daily life which is marked by earnestness and determination. A solution is not possible without these two elements. We have to take on the debts we have accumulated in the environment and the financial sector and reduce them as quickly as possible. In view of the overheated situation, the reset button must be pressed and order restored among the international community.
3.
However, this reboot or reset must not go too far. There is a concern that as a result of the financial crisis and the weak economy, neither Japan nor Europe has as much vitality as it once had. Europe and Japan must regain their strength, so that through science and technology, as well as through innovation in fields such as environment and life sciences, they can again function as a driving force for the world. This will benefit the international community as a whole. Germany holds a key position within Europe. The economy in this country grew 2.2% in the second quarter of this year over the previous quarter, a large increase. This development has already been called a new economic miracle, and hopefully this trend will continue over the long term.
I hope, that Germany will continue to play an active and leading role in dealing with the challenges posed by the euro crisis and global warming.
4.
I am aware, of course, that there are also a number of critical issues which Japan faces. The financial crisis has impacted the Japanese real economy, too, and my country, which is yet unable to emerge from deflation, is not truly healthy. But, we will never give up. We will overcome the present difficult situation and rise again with renewed force. The path that we are striving for is a technological revolution the like of which humanity has never experienced, that is, the realization of a Green Revolution and a Life Revolution. For this, we must deal earnestly with the problem of global warming and develop the life sciences. Japan would like to lead these efforts together with Germany. Although our views do not correspond in all areas, there won’t be a solution without any cooperation between Japan and Germany and Europe. So, I would ask you to attach great importance to our cooperation.
5.
In this forum, representatives from Japan and Germany will exchange views on the current state of technology and future strategies with respect to the topic of e-Mobility. I hope that when it comes to realizing a Low Carbon Society— or rather a society with low CO2 concentration-- our two countries will cooperate and assume a leading position in the world in developing advanced technologies and infrastructure, as well as in the setting of standards. The automotive industries of Japan and Germany have also transitioned from the era of competition to an era of cooperation. Volkswagen and Suzuki, as well as Nissan-Renault and Daimler, have started cooperating in their respective fields of capital and technology. And there is collaboration even in the fields of batteries and carbon fibers, where technologies developed by Japan are of an extremely high level. Nevertheless, Japan and Germany, and Japan and the EU, have not yet exhausted their potentials. If cooperation were expanded not only in the technological field but also in the areas of trade and investments, it would also have a positive impact on economic growth for both sides. For this reason, the conclusion of an Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and the EU is an urgent task.
6.
This October, Japan will host the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) in Nagoya. Since Japan assumed the chairmanship of the conference from Germany, our two countries’ cooperation in this area is also especially noteworthy. Furthermore, it was in 1861 that Japan and Prussia concluded a friendship and trade agreement which initiated the exchange between our two countries. So 2011 is a special year in which the "150th anniversary- of exchange between Japan and Germany" will be commemorated. This dialogue forum is also of great significance with respect to celebrating the anniversary befittingly. It is essential for our countries and for the world that the cooperative relations which were formed 150 years ago continue and expand with an eye to the future. When the diligence and great appreciation of craftsmanship that characterize the people of our two countries are brought together in a synergy, it will provide good opportunities for the development and distribution of world-leading products and technologies. I am firmly convinced that the innovations emerging from this interaction between Japan and Germany will develop into the global standards, and that both our countries will play a leading roles in solving global issues such as the world-wide environmental problems. It is my hope that this forum will hold a lively discussion that will mark the beginning of this development.
Thank you.
