January 16, 2023 Results of Visit to Switzerland and France by Mr. TSUGE, State Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications

From January 10 through January 13, 2023, Mr. TSUGE Yoshifumi, State Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, visited Geneva and Bern, Switzerland, and Paris, France. During these visits, he exchanged opinions with relevant international organizations, counterpart governments, and postal operators with the aim of further strengthening cooperative relationships with the parties concerned going forward. Most notably, while in Bern, Mr. TSUGE exchanged opinions with Mr. METOKI Masahiko, Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), and Mr. Marjan OSVALD, UPU Deputy Director General. During their meeting, Mr. TSUGE stated that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) would continue to support the implementation of UPU projects based on the memorandum of cooperation between MIC and UPU, and both sides agreed to make the necessary changes to the memorandum to promote specific cooperative endeavors based on the latest initiatives being implemented at post offices in Japan. While in Geneva, Mr. TSUGE exchanged opinions with Ms. Doreen BOGDAN-MARTIN, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Mr. ONOE Seizo, Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, who took up their posts in January this year. During their meetings, the two sides shared their understanding of approaches to specific collaborative efforts between MIC and the ITU going forward.

1. Cooperation with the UPU

On January 11, in Bern, Mr. TSUGE exchanged opinions with Mr. METOKI and Mr. OSVALD of UPU, who both took up their posts in January last year.
In their exchange of opinions, the two top UPU representatives talked about the implementation status of initiatives over the year since they took office and also about issues to be addressed going forward. Mr. TSUGE stated that MIC would continue to support the projects being implemented by UPU, based on the memorandum of cooperation between MIC and UPU^*.
The two sides agreed to work together to make the necessary revisions to the memorandum, in order to promote specific cooperative endeavors that take into account the latest initiatives being implemented at Japanese post offices (e.g. the handling of local government counter services at post offices, and services that use digital technology to monitor elderly people in the community).

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  MIC signed a memorandum of cooperation with UPU in 2010. Based on this memorandum, MIC provides financial assistance to the UPU in the form of voluntary contributions, to support the implementation of projects in UPU member countries, including projects for enhancement of disaster risk management in the postal sector. The content of the memorandum is reviewed regularly in an effort to expand the range of fields in which projects can be implemented.

2. Cooperation with the ITU

On January 10, in Geneva, Mr. TSUGE exchanged opinions with Ms. Doreen BOGDAN-MARTIN, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Mr. ONOE Seizo, Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, who took up their posts in January this year.

1. 1.
   In his meeting with Ms. BOGDAN-MARTIN, who is from the U.S., Mr. TSUGE conveyed his congratulations on her election as Secretary-General at last year's ITU Plenipotentiary Conference. In addition, the two sides exchanged opinions on such matters as Japan's ongoing contribution to the ITU's efforts to implement universal connectivity; collaboration between Ms. BOGDAN-MARTIN and Mr. ONOE, whose stated vision is to achieve the global spread of technology through standardization activities; and collaboration in the runup to the G7 Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting in Takasaki, Gunma, which Japan will be hosting in April this year.
2. 2.
   In his meeting with Mr. ONOE, Mr. TSUGE conveyed his congratulations on being the first Japanese national to be elected as Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau at last year's ITU Plenipotentiary Conference. In addition, Mr. TSUGE asked Mr. ONOE about his policy on future initiatives and promised that Japan would provide the necessary support.

3. Cooperation in the postal field

Mr. TSUGE visited postal operators in Switzerland (Swiss Post) and France (La Poste), and a French regulatory body (Arcep, France's Electronic Communications, Postal and Print media distribution Regulatory Authority). During these visits, Mr. TSUGE asked about Swiss and French initiatives to maintain universal postal services.

1. 1.
   On January 11, in Bern, Mr. TSUGE exchanged opinions with Mr. Christian LEVRAT, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Swiss Post, regarding Japanese and Swiss initiatives to maintain universal postal services.
2. 2.
   On January 12, in Paris, Mr. TSUGE exchanged opinions with Mr. Philippe WAHL, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of La Poste Groupe, regarding Japanese and French initiatives to maintain universal postal services, including the maintenance of universal postal services based on an agreement between the French government and La Poste, and approaches to government compensation. Mr. TSUGE also visited La Poste post offices to see how neighborhood shops and local government bodies take on the functions of post offices, thereby contributing to the maintenance of universal postal services.
3. 3.
   On January 13, in Paris, Mr. TSUGE exchanged opinions with Mr. Emmanuel GABLA, member of Arcep's Executive Board, regarding matters including the role of regulatory bodies in the maintenance of universal postal services and the development of telecommunications infrastructure.

4. Cooperation in the digital field

On January 12, Mr. TSUGE exchanged opinions with Mr. Mathias CORMANN, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Mr. Ulrik Vestergaard KNUDSEN, OECD Deputy Secretary-General, regarding collaboration in the runup to the G7 Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting in Takasaki, Gunma, which Japan will be hosting in April this year, and further collaboration at various OECD meetings in the digital field.