January 25, 2023 Results of Visit to the U.S. by Mr. MATSUMOTO, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications

From Monday, January 16 through Friday, January 20, 2023, Mr. MATSUMOTO Takeaki, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, visited Washington, D.C. and New York in the U.S. and held talks with relevant members of the U.S. government. In addition to affirming policy cooperation in relevant areas, he exchanged opinions with his counterparts regarding the G7 Digital and Technology Ministers' Meeting to be hosted by Japan this April and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) organized by the United Nations (UN), which is to be hosted by Japan this autumn.

The following provides an outline of the results of his visit.

1. Washington, D.C.

Minister MATSUMOTO held talks with Honorable Anne NEUBERGER, Deputy National Security Advisor; Honorable John C. INGLIS, National Cyber Director; Honorable Jessica ROSENWORCEL, Chairwoman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC); H.E. Nathaniel FICK, the U.S. Department of State Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy; Honorable Don GRAVES, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce, and Honorable Alan DAVIDSON, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator; and Honorable David MALPASS, President of the World Bank Group.
In talks with representatives of the U.S. government bodies, it was agreed that Japan and the U.S. will cooperate in efforts toward holding the G7 Digital and Technology Ministers' Meeting to be hosted by Japan this April and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) organized by the United Nations (UN), which is to be hosted by Japan this autumn. With regard to the G7 meeting in particular, they exchanged opinions on Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) and the resilient telecommunications networks, along with matters relating to AI and free and open internet, and agreed to working closely together.

They also exchanged opinions on various policy-related matters, including the points below, and agreed on the future cooperation on many of these matters.
In the talks with Deputy National Security Advisor NEUBERGER and National Cyber Director INGLIS, they exchanged opinions regarding the resilient telecommunications networks and cybersecurity initiatives.
In the meeting with the FCC, the two sides agreed to promoting cooperation in areas including future-focused broadband policy and the resilient telecommunications networks.
In the meeting with the Department of State, the two sides shared common understanding on the cooperative promotion of concrete cooperation relating to the resilient telecommunications networks, with a view to the deployment of open and secure 5G in third countries, among other matters.
In the meeting with the Department of Commerce and the NTIA representatives, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the MIC and the NTIA was signed, relating to specific cooperative efforts to increase the resilience and safety of telecommunications networks, such as 5G and Beyond 5G, including Open RAN.
At the World Bank, Minister MATSUMOTO exchanged opinions with the president MALPASS. The Minister conveyed his expectations regarding the World Bank's mission and they exchanged views on Japan's contribution.

2. New York

At the UN, Minister MATSUMOTO held talks with Honorable LI Junhua, Under-Secretary-General, and requested his cooperation in Japan's hosting of the IGF.
In addition, Minister MATSUMOTO held meetings with persons who had experience of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and leaders from Japanese companies operating in the U.S., and heard information and exchanged views on their activities in that country.

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  The published materials are in Japanese only.