Date:
【Japan Time】October 18, 2021 9 a.m.-12 p.m. / 9 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
【U.S. Time (EST)】October 17, 2021 8 p.m.-10 p.m. / October 18, 2021 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Format:
Onsite-online hybrid operations(Onsite: International House of Japan / Online: Zoom Webinar)
Co-Chair:
Japan: Ambassador KATO Ryozo, Former Ambassador to the United States
U.S.: Dr. Sheila A. Smith, John E. Merow Senior Fellow for Asia Pacific Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Participants:

English【PDF:269KB】/ Japanese【PDF:154KB】

Joint Statement:

English【PDF:120KB】/ Japanese【PDF:340KB】

Agenda:

English【PDF:269KB】/ Japanese【PDF:294KB】

Quotes from Joint Statement:
Summary of Discussions

During the seventeen-month postponement of the 29th Plenary Session, the three previously extant working groups completed their work and reporting. The Reports of the Educational Exchange Review Committee (ERC), the Arts Dialogue Committee (ADC) and the Next Generation Task Force (Next Gen TF) were officially submitted, and included Japan Chair KATO’s hand delivery of the ERC FINAL REPORT 2020 to former Japanese Prime Minister ABE Shinzo and then Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide, respectively.

Considering a new focus for their attention and resources, the two Panels have agreed to convene a binational ad hoc committee to follow up the discussions and examine possible topics including: 1) creating momentum in people-to-people and educational exchange; 2) nurturing next generation leadership to support the U.S.-Japan Alliance; 3) promoting shared values; 4) advancing digitization and broadening of information exchange between the two countries; 5) exploring local and regional interchanges and new platforms for subnational diplomacy; and 6) building economic resilience. The binational ad hoc committee was charged with presenting recommendations to both Panels by Fall, 2022.

Future Plans

The Panelists dedicated their discussions to topics that would inform the deliberations of the ad hoc committee. The overarching theme of the discussions was the impact of COVID, and they were divided into three sessions: 1) COVID and Local and Regional Diplomacy; 2) U.S.-Japan Cooperation: Supporting a Global COVID Response; and 3) The Impact of COVID on U.S.-Japan Interchange and Education.

The Panels deliberated on the importance and longevity of the U.S.-Japan partnership based on the solid Alliance, enduring friendship, and the critical role the two countries play in ensuring peace, security, economic prosperity and geopolitical stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Most importantly, the Panels agreed the United States and Japan need to confront new realities together, with a sense of urgency, which is why CULCON’s work is vital to building the next generation of stewards of the Alliance.

photo of the 29th CULCON Plenary Meeting
photo of the 29th CULCON Plenary Meeting
photo of the 29th CULCON Plenary Meeting
photo of the 29th CULCON Plenary Meeting
photo of the 29th CULCON Plenary Meeting