Outline

• Date: January 20^th (Mon.) – 22^th (Wed.), 2014
• Venue: Hotel Nikko Nara (Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan)
• Host: Nara Prefecture
• Supporter: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Participating local and regional governments: 39 local and regional governments from 5 countries (China, Philippines, Korea, Vietnam, Japan)

      *Special Guest: Myanmar (Yangon Region Government and Mandalay Region Government)

(1)13:00～18:15　Group Discussion (high working-level participants)

• Theme1 ”Social Security in terms of Aging population and Decreasing Birth Rate”

　　<Table A>

• Theme2 “Regional Economic Development and Employment”

　　<Table B>

　　<Table C>

(2)19:00～20:30　Welcome Reception (Venue: Nara Hotel)

<January 21^st (Tue.)>

(1) 8:45～ 8:55　Address by the host

       Shogo Arai (Governor of Nara Prefecture)

(2) 8:55～9:10　Address by a guest

       Nobuo Ishihara (President of the Research Institute for Local Government)

(3) 9:10～ 9:45　Keynote Speech “Future of Asia”

       Surin Pitsuwan (former Secretary-General of ASEAN, visiting professor at Nara Prefectural University)

(4) 9:45～15:40　 Group discussions (heads of local and regional governments)

• Theme1 “Social Security in terms of Aging Population and Decreasing Birth Rate”

　　<Table A>

• Theme2 “Regional Economic Development and Employment”

　　<Table B>

　　<Table C>

Discussion scene	(from left)Tsutomu Maeda (Vice Governor of Nara Prefecture), Taro Miyamoto (Professor, Faculty of Law, Chuo University), Sang-Hoon Ahn (Professor at the Department of Social Welfare, Seoul National University,Korea), Shogo Arai (Governor of Nara Prefecture)
Tokio Kusumi (Mayor of Mitsuke City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan)	Kosuke Motani (Chief researcher at the Japan Research Institute, Ltd.)

(5)16:00

• Commemorative lecture

• Introduction of participating local and regional governments
• Project reports

Toshihiro Nikai (Member of the House of Representatives)

 

(6)16:45～17:20　 Commemorative photo session

Commemorative photo session

(7)17:30～18:00　 Representatives’ press conference

• Representative participating local and regional governments

• Announcement of Chairperson’s Report

Representatives’ press conference

(8)18:30～20:30 Governor’s banquet

 <January 22^nd (Wed.)>

(1) Bilateral meetings (*only by those requesting the meetings)

Chairperson’s Report 

 At the Fourth East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress in fiscal 2013, discussions were held mainly in the form of group discussions about each theme, which have been conducted since the Second Congress and received favorable evaluations by participating members.
Two themes were selected, as common tasks for local and regional governments, by the Secretariat Nara Prefecture through questionnaires answered by Member Governments. They were “Social Security in terms of Aging Population and Decreasing Birth Rate,” which was continued from the previous year, and “Regional Economic Development and Employment,” which was a new theme, and group discussions were conducted on these themes.

We had Member Governments select themes in advance and then participate in discussions for each theme.
During the discussions by “high working-level participants” that were conducted yesterday (the 20th), participants exchanged opinions with each other and heard evaluations by the lecturers, focusing on the regional reports that were submitted in advance.

At today’s (the 21st) meeting, former Secretary-General of ASEAN and visiting professor at Nara Prefectural University Surin Pitsuwan first gave a keynote speech titled “Future of Asia.”
Surin Pitsuwan gave a dynamic message of support, saying things such as the following: “It is great for the East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress to be operated at the regional, community, and grassroots levels, and to work together to develop the abilities to contribute to people’s safety, peace of mind, welfare, and prosperity.” “I hope that all of you who have gathered here will not stop at the position of local or regional government. You are not screws in a giant engine. The visions of the leaders of each country cannot be realized without the strengths of local and regional governments. Local and regional governments themselves can contribute to bringing about a better world.” “I of course hope that this government congress will continue to be held from now on, and also that, in addition to local and regional governments, other entities and various organizations will participate and accumulate education, enlightenment, and exchanges.”

After that, the three lecturers for each theme gave overview reports on the high working-level participants’ group discussions that were held the previous day.
Next, based on the keynote speech and high working-level participants’ discussions, lively discussions were conducted by heads of local and regional governments, and understanding of the tasks of each government was further deepened.

The following is a report summarizing the following two points as broad results (overviews) of the discussions for each theme.
I. Specific measures as local and regional governments
II. Specific measures for further improvement in the future

Please note that although this chairperson’s report was made by the Governor of Nara Prefecture, who is the chairperson, and Nara Prefecture, which is the Secretariat, the lecturers for the group discussions gave accurate advice and guidance for summarization. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for their cooperation and support.