Press Conference by Minister Saito (Excerpt)

*Note: This is a provisional translation for reference purposes only.

8:42 to 8:51 a.m.
Friday, April 26, 2024
In the elevator hall, 2nd floor, the annex to the House of Representatives building

Opening Remarks

​Visit to Italy and France

First, I would like to mention one point.
From April 28 to May 4, I am scheduled to visit Turin, Italy, and Paris, France. In Turin, I will attend the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment, and in Paris, I will attend the Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level (MCM) and the WTO Informal Ministerial Meeting.
I will also use this occasion to hold bilateral meetings with relevant people, including various countries’ ministers in charge of energy and trade.
Through those meetings, I would like to deepen international discussions with a view to resolving urgent challenges, such as energy decarbonization, economic security, and maintenance and strengthening of the rules-based, free, and fair economic order.
I will end my remarks here.

Question-and-Answer Session

Visit to Italy and France

Q: Regarding the three meetings in Europe that you mentioned just now, please tell me about what messages you would like to send and what results you are expecting at each meeting.

A: First, at the G7 meeting in Italy, I would like to explain Japanese initiatives, including Green Transformation (GX), and emphasize the importance of striving toward the common goal of global net zero emissions while recognizing the diverse pathways pursued by individual countries. Based on this, I would like to make the meeting an opportunity to demonstrate the G7’s determination and solidarity in implementing the decisions made at COP28.
In France, I am scheduled to participate in the MCM of the OECD. Japan, as the chair of the meeting, would like to make it an opportunity to lead the discussions on matters of growing importance under the present circumstances, such as free and fair trade and investment and economic resilience, and to strengthen cooperation with like-minded countries.
Meanwhile, at the WTO Informal Ministerial Meeting, I would like to make active contributions to discussions on maintaining and enhancing the rules-based trade system through the reform of the WTO.
In addition, the Japan-EU High-Level Economic Dialogue is scheduled to be held. At the meeting, I would like to hold discussions on policy coordination for developing transparent, resilient, and sustainable supply chains under international collaboration.

ALPS treated water

Q: The discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea was temporarily stopped. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) attributed that to the damage done to the cables during drilling work. Please tell us your view regarding this. Also, please tell us about the government’s response to the statement issued by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan criticizing the incident.

A: The ALPS treated water discharge facility is naturally designed on the assumption of a possible power loss. When a power loss occurred on April 24, the discharge was stopped by the closing of the emergency shutdown valve. I have been informed that in the evening of the same day the discharge was resumed and that since then no abnormality has been observed with respect to the facility.
Regarding the power loss, METI has instructed TEPCO to take all possible measures to ensure safety. I want to make sure that TEPCO implements the recurrence prevention measures it has presented.
I am also aware of the statement issued by the press secretary of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan. In response to the People’s Republic of China, we intend to promote the Chinese side’s understanding on ALPS treated water based on scientific knowledge through science-based discussions, including at an experts’ level.