Inter-ministerial Meeting for the Promotion of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC)

On October 7, 2024, Prime Minister Ishiba attended the 3rd Inter-ministerial Meeting for the Promotion of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, the preparation status for the AZEC Leaders Meeting was reported. 

Following the discussion, the Prime Minister said:

“On the occasion of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-related Summit Meetings this week, the second AZEC Leaders Meeting will be held in Laos, with Japan serving as the chair.

As momentum for decarbonization grows internationally, it is imperative that Asia, leveraging its strong export-driven industries, actively pursues decarbonization initiatives to remain competitive in global business.

Given the recent international developments surrounding decarbonization, Japan and its regional partners must join hands and take the next steps together.

AZEC represents a pivotal initiative in Asia that shares the principle of advancing toward net-zero emissions through various pathways, while simultaneously achieving decarbonization, economic growth, and energy security.

At this AZEC Leaders Meeting, we aim to reach an agreement with partner countries on an action plan for the next ten years, thereby elevating AZEC to a new phase of cooperation.

Specifically, we will work on establishing rules that promote activities contributing to decarbonization in Asia, creating a virtuous cycle that will drive the creation of further decarbonization projects, utilizing Japan's technology, which is highly anticipated by our partner countries. This cycle will be spearheaded by initiatives that contribute to the decarbonization of high-emission sectors such as electricity, transportation, and industry. Through these efforts, Japan will not only strive for decarbonization in Asia but also extend its influence globally. This is the commitment we will continue to advocate.

I would like to request that all relevant ministries and agencies, under the leadership of Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tachibana, make every effort to coordinate as a unified government in preparation for this week’s AZEC Leaders Meeting. That is all.”