[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 14th meeting of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, discussions were held on “Japan’s policy on the Arctic.”

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

“Today we have approved Japan’s first policy on the Arctic. Rapid environmental change in the Arctic in recent years is causing environmental problems on a worldwide scale, such as global warming; making the Arctic Sea Route and resource development possible; and bringing about changes in the security environment. These issues pose new challenges for the international community that are deeply relevant to Japan’s national interests.

Not only those countries touching the Arctic Circle, such as the United States, Russia, Canada, and the countries of northern Europe, but also countries outside the Arctic Circle, such as other countries in Europe and China, are now showing great interest in the Arctic and bolstering their initiatives there.

As a country playing a major role in relation to Arctic issues, we must further advance science and technology, one of Japan’s strengths, and based on that, play an active and leading role in the initiatives of the international community related to the Arctic.

I would like each Cabinet member to work strategically on Arctic policy based on the policy direction that we have approved today.”