Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attended the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Trilateral Commission held at a hotel in Tokyo and delivered an address.

The Trilateral Commission is a non-governmental, not-for-profit group for discussing policies, which was originally created in 1973 to bring together experienced leaders within the private sector in Japan, North America, and Europe. The Commission implements joint researches and discussions on the issues of macroeconomic policies, international commerce and finance, politics and security, energy and science/technology, domestic problems common to advanced countries, and various problems in the international community. It aims to strengthen mutual understanding and to make policy proposals to leaders in the governments and in the private sector.

The Prime Minister said in his address, "President Tadashi Yamamoto, who passed away recently, had been supporting the international exchange of knowledge through the Trilateral Commission over many years. I would like to take this opportunity to praise his achievements and express my sincere condolences.
Nearly half a century has passed since the formulation of the Trilateral Commission. During these years, the world has seen significant transformation. It is an economically and politically multipolarized world. It is a world in which the finite nature of the earth is acutely being felt. It is a world in which people, goods and information circulate beyond national borders, and great opportunities and new risks appear at the same time. We are now living an age in which the contrast of the light and dark sides of civilization is becoming increasingly sharp. What is now required in order to face this age of unprecedented complexity and uncertainty?
We must resist the temptations of antiforeignism and protectionism, and rebuild the framework of international cooperation on the common basis of freedom and democracy. We need to start taking concrete actions in order to make rules for doing so. Leadership becomes necessary when introducing a new order. The role that trilateral countries, namely Japan, North America and Europe, should serve in this context is not diminishing in the least.
Having the past experiences of responding to globally-common issues, and the will, capacity and responsibility to continuously tackle such issues, it is becoming more important than ever for the trilateral countries to cooperate hand in hand. It is highly significant for the wisdom of the trilateral countries to gather at one place and strengthen mutual understanding through candid discussions. I would like to largely take into consideration the proposals from the Annual Meeting.
Japan is currently facing many difficult tasks. However, despite these tasks, I believe that the Japanese people must not become inward-looking; they must have an aspiration to venture into the world. I hereby pledge anew that Japan is determined to lead the world so as to open the way to the future of humankind.
Finally, I would like to once again express my gratitude for your contribution, and close my address by wishing for the further development of the Trilateral Commission. Thank you for your kind attention."