Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Prime Minister Abe will visit France and the surrounding region from November 29 to December 2. In France, the Prime Minister will attend the COP 21 (21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) Summit Meeting, and demonstrate Japan’s proactive posture towards a new international framework for greenhouse gas reduction beyond 2020. Arrangements are currently being made for the Prime Minister to then visit Luxembourg, which currently holds the presidency of the European Union.

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question regarding your announcement about the Prime Minister’s attendance of COP. I believe this is the first time that a Japanese Prime Minister is attending COP since 2009. Why was it deemed necessary to have Prime Minister Abe attend the upcoming meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At the forthcoming COP 21, negotiations will take place with a view to establishing a new international framework beyond 2020, which would replace the Kyoto Protocol. We consider COP 21 to be a critically important meeting, and therefore, the Prime Minister will be attending.

(Abridged)