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2011/12/07
8th meeting of Café Democrats held
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On December 7, the DPJ International Department (Director-General Koichiro Watanabe) hosted the 8th meeting of Café Democrats, the exchange and discuss forum for diplomats stationed in Tokyo, at party headquarters. The meeting was attended by around sixty diplomats, including a number of Ambassadors.
At the start of the meeting, Acting Secretary General Shinji Tarutoko gave a speech, expressing appreciation for the huge amount of human, material and monetary assistance received from various countries, regions and international organizations around the world, as well as stating that the party had united under the leadership of party President, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, and was aiming to manage the administration so that the resolution of the nuclear accident, and recovery and reconstruction following the Great East Japan Earthquake were given priority. He went on to say, “Currently, the world is facing many issues, including the European economy and poverty and environmentally related issues. Furthermore, next year elections of political leaders will take place in several major nations. In this international environment, in order for Japan to fulfil her international responsibilities, I would like us, as a party, to support the administration’s diplomacy, as well as further deepening diplomatic efforts by politicians and political parties. This is not dual diplomacy. I would like us to join forces with the government, and work to increase mutual understanding and relations of trust with various countries, as well as to enhance world peace and stability.”
Administration Committee Chair, Naoki Tanaka then introduced the executive officers of the DPJ International Department, who had been appointed since the change of leadership in September: International Department Director-General Koichiro Watanabe, and Vice Directors-General, members of the House of Councillors Marutei Tsurunen and Shin-kun Haku, and members of the House of Representatives Gaku Kato, Shino Aihara, Mieko Tanaka, and Eriko Fukuda. He then looked back over the two years since the change of government, and expressed the opinion that under the Noda administration, the party had united under the leadership of Secretary General Koshiishi and intended to overcome the difficulties it faced. Furthermore, Tanaka added that “The world is becoming multi-polar and bilateral exchanges are important. I would like us to further invigorate international exchanges with various countries through exchanges between politicians.”
The diplomatic participants expressed their expectations for further international exchanges with the DPJ, and matters such as organizing separate regional discussion groups and the state of bilateral parliamentary friendship leagues were discussed, with the meeting ending in a convivial atmosphere.
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