Cooperation between Japan and the United States is becoming increasingly important in tackling a variety of global issues under the bilateral Common Agenda, leaders of the two countries said March 12.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said in a keynote speech at the Common Agenda Open Forum that his Carter Center, a nongovernmental organization, has helped improve health care in the Third World. Carter added that he believes the Common Agenda can alleviate suffering and will help bring political stability around the world.
In his opening remark, U.S. Ambassador Thomas Foley focused on improving the lives of people around the world through increased cooperation. "Of particular importance," he said, "will be new ways of increasing cooperation between the public and private sectors, including NGOs." The two countries have been promoting cooperation under the Common Agenda since 1993 to deal with a number of global issues such as health care, poverty and environmental protection.
Former Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said the Common Agenda can be utilized to tackle the financial crisis in Asia. He said Japan and the U.S. can cooperate to develop human resources in the public sector of Asian countries to help restructure their economies.