The 3rd Coast Guard Global Summit Opening Ceremony

Vice-Minister, Mr. Konosuke Kokuba, Japan Coast Guard Commandant, Mr. Shohei Ishii, heads of the coast guard agencies from around the world, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your participation at this Third Coast Guard Global Summit.

As I also mentioned at the reception last night, the ocean is a “common heritage of mankind “ and without its existence there will be no survival nor prosperity for humanity. Yet, within an incredibly short time of one hundred to one hundred and fifty years since the start of modernization we have placed undue burden on our　“common heritage” such as overfishing,  unorderly use of marine resources and marine pollution.                                                                                                      

We, The Nippon Foundation, have anticipated the situation we face today nearly forty years ago. We have since then, focused our agenda on protecting the “common heritage of mankind” as our priority on a long-term perspective in order to address this crisis. Our projects extend over a wide area such as capacity building of ocean experts, support for the safe navigation in the Malacca-Singapore Straits, and contribution to the enactment of the Basic Act on Ocean Policy of Japan, including the collaboration with the coast guard agencies of different countries. For ten years since two thousand four, the Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting has played an important role in regional collaboration in providing countermeasures against piracy and disaster. Since two thousand seventeen this framework has been expanded to the entire “world”, and this year marks the third Coast Guard Global Summit.　　　

Precisely in today’s rapidly globalizing world the challenges facing the ocean are becoming more diverse and complex. This calls us to stand in unity and cooperation when challenges are difficult for a single nation or region to tackle. We believe that without the collaboration among the coast guard agencies like yourselves it would be difficult to maintain the recovery of maritime order, hence the preservation of sustainable ocean. In other words, I think we can well say that peace and safety of the ocean rest on your shoulders.　 　

Thanks to your cooperation, the number of participating countries has increased nearly threefold. I believe that this is to say that we have grown into a platform where we are now able to build our network and cooperative relationship. All my activities are based on the firm belief that “solutions are found where the problems are”. Having said that, I know that the people most knowledgeable about the problems and solutions in the ocean, are all of you gathered here representing each coast guard agency.　

Dear participants, who are tirelessly devoted to the proud responsibility of protecting the safety and peace of the ocean. I would like to say that while hoping for a meaningful summit delivering concrete results. I believe that now is the time for us to make collective efforts for the future of the ocean, through collaboration beyond organizations, national boundaries and sectors. Thank you very much.