FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Joint Statement from the First Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Dialogue on Space
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 11, 2013
Following is the text of a joint statement issued by the United States of America and the Government of Japan at the conclusion of the First Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Dialogue on Space.
Begin Text:
Pursuant to their shared goal of advancing bilateral space cooperation as declared by their leaders, the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America held their first meeting of the Comprehensive Dialogue on Space in Tokyo on March 11, 2013.
This meeting was co-chaired by the representatives from the Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of National Space Policy, Cabinet Office from the Japanese side, and by the representatives from the Executive Office of the President’s National Security Staff and Office of Science and Technology Policy for the United States. Principal participants were Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Defense, Japan Coast Guard, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency from Japanese side and Department of State, Department of Defense, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration from the U.S. side.
The convening of this first Comprehensive Dialogue on Space begins a new initiative to enhance cooperation between two of the world’s most advanced spacefaring nations from a broad, inclusive, and strategic perspective. With the participation of experts from across both governments, the Dialogue ensures a whole-of-government approach to space issues and space cooperation relevant to a wide range of interests, including resource and disaster management, environmental monitoring, technology development, scientific discovery, national and international security, and economic growth.
At the inaugural meeting, U.S. and Japanese officials exchanged information on respective space policies, including Japan’s newly formulated Basic Plan on Space Policy. They conducted discussions for further collaboration in positioning, navigation, and timing services from the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), as well as Earth observation, data exchange, and space science, to include weather observation from space and asteroid detection and mitigation to protect the planet. In addition, both sides shared the intention to continue cooperation on the International Space Station and discussions regarding future space exploration activities.
The parties discussed space security cooperation and confirmed their interest in furthering, bilateral Space Situational Awareness (SSA). Both sides also welcomed an ad referendum agreement reached on a legal framework for SSA Services and Information provision from the U.S. side to the Japanese side in negotiations on March 7, 2013.
Both sides also re-affirmed their interest in collaboration in the use of space for Maritime Domain Awareness, and the pursuit of transparency and confidence-building measures (TCBMs) for space activities, including the proposed International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities.
Both governments confirmed the importance of the Comprehensive Dialogue on Space which will continue to guide overall bilateral space cooperation policies, and reaffirmed that this Dialogue would strengthen cooperative relations between the two countries.
Both sides concurred on holding the second meeting of the Dialogue in Washington D.C. early next year.
