June 30, 2018
Statement by Mr. Taro ASO, Minister of Finance, Japan
Today, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, the current Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Japan’s candidate for a third term, was reelected at the annual WCO Council Session held in Brussels, Belgium.
In a contemporary society where the significance of global-wide counter-terrorism efforts and trade facilitation is well-recognized, the WCO’s role in promoting border security and efficiency in customs duty procedures is gaining more and more importance.
Dr. Mikuriya has demonstrated his outstanding abilities and leadership since assuming the office of Secretary General in 2009. I am convinced that his reappointment resulted from the high appreciation by all WCO members for his significant achievements and capacity as well as the contributions made by Japan to the WCO.
I expect the WCO, with Dr. Mikuriya’s continued leadership, to make contributions to the economic growth of Japan and the world through development of global trade. I also expect that Dr. Mikuriya’s reappointment to the Secretary General will bring further enhancement of Japan’s position in the international community.
Japan will host the G20 summit of leading nations and Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo in 2020. Under those circumstances, we need to further strengthen cooperation for counter-terrorism and other various areas between Customs administrations. Japan will make continued efforts to strengthen the relationship with the WCO and further promote international cooperation in the areas of Customs.