Governor Katayama of Tottori Prefecture, Mayor Nozaka of the City
of Yonago, and distinguished guests, it is both a pleasure and an
honor to be able to address you this morning. My name is KOIKE Yuriko,
Minister of the Environment of Japan.
First of all, I would like to extend my most sincere welcome to you,
having traveled from throughout Asia and the Pacific to join us here
in Tottori Prefecture for this Environment Congress. I would like
to convey my sincere gratitude to the environment ministers of Asia-Pacific
nations as well as to the delegates from relevant international organizations
who have come all the way to Japan to participate. Also, I would
like to express my deepest appreciation to the Diet members, environmental
experts and representatives from various sectors of the local community
for sparing their time to attend this Congress, as well as our hosts,
Tottori Prefecture and the City of Yonago, and others whose preparatory
efforts made this Congress possible.
From Tottori Prefecture, our host for ECO Asia 2004, we can view
not only the lush greenery of the verdant coastline of the Sea of
Japan, but also Mt. Daisen, one of the most beautiful mountains in
Japan. You may be, I suspect, surprised to hear that Japan also has
a desert. It is to my great regret, however, that our desert is not
atop any oil reserves.
It is truly a pleasure to be able to hold ECO Asia here in Tottori,
which is so blessed with natural beauty. I sincerely hope that the
activities undertaken by Tottori in the field of international cooperation
are all the more enhanced by hosting this Congress today. |
|
