Director General Dr Monique Eloit visits Japan, strengthening ties

Director-General Dr Monique Eloit visits Japan, strengthening ties with the WOAH Member and host of the Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific

7 March 2023 (Japan) – The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) Director General Dr Monique Eloit arrived in Tokyo, Japan, meeting with high-level representatives of the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). She also met with leaders and faculty of the University of Tokyo, which hosts the WOAH Regional Representation office for Asia and the Pacific. The meetings strengthened the relationship between Japan and the intergovernmental authority on animal health.

On her visit to MoFA, Dr Eloit met with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Masatoshi Akimoto. The Vice-Minister stated that the conclusion of an Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the WOAH Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific – the Organisation’s representation office based in Tokyo – and the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation Concerning the Junior Professional Officers (JPO) Programme by the Government of Japan and WOAH, has brought Japan and the Organisation closer together. He expressed hope that Japan would continue to build on this momentum and further strengthen the relationship.

Dr Eloit welcomed the statements and expressed gratitude for the support and expertise provided to the Organisation by Japan through seconded staff, experts’ participation, and the establishment of reference laboratories. She also stated that WOAH seeks to work further with Japan to address prevention of the spread of transboundary animal diseases such as avian influenza in the region. Mr Akimoto also further expressed hope in seeing Japanese citizens play an active role in WOAH as members of staff, including as part of the JPO Programme.

Dr Eloit also met with Mr Takeshi Akahori, Ambassador and Director General for Global Issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussed were current negotiations on developing an international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and the importance of the One Health approach, particularly stressing animal health. They also discussed an upcoming High Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance to be held on the margin of the 2024 United Nations General Assembly (a former Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare and a current Member of the House of Representatives of Japan, Mr Yasuhisa Shiozaki, participates in the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance).

Later in the day, Dr Eloit visited the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), paying a courtesy call to the State Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Atsushi Nonaka. Dr Norio Kumagai, who served previously as WOAH National Delegate for Japan, was also present.

Dr Eloit acknowledged the excellent relationship the Organisation has with the current WOAH National Delegate for Japan, Dr Masatsugu Okita, and discussed concerns with the global sanitary situation, especially with the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the region. She expressed the need to strengthen capacity building and emergency programmes, along with better implementation of WOAH standards. State Minister Nonaka replied that MAFF is strengthening cooperation between Ministries and collecting information on an HPAI vaccine.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the State Minister expressed congratulations on the upcoming 100^th anniversary of WOAH’s founding. Giving thanks, Dr Eloit also expressed her deep gratitude for Japan’s support of WOAH, particularly in the provision of expertise and the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities for officials in Japan.

Dr Eloit rounded out her visit to Japan by coming to the University of Tokyo, where the WOAH Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific has its office. Facilitated by WOAH Regional Representative Dr Hirofumi Kugita, the meeting included faculty and leaders of the university including Professor Yasuhiro Nakashima, incoming Dean of the Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Science, and faculty representing departments and research centres with relevance to animal health.

Dr Eloit was briefed on the achievements of the long-time collaboration between WOAH and the University of Tokyo, including support for the Asian Association of Veterinary Schools (AAVS), an international organisation for veterinary educational institutions in the region, and the Research Center for Food Safety at the University of Tokyo, which is also a WOAH Collaborating Centre for food safety.

Expressing thanks to university leadership, Dr Eloit acknowledged the robust partnership, stating that WOAH hopes to strengthen ties even more with expert participation, consideration of more space to host the WOAH regional office on campus grounds, and plans for further interaction with University of Tokyo veterinary students, who often join the WOAH regional office as interns. The faculty in attendance and Dean Nakashima responded with thanks to Dr Eloit, affirming expressions of interest for continuing collaboration and exploring ways to develop the partnership further.