Reference News Network, July 29 report - According to Kyodo News, on July 29, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it will establish a new internal agency to further promote economic security as part of a structural reform of the Ministry, highlighting Japan's growing attention to policy areas.
This is the largest restructuring in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in nearly 20 years. It is expected to be established on August 1 by upgrading existing agencies, setting up an Economic Security Division, and also establishing an Economic Diplomacy Strategy Division to handle affairs related to artificial intelligence and digitalization.
In recent years, economic security has received increasing attention, and with the intensification of geopolitical tensions, the stability of supply chains for key materials such as rare earth metals and semiconductors has become a growing concern.
The report said that given the increasingly close economic ties between Japan and Europe, the European Bureau under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will newly appoint an economic strategy officer at the section chief level.
Due to the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also establish a new agency composed of experts from the European Bureau who specialize in research on Central and Eastern Europe (including Baltic countries).
According to the report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also reorganize the Consular Bureau, establishing an agency dedicated to handling emergencies such as terrorism, natural disasters, political uncertainty, and other potential threats to the safety of overseas citizens. (Translated by Hu Guanghe)
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