On October 19th in Kumamoto, the 4th APWS Kumamoto City Steering Committee and the Japan Water Forum jointly hosted a kickoff event, the first in a series of relay symposiums in anticipation of the 4th APWS, to be held on 19th and 20th October, 2020.
On behalf of the hosts of the 4th APWS, Mr. Kazufumi Onishi, Mayor of Kumamoto, and Dr. Kotaro Takemura, Chair of the Japan Water Forum, which serves as secretariat of the APWF, attended the event and joined in on discussions on the objectives of the 4th APWS and what we expect from the citizens of Kumamoto.
In his keynote speech, JWF Chair Takemura said that the objective of the 4th APWS is to invite heads of state and government from Asia and the Pacific region and encourage them to take initiatives for the solution of water issues by overcoming bureaucratic sectionalism.
In a panel discussion, we shared information about long-standing efforts of the host city Kumamoto, where various stakeholders, including the public and private sectors, have been jointly involved in the conservation and use of groundwater. It is expected that the good practices of Kumamoto will be shared and prove useful to participants.
▼Outline▼
Event Name: 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit “1 Year to Go Event”
Time and Date: 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm on Saturday, 19 October (Doors open at 12:30 pm)
Venue: Room “Amakusa” on the 5th Floor at Hotel Nikko Kumamoto (2-1 Kamitori-cho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Japan)
Organizers: 4th APWS Kumamoto City Steering Committee and Japan Water Forum
▼Programme▼
Opening Remarks: Mr. Kazufumi Onishi, Chair of the 4th APWS Kumamoto City Steering Committee, Mayor of Kumamoto City
Part 1: Keynote Lecture
-Theme: The Water Situation in the World and Significance of Holding an APWS
-Lecturer: Dr. Kotaro Takemura, Chair of Japan Water Forum
Part 2: Panel Discussion
-Theme: The Significance of Holding the 4th APWS in Kumamoto
-Coordinator: Prof. Tsutomu Ichikawa, Tokai University
-Panelists:
Mr. Kazufumi Onishi, Mayor of Kumamoto City
Dr. Kotaro Takemura, Chair of Japan Water Forum
Ms. Ikumi Hara, Vice-chair of Kumamoto Environment Network
Mr. Yoshinori Oono, Standing Director of Higo Water and Greenery Protection Fund Charitable Foundation
Entertainment: Calligraphy Performance by the Hitsuyukan High School Calligraphy Club
Closing Speech: Mr. Kazufumi Onishi, Chair of the 4th APWS Kumamoto City Steering Committee, Mayor of Kumamoto City
It is already less than a year before the 4th APWS. We will do our best in preparing for the event. We appreciate your continuing support and cooperation.
(Reported by Sae Ishihara, Chief Manager)
