On 8 May, the Secretary-General of the International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO), Mr. Arguj Kalantarli, met with Mr. Ishii Yoshizane, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on current priorities and developments in the fields of civil defence, disaster risk reduction, emergency management, and resilience-building. Discussions also focused on potential areas of cooperation between ICDO and relevant Japanese institutions, including the exchange of expertise and possible collaboration in joint exercises, capacity-building initiatives, and training programmes.

During the meeting, the parties discussed ICDO’s ongoing modernization and institutional reform process, as well as the Organization’s current activities and future priorities aimed at strengthening its effectiveness and operational capacity.

The Secretary-General highly appreciated Japan’s advanced experience and expertise in the fields of civil protection, disaster preparedness, and emergency response, noting the importance of continued dialogue and practical cooperation in these areas.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on other matters of mutual interest, and confidence was expressed in the further development of constructive engagement and mutually beneficial cooperation between ICDO and relevant Japanese partners.