The roundtable discussion with Tetsuo Kondo, the UNDP Resident Representative in Japan, saw participation from many students and individuals involved in education and international cooperation, including those who attended on the day of the event. In the first half of the discussion, Mr. Kondo spoke about the status of the Millennium Development Goals, the significance of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), and shared experiences from the field of human and community development in Africa, particularly in Chad.
In the second half, participants actively engaged with opinions and questions. Topics discussed included the importance and reliability of development indicators, the presence of Japanese individuals within the UN, Japanese diplomacy, the options available for achieving the SDGs in balance with international politics, issues related to religion, and insights on Japan’s challenges such as an aging population and depopulation in rural areas. Mr. Kondo responded thoughtfully to these inquiries.
He also emphasized the importance of various partnerships for achieving the SDGs, discussing examples of collaboration between UN agencies and businesses in Africa, as well as Japanese companies that have swiftly developed management strategies aligned with the SDGs. The discussion continued even after the roundtable concluded, with ongoing questions for Mr. Kondo, making for an engaging session.
Thank you to all the participants, and to Mr. Kondo for his insightful lecture despite his busy schedule.
