Visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

After the meeting of the AUICK Domestic Advisory Committee on 20 November 2006, the Secretariat members visited the office of the Global Issues Cooperation Division, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and met with Director Takeshi Osuga and Ms. Chieko Tatsumi.

The Secretariat briefed the MOFA officials on AUICK activities and the concept of the next AUICK project for the years 2008-2011, and asked the MOFA officials for their continued support.

The MOFA officials commended the work of AUICK as a unique strategic effort help medium-sized cities in Asia and agreed to support it as much as possible. They shared the concern of the AUICK about the “countrification” of regional projects in 2008 that it my delay the implementation of inter-country activities unless its procedures are clearly defined and communicated to the concerned parties.