Akira IMAGAWA
(Treasurer of Osaka City)
I congratulate you on this international forum, "Asia - Looking to the Future", which has attracted so many participants and is being held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Osaka International House Foundation. The Mayor of Osaka was supposed to attend this forum but because of other official duties, regretfully, was unable to do so. I would like to take this opportunity to extend a hearty welcome to you all, and present the welcoming address.
In recent years, rapid progress of social and economical globalization has given rise to various problems, such as problems concerning the global environment and the world-wide concentration of population in city areas. Under these circumstances it is important for each nation and each region to jointly and actively cope with these challenges.
It is very meaningful to invite opinion leaders from each field from the Asia-Pacific Region to Osaka and have lectures and panel discussions on the theme, "Asia of the 21st Century and the World, in order to deepen mutual understanding and exchange.
I would like to express great custom for Osaka International House Foundation and those who worked hard in the organization of this forum.
In this highly internationalized age, with the opening of Kansai International Airport and hostmg the APEC Conference in Osaka, Osaka City has been further deepening its relations with the Asia-Pacific Region and other foreign countries. Aiming to become "a city which contributes to the world", Osaka City is now actively involved in international cooperation. As an example of such efforts, we invited UNEP (United Nations Environmental Technology Center) in the field of environmental conservation, to Osaka.
We are now actively trying to host the 2008 Olympic Games in Osaka, representing Japan, based on the basic principle "the Olympics for global citizens." Our goal is an "International Osaka Of Creativity and Vitality" and an "Osaka Everyone is Attracted to and Wants to Live in". To achieve these goals, we ask for your continued support. Through opportunities such as this forum, it is my hope that international exchange will further be promoted and I also would like to wish all of you good health and prosperity.
