Reception on the Occasion of the 19th World Meteorological Congress of WMO (25 May 2023)

       On 25 May, on the occasion of the 19^th World Meteorological Congress of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Ambassador YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki and Mr. OBAYASHI Masanori, Director-General of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) hosted a reception.
       Ambassador YAMAZAKI delivered his opening remarks, after which Mr. OBAYASHI*, who was running to be a member of the Executive Council of WMO, addressed international cooperation in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in close cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and expressed his strong intention to contribute to WMO’s activities. Further opening remarks were given by guests of honor Professor Gerhard ADRIAN, President of WMO, and Professor Petteri TAALAS, Secretary-General of WMO.
       At the reception, JMA staffs introduced contributions to the ‘UN Early Warnings for All’ Initiative, such as providing data from Japan’s geostationary meteorological satellite “HIMAWARI” to National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) throughout the world and related training activities, as well as its good practice of Public-Private Engagement based on the Meteorological Service Act of Japan, using pamphlets and posters.
       JICA further introduced its international cooperation with NMHSs all over the world.
       Some 360 guests from the delegations of the Member States, including Ambassadors of other missions in Geneva, and the WMO Secretariat attended the event. Many of the attendees commended Japan’s international contributions to the field of weather and DRR, including its contributions to WMO.
 
*At the WMO Executive Council election held on 1 June, Mr. OBAYASHI was elected as a member of the Council for a four-year term.