Foreign Ministry to ax program to invite VIPs from South Asia

TOKYO, June 14 Kyodo -
The Foreign Ministry decided Monday to abolish a program to invite leading
figures from South Asia such as India, Pakistan and Nepal to Japan, following a
review group's recommendation that the ministry streamline similar invitation
programs to cut public spending.
The program aimed at building confidence between Tokyo and the region is one of
29 programs at the ministry to invite foreign influential figures or promising
young leaders to Japan. A total of 3 million yen has been earmarked for the
project in the initial budget for this fiscal year.
The group including academics and certified public accountants also looked into
invitation programs for Chinese and Australian politicians and called on the
ministry to ''drastically review'' them so they can be merged into an existing
ministry project that is applicable to invitees from all countries and
international organizations.
It said those projects as well as similar invitation programs conducted by
other ministries should be streamlined.
In a screening process that was open to the media and general public, ministry
officials acknowledged that invitation programs should be efficient enough to
serve Japan's national interests, leading invitees to influence their nations'
voting behavior at the United Nations.
The ministry also screened public spending on maintaining Japanese diplomatic
missions abroad as well as the nation's grant-in-aid and technical assistance
projects as part of a review of unnecessary programs conducted since May 26 at
all the 12 ministries in Japan through Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said he personally thinks the ministry's budget
and personnel should be basically expanded to bolster the nation's diplomatic
power, but that the ministry should first do away with its nonessential
spending.
The review group requested that the ministry make further efforts to trim
spending for overseas diplomatic facilities by comparing cost-effectiveness of
renting and acquiring properties.
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Koichi Takemasa said Japanese diplomatic
missions abroad should serve as ''strategic bases'' for raising the country's
profile by consolidating functions of various government-related agencies.
Takemasa said diplomatic facilities should incorporate overseas offices of the
Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Japan External Trade Organization,
the Japan National Tourism Organization and the Japan Foundation to offer
one-stop service.
As for the implementation of Japan's aid projects, it called for slashing fees
for consultants and advisers.
==Kyodo