at 18:30 (JST), January 10

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230110183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : and France
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230110_04/

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says his country will work closely with France on the Group of Seven summit to be held in Hiroshima this coming May.

Kishida appeared at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron before their talks over dinner on Monday at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris.

Kishida said he wants the summit to be a venue where G7 nations express their resolve to uphold a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

Kishida also said the meeting will give Japan and its G7 partners a chance to show their commitment to strengthening strict sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, as well as strong support for Ukrainians.

On the security front, Kishida said Japan will promote cooperation with France through joint drills and other measures amid an increasingly strained security environment.

He said the security of Europe and that of the Indo-Pacific region are inseparable. He noted that attempts to change the status quo by force have been intensifying in the East China and South China seas.

Kishida said his government will call for "two-plus-two" talks between the foreign and defense ministers of Japan and France by mid-2023 to deepen security cooperation.

Last month, Japan revised its National Security Strategy.

Key words : kishida canada through Sunday
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230109_05/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has left for France on the first leg of his tour of five Group of Seven nations.

Kishida plans to visit France, Italy, Britain, Canada and the United States from Monday through Sunday to hold talks with their leaders in the run-up to the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May. Japan holds the presidency this year.

Before departure on Monday, the prime minister told reporters that he hopes to hold candid talks to further deepen trust among G7 members.

He said he wants to share a common understanding of the current severe security situation and other matters, and to confirm coordination by presenting Japan's stance.

Referring to the Japan-US summit, Kishida said it will be a valuable opportunity for the two nations to further consolidate their bilateral alliance and reaffirm close cooperation.

He noted that the meeting comes shortly after his government unveiled revisions to three key security documents to reinforce Japan's defense capabilities.

Key words : authoritarian expansion tsai
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Key words : pakistan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230110_01/

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is asking the international community to provide eight billion dollars in aid over the next three years to help fund recovery efforts from last year's devastating floods.

Sharif made the appeal at a United Nations conference held in Geneva on Monday at the request of the Pakistani government.

Officials from about 40 countries, including Japan, discussed Pakistan's rebuilding efforts from the flooding, which occurred between June and August, when the country was hit by intense rain. The disaster left at least 1,700 people dead and affected 33 million others.

Sharif called for a swift global action to help put Pakistan and its economy back on track.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the international community to support Pakistan's recovery from the flooding, which experts have blamed on global warming.

Guterres said Pakistan is responsible for less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and that it didn't contribute to the current climate crisis.

Key words : china resume passport
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230109_17/

China resumed accepting applications for passports on Monday after ending its strict "zero-COVID" policy, but restrictions on outbound travel remain in place.

State-run media report that citizens can file applications at around 3,200 locations nationwide.

A man who came to an application center in Beijing said he wants to go on holiday abroad.

He also said he had already been infected with the coronavirus, so he is not too worried about infection trends outside the country.

The government has not allowed domestic travel agents to sell overseas travel packages.

The government says it will allow such travel in stages. But it remains unclear whether it will return to pre-pandemic levels anytime soon, as there are far fewer international flights to and from China.

Key words : thailand arriving from China
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230110_33/

Southeast Asian nations are accepting more Chinese tourists now that Beijing has ended its zero-Covid policy. Thailand held an airport ceremony this week to welcome them, even as a change to its entry policy caused some confusion.

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other cabinet ministers greeted over 200 passengers who arrived on a flight from the Chinese city of Xiamen on Monday.

Thailand hosted around 11 million Chinese visitors in 2019, nearly 30 percent of all inbound travelers.

But the number plummeted after Beijing enforced its strict travel restrictions. The Thai government aims to attract visitors back to prop up its economy.

Some nations have imposed special requirements on visitors arriving from China. But Thai authorities treat them the same as those from other countries.

The Thai aviation authority had announced last week all arrivals from abroad needed proof of COVID vaccination. But the government rescinded that decision after complaints from tourism industry.

The sudden change caused confusion among some tourists and airlines.

Key words : japan from china macao
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230109_15/

Japan plans to tighten border controls for people arriving from Macao due to the surge in coronavirus infections in China.

Starting on Thursday, travelers on direct flights from Macao will be required to show proof of a negative test result obtained within 72 hours before their departure.
PCR or other tests will be also conducted on arrival.

Japan has already introduced the measures for travelers from mainland China.

Japan's health ministry says tests were conducted on 4,895 people between December 30 and January 5 as part of emergency measures for arrivals from China. Of those, 408 tested positive for the virus.

Key words : agriculture bird flu nomura
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230109_16/

Japan's agriculture ministry has urged poultry farms to step up measures against bird flu, as outbreaks have led to the destruction of a record-high almost 10 million chickens and other birds.

At an emergency meeting of the ministry's task force on Monday, minister Nomura Tetsuro said experts warn that concentrations of avian flu viruses in the environment are very high.

He stressed that the central and regional governments must work closely together to respond to the outbreak.

Officials reported that about 9.98 million birds have been or are to be culled since October last year.

The officials issued instructions to farm operators to ensure that facilities are properly sanitized.

The operators are also urged to conduct repairs on facilities if necessary to keep wild birds, which can carry the viruses, away from poultry.

The previous cull record was 9.87 million birds, between autumn of 2020 and spring of 2021.

Key words : zoo welfare
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230109_13/

NHK has learned the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums, or JAZA, plans to launch a survey to improve conditions at zoos and other facilities.

The survey will start at 10 facilities this year. Ueno Zoological Gardens and Tama Zoological Park, both in Tokyo, as well as Osaka Tennoji Zoo are among them.

The survey will cover about 90 points, including whether animals' living spaces are large enough for them to move around as they would in natural environments, and if there are any obstacles that could cause injury.

Another point is whether each facility has a system to record and manage animal nutrition and health.

Zoos around the world have been placing more importance on animal welfare. Ueno Zoological Gardens has recreated a forest from China's Sichuan Province for its giant pandas.

Stricter animal welfare rules are making it difficult for zoos to import rare species, as more scrutiny falls on how they keep their animals.

JAZA says that many zoos have been just showing animals to entertain people, but they are also required to help preserve species. The association says it will try to create an environment in which animals can live comfortably.

JAZA is made up of about 140 zoos and aquariums around Japan.