The 17th U.S.-Japan Joint Working-Level Committee (JWLC) Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation took place in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 2024. Rahima Kandahari, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science and Space in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, and H.E. KAJI Misako, Ambassador for Science and Technology Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan co-chaired the JWLC.
The JWLC Meeting convened representatives from a wide range of government agencies in both countries for this forward-looking dialogue. They exchanged views on science and technology policy, existing cooperation, and new areas for joint work. Participants reviewed progress on cooperation in areas highlighted during the 2023 Joint High-Level Committee Meeting in Tokyo, such as quantum, fusion, and artificial intelligence. Delegates also further strengthened collaboration between our world-class scientific communities in innovation, entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, including high performance computing, and participated in meaningful exchanges on health research, workforce development, research security, open science, and Arctic, ocean, and atmospheric research.
This working level science and technology dialogue, first held in Washington, D.C. in September 1988, provides a regular opportunity to exchange views on some of the most important science and technology endeavors in our countries, and to prioritize future collaboration. The 2024 JWLC Meeting reaffirmed the commitment by both the United States and Japan to continue close partnership and coordination on science and technology cooperation to feed into future discussion at next year’s Joint High-Level Committee Meeting.