The NZIIA Wellington Branch in partnership with the Embassy of Japan invites you to a keynote from HE Makoto Osawa followed by a fireside chat with Angus Middleton, Chair of the NZIIA Wellington Branch. Concluding remarks will be provided by Emeritus Professor Roberto Rabel from Victoria University of Wellington.

To end the evening we invite attendees to a Japanese themed networking reception with drinks, food and an information expo on Japan.

Prime Minister Takaichi has presented an updated vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific as part of her foreign policy statement, emphasizing the need to enhance resilience and promote their freedom to decide for themselves, while maintaining key concepts such as 'freedom', 'openness', 'diversity', 'inclusiveness', and 'the rule of law'.

H.E. Ambassador Osawa will explore the evolution of FOIP, explaining the priority areas and the reasons behind the update. It will also consider why and how the evolving FOIP framework is relevant to New Zealand. The lecture will provide an opportunity to reflect on the future direction of the Indo-Pacific and the role that New Zealand can play in supporting a stable, resilient, and prosperous regional order.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Registrations are required to attend this event as there is limited capacity. No walk ups allowed.
• Non Members can attend by paying the $20 ticket fee which includes the reception.
• One ticket per person. For security reasons each ticket must contain your full first name and surname (that matches your ID), email address and phone number.
• If, after registering, you are unable to attend please have the courtesy to cancel your ticket via Humantitix to enable others on the waiting list to attend.
• In keeping with NZIIA practice, unauthorised recording of this event (either audio or video) is not permitted. Members and guests are reminded to adhere to the NZIIA Code of Conduct.
• For any queries please email: info@nziiawellington.org.nz

Biography: HE Ambassador Osawa, Ambassador of Japan to New Zealand

Ambassador Osawa was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to New Zealand in February 2024. He is committed to further strengthening the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Japan and New Zealand and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. To this end, he is working closely with relevant stakeholders to promote cooperation in areas including Pacific Islands, climate change, maritime security, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

He entered the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries after graduating from the University of Tokyo. And he has played a pivotal role in the Ministry especially in trade negotiations and agricultural policy reform. During this period, he pursued his further studies at the École Nationale d'Administration (ENA) in France and worked in Tokyo as well as in Paris and Geneva. Notably, he was deeply involved in negotiations with New Zealand during the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks.