On 18 May 2026, the United Nations University (UNU) and the United Nations Information Centre, Tokyo (UNIC Tokyo) will jointly host a high-level symposium entitled “Celebrating 70: Japan-UN Cooperation, EXPO 2025, and the Future of Multilateralism”, to commemorate 70 years of Japan’s membership in the United Nations and to explore the next generation of multilateralism. This event will be held online via Zoom webinar at 11:00 JST (UTC+9).
With Japan marking the 70th anniversary of its admission to the United Nations this year, the milestone provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the long-standing partnership between Japan and the UN, to review how this cooperation has contributed to the international community, and to consider how its achievements and lessons can help enhance the future of multilateral cooperation.
The most recent example of this partnership is the UN Pavilion at the 2025 Osaka, Kansai World Exposition (EXPO 2025) presented under the theme “United for a Better Future”. With the strong support of the Government of Japan, an unprecedented number of UN entities participated in the Pavilion, namely 35 UN agencies and 15 UN Secretariat entities. The Pavilion welcomed more than 400,000 visitors and received numerous distinguished guests, including Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
Building on the success and legacy of EXPO 2025 as a recent and powerful illustration of UN-Japan cooperation, this symposium aims to reaffirm Japan’s commitment to the international community and underscore the importance and continued relevance of multilateralism and international cooperation. It will also provide a chance to capture the lessons from EXPO 2025 in the lead-up to Japan’s next major international event — the World Horticultural Expo (GREEN x EXPO 2027) in Yokohama.
This event will feature high-ranking UN officials, representatives from the Government of Japan and youth leaders from Japan. Please note that this event will be in English with simultaneous interpretation in Japanese.
Advance registration is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page.
Programme
Monday, 18 May 2026, 11:00–13:00
Welcome remarks
- Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
Keynote addresses
- Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Mr. Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan
Presentations: "Advancing Multilateralism: Insights from EXPO 2025"
- Mr. Hiroyuki Ishige, Secretary General of Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
- Mr. Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division in the United Nations Department of Global Communications and Commissioner-General of the United Nations at Expo 2027 in Belgrade; former Commissioner-General of the United Nations at Expo 2025
Panel discussion
- Moderator: Ms. Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications
- Panellists
- Amb. Kazuyuki Yamazaki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
- Ms. Suzuka Nakamura, SDG Young Leader (2025-2026) and Director of NPO BORDERLESS FOUNDATION
- Mr. Soichiro Chiba, Founder and Chairman, Thousandleaf Chairperson, Y7 & Y20 Japan
- Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs
- Mr. Guy Ryder, UN Under-Secretary-General for Policy
