OPENING CEREMONY | IGF 2023

Antonio Guterres

The conference covered various key topics related to digital cooperation and internet governance. One of the main points highlighted was the urgent need to bridge the connectivity gap and ensure that the remaining 2.6 billion people worldwide have internet access. There was a particular focus on addressing the needs of women and girls in the least-developed countries, who often face additional obstacles in accessing the internet. This argument was supported by evidence demonstrating the positive impact of internet connectivity on economic growth, inequality reduction, and gender equality.

Another important point raised by the speakers was the significance of backing multi-stakeholder institutions of the internet. They expressed support for establishing a leadership panel for the Internet Governance Forum, which would offer guidance, funding support, and amplify the impact of internet governance initiatives. The speakers believed that involving multiple stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and the private sector, would lead to more inclusive and effective decision-making processes in the field of internet governance. This argument was further reinforced by evidence illustrating the benefits of collaborative approaches in addressing complex and evolving challenges in the digital domain.

Furthermore, the speakers stressed the importance of an open, secure, and accessible internet and its infrastructure. They argued that the internet should remain a public good and should not be controlled or restricted by any single entity. The speakers discussed the potential risks of digital exclusion and highlighted the significance of safeguarding internet freedom and protecting users’ rights. This argument was supported by evidence demonstrating that a free and secure internet is essential for fostering innovation, promoting freedom of expression, and upholding human rights.

Additionally, the speakers advocated for a human rights and human-centered approach to digital cooperation. They emphasized the significance of considering the ethical implications of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and ensuring that they are developed and used in a manner that respects human rights and reduces inequalities. To achieve this, they proposed the appointment of a high-level advisory board on artificial intelligence and the adoption of the Global Digital Compact, which aims to establish guidelines for responsible and inclusive digital cooperation. The speakers believed that by prioritizing human rights and inclusivity, digital technologies can contribute to societal progress and well-being.

In conclusion, the conference emphasized the importance of addressing the connectivity gap, supporting multi-stakeholder institutions, ensuring an open and secure internet, and promoting a human rights-based approach to digital cooperation. The discussions and arguments put forth by the speakers provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in the digital realm and highlighted the importance of collaboration, inclusivity, and ethical considerations in shaping the future of the internet and digital technologies.

Kishida Fumio

The Internet is universally recognised as a key driver of economic activity and growth. It functions as a free and diverse forum for expression, enabling access to information and services that transcend time and space. It has become essential to our daily lives and socioeconomic activities and forms a critical foundation for democratic societies. However, the Internet also poses challenges, particularly in terms of cybersecurity.

One negative consequence of the Internet is the proliferation of unlawful and harmful information. Disinformation, cyber attacks, and cybercrime threaten our safety and hinder socioeconomic activities. To address these challenges, measures must be put in place to protect users and mitigate the risks associated with the online landscape.

It is crucial to maintain an open, free, global, interoperable, secure, and trustworthy Internet. This requires effective governance that involves diverse multi-stakeholders. Inclusivity in Internet governance enables the consideration of different perspectives and expertise in shaping policies and practices that benefit all users.

International cooperation is paramount in addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by the Internet. Collaboration among nations and organizations is necessary to develop common standards, share best practices, and implement effective regulatory measures. Through such cooperation, issues like cyber attacks and cybercrime can be effectively tackled.

Japan, as the host nation of the annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), welcomes participants and supports Internet governance efforts. The IGF acts as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, bringing together participants from around the world to share their wisdom and insights. It encourages discussion and partnerships to enhance understanding of various aspects of internet governance and promote the development of innovative solutions.

In conclusion, the Internet has a positive impact on economic activity and growth, but it also presents challenges in terms of cybersecurity and the spread of harmful information. To ensure a healthy online environment, the Internet must remain open, free, secure, and trustworthy, with diverse multi-stakeholders involved in its governance. International cooperation is essential, as demonstrated by Japan’s support for initiatives such as the Internet Governance Forum.

Moderator

The 18th Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is being organised by the United Nations and hosted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. This year, the IGF will begin with a special opening act featuring a performance of Kabuki, a traditional form of Japanese theatre, by a professional Kabuki actor. This cultural performance sets the stage for the forum, bringing together global participants to discuss and address important digital governance issues.

In a show of international collaboration, Mr. Lee Joon-Far, the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, and His Excellency Mr. Kishida Fumio, the Prime Minister of Japan, will be welcomed to the stage. Their presence emphasises the significance of the IGF as a platform for dialogue and partnership between countries.

The opening ceremony will also include a video message from Mr. Antonio Guterres-Blett, the Secretary General of the United Nations. This message emphasises the importance of digital policies in the context of the United Nations’ goals and objectives.

One of the key objectives of the IGF is to empower countries in delivering better digital policies for all. The forum recognises the challenges in reaching the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and it aims to leverage the internet’s power to address these challenges. The internet is seen as an integral tool that can support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

To effectively fulfil its mandate, the IGF needs to further strengthen its role as a global digital policy forum. Recognising this need, the United Nations General Assembly has planned a review of the IGF’s mandate in 2025. This review will assess the impacts and outcomes of the forum and determine its future direction.

The IGF focuses on urgent and relevant digital issues as part of its agenda. It strives towards more open, inclusive, and safe access to digitisation for all. By addressing these pressing issues, the forum aims to contribute to reducing inequalities and promoting digital innovation.

Overall, the IGF highlights the importance of responsible digital policies and collaboration among stakeholders in achieving the SDGs. By leveraging the benefits of digital technologies and fostering partnerships, the internet can better support and accelerate the implementation of the SDGs.

In conclusion, the 18th Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum brings together global stakeholders to discuss and address important digital governance issues. Through a mix of cultural performances, keynote speeches, and interactive sessions, the forum aims to empower countries in delivering better digital policies for all and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It recognises the crucial role of the internet in supporting the SDGs and seeks to strengthen its role as a global digital policy forum.

Junhua Li

The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) plays a crucial role in addressing the complexities of the global community and advancing towards a more resilient future. It is essential for the IGF to utilize the United Nations’ convening role to bring every country and individual together. By doing so, the IGF can facilitate collaborative efforts in finding solutions to the challenges faced by the global community.

One of the key arguments is that the Internet will be integral in navigating the complexities of the global community and leading us towards a better future. This assertion highlights the immense potential of the Internet in facilitating communication, knowledge sharing, and innovation, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This argument is supported by the fact that the IGF must respond to the UN’s convening role, indicating the widespread recognition of the Internet’s significance.

The IGF is also urged to strengthen its position as a global digital policy forum. This involves seeking points of convergence and consensus among stakeholders and identifying digital solutions that align with the 2030 Agenda. By doing so, the IGF can contribute to the formulation and implementation of effective policies that address digital challenges, promote peace, justice, and strong institutions, and advance sustainable development.

Furthermore, it is emphasized that the IGF should support the preparations and follow-up to the Global Digital Compact and the Summit of the Future. These initiatives entail reviewing the IGF’s mandate in 2025, indicating the need for continuous evaluation and adaptation to changing circumstances. This illustrates the importance of the IGF’s role in shaping the digital landscape and aligning its efforts with broader global objectives.

In addition to these points, the summary also highlights the need to bridge the digital divide. This requires closer collaboration and partnership among stakeholders, as well as greater digital innovation and technical assistance, particularly to regions in the global south. By addressing these issues, the IGF can contribute to reducing inequalities and creating a more inclusive digital society.

Overall, there is a positive sentiment regarding the impact of the Internet, particularly in relation to sustainable development and the SDGs. The arguments put forth emphasize the crucial role of the IGF in harnessing the potential of the Internet, facilitating collaboration, and shaping digital policies for the betterment of the global community. These findings highlight the importance of international cooperation and dialogue in addressing digital challenges and achieving shared goals.

Moderator:
I would like to welcome all of you to the 18th Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum. My name is Rebecca and it’s my honour to serve as the MC for this opening. Prior to the opening ceremony, all of the participants received a certificate from the Internet Governance Forum. Prior to the opening ceremony of the 18th Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, we now present as the opening act re-conceptualizing traditional Japanese theatre Kabuki to Lion with Sansui, media installation by Naoko Tosa. Kabuki is a novel and unusual performing art that appeared in Kyoto at the beginning of the Edo period. In this new work, a heroic lion spirit appeared in a climactic scene of Renjishi, a masterpiece of Kabuki. The scene in which the lion smells the flower and makes a violent movement known as madness was performed by a professional Kabuki actor. Creating a digital Kabuki performance is suitable for an international IT conference, so please enjoy this opening performance. Now, I would like to welcome Mr. Lee Joon-Far, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, and His Excellency Mr. Kishida Fumio, the Prime Minister of Japan, to the stage. Please welcome Mr. Lee and His Excellency Mr. Kishida. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for joining us today for the 18th Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum. Organized by the United Nations and hosted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Now, I would like to start the opening ceremony. First of all, we would like to welcome Mr. Antonio Guterres-Blett, Secretary General of the United Nations, to the screen. Video message will be introduced by Mr. Lee Joon-Far, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations. So, Mr. Lee, please proceed to the podium.

Junhua Li:
Good morning. Your Excellency, Mr. Fushima Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, Excellencies, distinguished participants, I have the honor to introduce the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, who will deliver a video address. Please.

Antonio Guterres:
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to greet the Internet Governance Forum as you gather in Kyoto. Let me begin by thanking you for your invaluable efforts, bringing together governments, the private sector, civil society, and the technical community for the essential task of advancing an open, safe, and global Internet. For nearly two decades, this multi-stakeholder cooperation has proven remarkably productive and remarkably resilient in the face of growing geopolitical tensions, proliferating crises, and widening divisions. Your work is now more important than ever. We need to keep harnessing digital technologies enabled by the Internet to help deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, take climate action, and build a better world. I see three areas for action. First, we must work together to close the connectivity gap and bring the remaining 2.6 billion people online, in particular women and girls in least-developed countries. Second, we must work together to close the governance gap, including by elevating and better aligning the work of the IGF and other digital bodies across the UN system and beyond. Third, and fundamentally, we need to reinforce a human rights and human-centered approach to digital cooperation. It is imperative that the Internet, including the physical infrastructure that underpins it, remains open, secure, and accessible to all. This means that the Internet’s long-established multi-stakeholder institutions need more support, not less. The leadership panel I’ve established for the Internet Governance Forum is aimed at providing strategic guidance, supporting stable funding, and amplifying the impact of your important work. To help advance the search for concrete governance solutions, I’m appointing a high-level advisory board on artificial intelligence, which will provide preliminary recommendations by the end of this year. And the Global Digital Compact, proposed for adoption at the Summit of the Future in 2024, aims to set out principles, objectives, and actions to secure a human-centered digital future. Governments, the private sector, and civil society must come together regularly to ensure that the commitments enshrined in the Compact are followed up. We cannot afford another retreat into silos. We must work to prevent gaps from emerging on new digital technologies, avoid duplication, and address emerging risks effectively. I look to your gathering in Kyoto to provide critical input to advance our collective efforts. Together, we can realize the ambitions spelled out in the theme of your forum and build the Internet we want to empower all people. Thank you.

Junhua Li:
Thank you, Mr. Secretary General. Please allow me to join the Secretary General in extending our gratitude to the Government of Japan for hosting us. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, as the Secretary General reminded us, the challenges confronting the global community in reaching the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are vast and complex. The Internet will play an integral role in navigating these complexities, moving us towards a better and more resilient future. But this requires responsible policies that leverage the benefits of digital technologies. while mitigating the risks. The Internet Governance Forum must respond through the UN’s convening role to bring every country and every individual together, regardless of the stakeholder groups or the backgrounds. IGF needs to further strengthen its role as being a global digital policy forum in finding points of convergence and the consensus and in identifying the digital solutions in reaching the 2030 agenda. In this connection, I welcome the focus of the forum on the urgent and the relevant digital issues and look forward to your contributions and the recommendations on the way forward. Ladies and gentlemen, 18 years ago, in 2005, the IGF received its mandate through the World Summit on Information Society. In 2025, the United Nations General Assembly will review this mandate. Member states will consider the impacts and outcomes of the forum and determine its future. With this in mind, I invite you to consider three questions during this year’s IGF. First, has the IGF delivered on its mandate and purpose? Second, how can the internet better support and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs? Third, how can the IGF best support both the preparations of and the follow-up to the Global Digital Compact and the Summit of the Future? This forum is aimed at empowering all countries to deliver the better digital policies, to support the more open, inclusive, and safe access to digitalization for all people. We must ensure that it is delivering on that aim. We call for the closer collaboration and partnership among stakeholders, greater digital innovation for accelerating SDG implementation, and force the technical assistance to the global south to bridge the digital divide. Together, let us leverage the inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach of the Internet Governance Forum to build the internet we want. I thank you.

Moderator:
Thank you very much, Excellency. Next, I invite His Excellency, Mr. Kishida Fumio, the Prime Minister of Japan, to deliver his remarks. His Excellency, Mr. Kishida, please proceed to the podium.

Kishida Fumio:
Thank you very much. I am Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan. Good afternoon. Everyone, and welcome. Welcome to Japan. I would first like to express my respects to all of the forum participants, both here in person and online, for continuing discussions on how to make the Internet better and for your relentless efforts to make this a reality. My true respects to all of you. The basic philosophy of the Internet Governance Forum, which values open, democratic, and inclusive processes, is truly in line with the fundamental values of my own country. We are very pleased to be able to welcome you here for the first time as the host nation of the Internet Governance Forum annual meeting. Digital technologies, such as the Internet, is the engine of economic activity and of growth for people around the world. The Internet functions as a free and diverse forum for expression that enables access to information and services that transcend time and space. It has not only become essential to our daily lives and socioeconomic activities, but it also forms a critical foundation for democratic societies. A free and unfragmented Internet is also essential for solving humanity’s challenges, such as development, health, and security, as well as for the further development of humankind. On the other hand, it is also true that the Internet has given rise to the proliferation of unlawful and harmful information, including disinformation, cyber attacks, and cybercrime, which threaten our safety and free socioeconomic activities. We cannot afford to turn our backs on these challenges. I am convinced that we can maximize the benefits of the Internet while reducing its risks by bringing together participants from all over the world in various positions and with different perspectives to share their wisdom through the multi-stakeholder approach. Thank you. I believe the overall theme of this year’s meeting, which is the Internet we want, empowering all people, is a powerful expression of our determination to realize an inclusive Internet that leaves no one behind and to pave the way for a sustainable future for humanity. As the host nation, my government believes it is our important responsibility to contribute to this discussion. We believe that the Internet must remain open, free, global, interoperable, secure, and trustworthy in order to promote data-free flow with trust, DFFT, and to continue its contribution to human development. And Japan remains committed to supporting Internet governance by diverse multi-stakeholders. Last but not least, our host city of Kyoto is imbued with rich history and traditions. So I hope that as you engage in lively discussions about the future of the Internet and network with other participants, that you also enjoy the culture, food, and hospitality that Tokyo and Japan has to offer. I do hope that this meeting in Kyoto will be meaningful and fruitful for the future of the international community and for each and every one of you. With that, I would like to conclude my opening address. Thank you very much.

Moderator:
Thank you very much, Excellency. Thank you very much, Excellency. And thank you. Please give a round of applause once again to the speakers. So now the stage will be rearranged for the next session, so please kindly remain seated. The high-level panel five, the artificial intelligence, will start shortly from 11 a.m. Thank you for your patience.