On December 12, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan held the second meeting of the “Party Diplomacy Promotion Headquarters” at the National Diet.

This time, the meeting shared the status of preparations toward joining the “Progressive Alliance,” an international network of centrist and progressive parties, and discussed prospects for party diplomacy going forward. Ms. Akiko Kamei, Director of the CDP International Department (and Secretary-General of the Party Diplomacy Promotion Headquarters), reported on the executive structure.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, President (Head of the Party Diplomatic Promotion Headquarters), stated, “Our party is now taking on a historic challenge: for the first time in the postwar era, a Japanese political party is moving toward full membership in an international (centrist) party organization. We would like to advance the solidarity of centrist reform forces in the international community.”

In the special lecture, Professor Sven Saaler of Sophia University (Japan Representative of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation) explained the origins and activities of the Progressive Alliance. The Progressive Alliance was established in 2013 and is an international network of centrist and progressive political parties that includes Germany’s Social Democratic Party and the UK Labour Party, as well as the U.S. Democratic Party. Currently, more than 120 parties from over 100 countries participate, emphasizing policy dialogue on issues such as “defending democracy,” “reducing inequality,” and “climate change.”

In the subsequent report on party diplomacy, Mr. Yosuke Suzuki (Deputy Director of the International Department) shared his participation in the EDP Congress, the Liberal International Congress, and CALD, and reported that he communicated the CDP’s position as Japan’s centrist liberal party. He stated that Japan’s principles such as pacifism, an exclusively defense-oriented posture, and the rule of law were received with strong interest in many countries, and that the mission provided an opportunity to feel a clear international demand.

In addition, Mr. Takeshi Kozu (Deputy Director of the International Department) reported on participation in the 6th meeting of the Asia Europe People’s Forum (AEPF) and on research in Hungary regarding measures to address declining birthrates. He shared that, while many non-democratic governments participate, the CDP carefully communicated its core principles and diplomatic stance, and that the mission served as an opportunity to build trust with countries with which the party has had limited contact.