Distinguished colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

What an amazing and productive two days we have had. I, personally, have not only learned a great deal, but have also seen a great deal to reinforce my optimism. Together, we can now move boldly forward, united in a common goal.

It remains only to offer my gratitude – personally, and on behalf of the ITU, to all those who have made this Strategic Dialogue so successful:

• Thanks first and foremost, to our hosts, the Japanese Ministry for Internal Affairs and Communications – and particularly to the Minister, His Excellency Mr Kunio Hatoyama.

• Our thanks also to the numerous speakers, chairpersons and moderators who made enlivened the debates, provoked our thoughts and brought real vigour to the proceedings.

• I would like to single out for special thanks:
   - Mr Shun Sakurai, the Director-General of the Telecommunications Bureau at the MIC;
   - Professor Masao Horibe, Professor Emeritus of Hitotsubashi University;
   - Ms Natasha Jackson of the GSM Association;
   - Mr John Carr, Secretary of the Children's Charities' Coalition on Internet Safety;
   - Ms Nevine Tewfik, Director of the CyberPeace Initiative;
   - Dr Eun-Ju Kim, Head of ITU’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific;
   - and last but by no means least Ms Deborah Tate, Honorable Former US FCC Commissioner.

• Thanks must also go to the ITU Focal Point here in Japan, Mr Yushi Torigoe, and of course to all the ITU staff who helped make the event a success – including in particular Ms Doreen Bogdan and Ms Cristina Bueti, who have put so much time and effort into the COP initiative.

There has been a great deal of emphasis over the past two days on the need for team work; the need for collaboration and cooperation; and the need to address the issues, holistically, on a global scale.

And I have been very impressed with the determination I have seen and the willingness to address this issue head-on, and to take positive action.

As the President of Soka Gakkai International, Daisaku Ikeda, famously said: “The determination to win is the better part of winning.”

I believe we are all, here, determined to win – and look forward to doing so!

Thank you.