The Government of Japan will host an intergovernmental conference as part of the process leading to the third World Water Forum that is scheduled to be held in Japan in March 2003. Ministers whose portfolios cover issues relating to water in their respective countries and areas as well as representatives of relevant organizations are expected to attend the conference.

The outline of the conference is as follows; details will be available in due course:

1. Structure

   The conference will consist of a ministerial meeting and a senior official's meeting. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan will chair the ministerial meeting.

2. Schedule

   The ministerial meeting will be held from 22 to 23 March 2003. The senior officials meeting will be held prior to the ministerial meeting.

3. Venue

   Kyoto

4. Purpose

   The ministers and other participants will discuss concrete actions that each government and relevant international organization could take to address issues relating to water, taking into account the outcomes of the second World Water Forum held in the Netherlands in March 2000.

5. Expected outcome

   It is foreseen that the conference will adopt a declaration reflecting the discussions, which are expected to be advanced and fruitful, about concrete related actions.