"The World and Japan" Database (Project Leader: TANAKA Akihiko)
Database of Japanese Politics and International Relations
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS); Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA), The University of Tokyo

[Title] Joint Action Plan among the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea on Prevention, Preparedness and Response against Infectious Disease with Pandemic and High Consequence Potential of Common Concern

[Place]
[Date] December 15, 2024
[Source] Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan
[Notes]
[Full text]

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as "the Participants"),

Based on the Joint Statement of The Seventeenth Tripartite Health Ministers Meeting (THMM) adopted at the seventeenth Tripartite Health

Ministers' Meeting on December 15th 2024;

Reaffirming the need for joint efforts by the three countries on Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPR) against Infectious Disease with Pandemic and High Consequence Potential of Common Concern(IDPH) and the importance of international cooperation for rapid and effective responses to minimize damage to the public health and the socioeconomic consequences from a possible outbreak,

Have reached the following Joint Action Plan:

1. Contact points

1-1. The Participants designate the following organizations as channels for information sharing and will utilize them as focal points regarding IDPH on a regular basis and in the event of emerging outbreaks;

- Japan: Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Division/ Office of Global Health Cooperation International Affairs Division, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare;

- China: Department of International Cooperation, National Health Commission, Department of Science Education and International Cooperation, National Disease Control and Prevention Administration;

- Korea: Division of International Cooperation, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Division of International Affairs, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(K DCA);

1-2. The Participants will establish an audio or video conference network and use other methods such as email to facilitate information sharing.

1-3. The Participants will promptly update and share the information whenever the focal point is changed.

2. Information, evidence and knowledge sharing

2-1. If IDPH emerge, the Participants will share the following information, evidence and knowledge among the countries as swiftly as possible and during all phases of the Pandemic according to the laws and regulations in respective countries:

- Epidemiological information;

- Clinical management and treatment practices and protocols;

- Biological and laboratory information through national laboratory network; •Infectious disease control measures in clinical settings;

- Public health and social measures; and

- Other scientific response.

2-2. The participants will exchange experts and officials if necessary to enhance capacity building through the cooperation of information and knowledge sharing and close communication.

3. Risk communication

The Participants will take the following measures to effectively provide accurate information to the public in the case of an outbreak of IDPH :

- Consider development of a joint declaration by health ministers of the Participants for a closer trilateral cooperation system

- Exchange experiences in the field of how to provide timely, accurate, and transparent information on infectious diseases through public disclosure of timely and accurate information and active communication with domestic and overseas media

- Create a mechanism for trilateral emergency rapid and closer communication through the IHR national focal points of Japan, China, and Korea.

4. Scientific preparedness and response including research and development for medical countermeasures such as vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

The Participants will share the available information regarding the status of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics for IDPH .

5. Expansion of cooperation

The Participants will strive to develop and improve prevention and response measures against IDPH and human capacity building by conducting activities as needed such as:

- carrying out joint risk assessment and exercises for preparing against IDPH occasionally after negotiations among the three countries; and

- conducting international joint-exercises for Pandemic PPR and/or after action review including those supported by the World Health Organization, seminars and symposia by inviting other Asian countries to expand the scope of cooperation.

6. Condition

6-1. This Joint Action Plan will be carried out in accordance with the respective laws and regulations of the Participants and within the availability of personnel, resources, and funds of the Participants.

6-2. Any disputes between the Participants that may arise from the interpretation or implementation of this Joint Action Plan will be settled amicably by consultations and negotiations between the Participants.

7. Modifications and Discontinuation

7-1. The cooperation based on this Joint Action Plan will commence on the date of signature by the Participants, and will be in effect for a period of five years. The Participants should review every three years whether to renew this Joint Action Plan.

7-2. This Joint Action Plan may be modified at any time by mutual written consent of the Participants. The cooperation will discontinue in case of the occurrence of any special reasons by which the cooperation cannot continue by notifying the other in writing its intent to terminate the cooperation.


FOR THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, LABOUR AND WELFARE OF JAPAN

FOR THE NATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

FOR THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA