US And Japan Launch the Global Digital Connectivity Partnership (GDCP)
A virtual meeting was held recently between the interagency representatives from the United States and Japan to launch the U.S.-Japan Global Digital Connectivity Partnership (GDCP). Announced during the summit meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Suga on April 16, 2021, the GDCP deepens bilateral cooperation on the digital economy and next-generation digital technology issues.
The GDCP builds upon previous cooperation, including through the Japan-U.S. Strategic Digital Economy Partnership (JUSDEP), by elevating and expanding the scope of discussions to promote secure connectivity and vibrant digital economies. The GDCP will promote: (1) cooperation in third countries across the Indo-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and other regions; (2) enhanced collaboration in multilateral fora; and (3) forward-looking mechanisms in both countries that catalyze investment in fifth-generation (5G) wireless technologies, next-generation telecommunications, and the corresponding research and development environment, as well as training and cybersecurity capacity building. The initial meeting addressed an array of priority issues spanning these three categories.
The delegations from both governments, led by the U.S. Department of State and the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, decided to convene an expert-level working group multiple times per year within the structure of the U.S.-Japan Policy Cooperation Dialogue on the Internet Economy (IED). The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen their competitiveness in the digital field and looked forward to the IED annual meeting to be held later this year.
