INTERVIEW: Bill Gates Wants Closer Cooperation with Japan on Health

September 26, 2018

New York- Bill Gates hopes to expand collaboration between his charity group and Japan on global heath, agricultural and other issues, the Microsoft Corp. founder and billionaire philanthropist has told Jiji Press.

"We share a lot of goals in common with Japan. We work together on agricultural and health and various disease initiatives," Gates said in an interview in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland. "We work with the private companies in Japan, as well."

The interview preceded the recent release of the Goalkeepers 2018 report by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The annual report shows progress on the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals with charts and figures.

In the interview, Gates put the health field at the top of the list for collaboration with Japan, saying that "we want to intensify our dialogue," including for the Gavi global vaccine alliance, which the Gates foundation supports.

While Japan emphasizes health as a basic human right, African and Asian countries with large populations need support in the field, he indicated.

Gates cited agriculture as the second item on the collaboration list. "Agricultural productivity in Japan is very high likewise in the United States and Europe," he said. "And Africa is still less than a quarter of the productivity in the wealthy nations."

He said farmers in poor countries need better seeds and livestock. "These people face climate difficulties, which means that they have more years where they have less rain. And only really improved seeds can help overcome those challenges."

Gates also said rice, a traditional staple food in Japan, is "increasingly important as a crop in Africa."

Meanwhile, Gates said artificial intelligence will be helpful in addressing challenges including aging societies, although it is expected to involve "tough philosophical" issues. But he said, "Those are many generations ahead of us." Jiji Press