The text of the following statement was released by the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan on the occasion of the signing of a joint statement of cooperation to advance innovative and emerging quantum information science and technology.

The Tokyo Statement on Quantum Cooperation
December 19, 2019

  • Recognizing that science, technology, and innovation have enabled transformative capabilities across multiple sectors, from energy to health and communications to transportation, and that the foundation of this progress is the global research enterprise, and its constant creation of new knowledge, understanding, and insights;
  • Recognizing that quantum information science and technology (QIST) revolutionizes both our understanding of fundamental phenomena as well as the development of powerful computers, secure and rapid communication, and sensors with unprecedented precision, accuracy, and modalities;
  • Valuing that the emergence of such robust technologies depends on an intensive effort to expand theoretical and practical understandings of QIST and to develop new tools for characterization, validation, and verification purposes; and
  • Acknowledging that international partnerships are key to combine the expertise, ingenuity, and creativity of our countries to expand our fundamental understanding of QIST and thereby accelerate the realization of new technologies for the benefit of humanity.

We, signed below, intend to harness the spirit of science, technology, and innovation to pursue cooperation and the mutual respect it confers, and to promote QIST including but not limited to quantum computing, quantum networking, and quantum sensing, which underpins the development of society and industry.

We intend to advance this agenda by:

  • Embarking on good-faith cooperation, that is underpinned by our shared values such as freedom of inquiry, merit-based competition, openness and transparency, accountability, and reciprocity, and promotes protection of intellectual property, safe and inclusive research environments, rigor and integrity in research, research security, and reducing administrative burdens.
  • Collaborating in venues such as workshops, seminars, and conferences to discuss and recognize the progress of research in QIST, which in turn will lead to the identification of overlapping interests and opportunities for future scientific cooperation.
  • Promoting avenues to encourage a respectful research environment, to facilitate multidisciplinary research, and to share research methodologies, infrastructure and data, when appropriate.
  • Supporting the development of the next generation of scientists and engineers necessary to expand the field, which could include personnel exchanges.
  • Leveraging regular multilateral opportunities to discuss QIST matters of international importance and respective policy issues.
  • Exploring other potential activities to be decided upon by participating countries.

We intend to focus on cooperation in QIST as outlined in this vision for the mutual benefit of participating countries and continue to enhance scientific cooperation under our respective leaderships.

Signed in Tokyo on 19 December 2019 in the English language.

For Japan:

Mr. MATSUO Hiroki
Director-General for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy
Cabinet Office

For the United States:

Mr. Nicholas M. Hill
Acting Deputy Chief of Mission
U.S. Embassy Tokyo

U.S. Department of State

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