An international conference on overpopulation, food and other leading global issues will take place in Tokyo from May 15 to 18, according to the government.
The Conference of the World's Scientific Academies will be held at Tokyo International Forum in the Marunouchi business district, Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki has announced. The theme will be sustainable development for the 21st century.
About 260 delegates from 82 countries are expected to attend, including experts in medicine, biology, agriculture and the environment.
The delegates will be grouped in subpanels to discuss such topics as water and food supply, energy, population and health.
It will be the first time for Japan to host the conference, which was initiated in 1996. The Emperor is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony.