Japan should make financial contributions to the U.N.'s refugee body, but it should also accept refugees from Asia and Africa to show leadership in humanitarian affairs, Rudolphus Lubbers, the new U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said in Tokyo Wednesday.
Lubbers, a former Dutch prime minister who took over the UNHCR job from Japan's Sadako Ogata in January, hailed Japan's annual contributions of some $120 million to the UNHCR when Ogata headed the body in the '90s.
However, noting that Japan will soon see a decline in its population, Lubbers said it is now time for Japan to consider establishing a framework for accepting refugees.
"My advice would be to accept, in limited number, the people to come in and help us a little bit with resettlement of refugees," he told a press conference at the Japan National Press Club.
"This is not only about generosity and hospitality, but it's also about the self-interest of Japan," he said.
Lubbers also said he hopes to see more Japanese staff working at the UNHCR and do more work with Japanese nongovernmental organizations.
"That will strengthen the political profile of Japan in the world," he said.