2005 News Releases

Event Brings Together University Students from Around the World to Debate Global Issues at the Aichi Expo

Tokyo– The Japan Model United Nations Society, with the support of Manulife Life Insurance Company, will invite more than 30 university students from around the world to a special event titled, “Model United Nations Expo 2005,” which will be held at the Canada Pavilion at the Aichi World Expo from September 14-16, 2005.

Model United Nations (MUN) events are unique activities that simulate the work of the General Assembly and other organizations of the United Nations, in which university students, taking on the roles of ambassadors from UN member states, debate various world affairs. For the Model UN Expo 2005 event, the theme will be “Sustainable Development: Toward the Achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).” University students from 13 countries will deliberate issues regarding the realization of improved economic growth, health, and human welfare for people in developing countries in harmony with the environment.

The objective of the three days of conference sessions and diplomatic role-playing is to provide the students with a deeper understanding of the significance of UN activities and its international agenda, to allow the students to learn and understand each other’s viewpoints, and to develop the students’ research, presentation, and communication skills.

Manulife Life Insurance Company, a Canadian life insurance company engaged in business operations in Japan and also one of the main sponsors of the Canada Pavilion at the 2005 Aichi Expo, supports the theme of the Canada Pavilion, “Wisdom of Diversity,” as well as the objectives of the Model United Nations Expo 2005 event.

Model United Nations Expo 2005 Event Overview

Schedule of Events:

Location: Manulife VIP Lounge, Aichi Expo Canada Pavilion, Second Floor

Participants: 17 Japanese university students and 14 foreign university students studying in Japan

About the Model United Nations
The Model United Nations is a forum for debate on matters of global concern. By placing the participants in the roles of United Nations ambassadors convening at the UN General Assembly, the Model UN strives to improve understanding of the complexity of the problems confronting the world today, and inspire them to work to find solutions to these problems. Participants begin by choosing the countries that they will represent. This is followed by investigation and research into the issues that will be debated on the General Assembly’s agenda, results achieved through United Nations deliberations to date, and issues either yet to be resolved or else arising from these deliberations, and the pre-existing policies of the countries that they represent with regard to these issues. Based on these findings, they will then draft policy statements for their respective countries going forward. When the General Assembly convenes, participants will go through the process of drafting the resolutions that constitute the framework of decisions handed down by the United Nations. This process will involve speeches to the Assembly, as well as negotiations between the various member states themselves. Finally, the member states will vote on resolutions for solutions and actions intended to be both practical and of benefit to the global community, while also taking into account the interests of the participating member states. On the one hand, these activities serve to give participants a better understanding of the issues being discussed, as well as the policies and interests of the countries that they are representing. At the same time, participants also acquire first-hand experience of the overall process by which the United Nations operates. They come to understand how politics works at the global level, its capabilities and limitations. They will also learn about multilateral diplomacy and the current state of international relations in a near-real world situation. This, in turn, will foster understanding of the complex machinations of geopolitics, and help them find ways to take action to solve global issues within the context of these selfsame complex interactions. Overall, the entire exercise will contribute to educating the very people that the global community needs if it is to find solutions to the very real and urgent problems that it faces in the years to come.

About Manulife
Manulife Life Insurance Company (“Manulife Japan”), a member company of the Manulife Financial group, holds a top-class "AA+" credit rating from Standard & Poor’s, one of the world’s most prestigious credit rating agencies(as of August 2005).

Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$364 billion (US$297 billion) as at June 30, 2005.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '0945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com or www.manulife.co.jp for Manulife Japan.

For more information, please contact:

Saeko Yoshioka
Manulife Life Insurance Company
Telephone: 0424 42 7078