Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
Foreign Minister Iwaya’s participation in the side event on the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons
April 28, 2025
On April 28, while visiting New York to attend the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Mr. IWAYA Takeshi , Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, participated in the event on the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons ( at the sideline of the Preparatory Committee He was also received a courtesy call from H.E. Mr. Harold Agyeman, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations in New York and the Chair of the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 NPT Review Conference, who attended this event. The overview is as follows.
- At the event on the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons, held from around 1:25 p.m. local time (2:25 a.m. JST on April 29), Foreign Minister Iwaya delivered opening remarks. He stated that, as the only country that has ever suffered atomic bombings during war, Japan is determine d to lead efforts to maintain and strengthen the NPT regime, and steadily advance toward the path leading to a world without nuclear weapons in cooperation with the international community. He emphasized that the recommendations by the IGEP will guide us.
- Following Foreign Minister Iwaya’s remarks, the representative of the IGEP presented its recommendations to Ambassador Agyeman. The event also featured a presentation on the recommendations by the IGEP’s representative, as well as a panel discussion between members of the IGEP, external experts, and government
- Prior to the side event, from around 1:05 p.m. local time (2:05 a.m. JST on April 29), Foreign Minister Iwaya received a courtesy call from Ambassador Agyeman with his capacity as the Chair of the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for approximately 10 minutes. Foreign Minister Iwaya noted the importance of the 2026 Review Conference in efforts to maintain and strengthen the NPT regime. In response, Ambassador Agyeman expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support noting that Minister Iwaya's attendance at the preparatory committee demonstrates Japan's commitment to nuclear disarmament and the NPT. Both sides confirmed that they will continue close cooperation toward the success of the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee.
- Furthermore, Foreign Minister Iwaya visited a special panel exhibition by Mayors for Peace being held at United Nations Headquarters. He received an explanation of the exhibit from Mr. MATSUI Kazumi, Mayor of Hiroshima and Mr. SUZUKI Shiro, Mayor of Nagasaki.
