Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
APEC Ministerial Meeting 2023 Session I
November 14, 2023
On November 14, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, together with Mr. NISHIMURA Yasutoshi, Minister for Economy, attended in Session I (Agenda: “Enabling an innovative environment for a sustainable future and affirming an equitable and inclusive future for all”) of the APEC Ministerial Meeting in San Francisco, United States, chaired by the Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States of America and the Honorable Ambassador Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative. The overview of the meetings is as follows.
- Minister Kamikawa stated that in addressing global issues, Japan will continue its efforts to realize "A World Caring for Human Dignity", considering the principle of the SDGs: "No one will be left behind". She also emphasized the importance of incorporating the agenda of Women Peace and Security (WPS) into our joint actions in responding to natural disasters, in order to properly reflect women's perspectives.
- Minister Kamikawa also mentioned that efforts to ensure access to fair economic opportunities for all, including women and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), will contribute to further economic growth in the APEC region, and pointed out the importance of measures such as digitization and the use of new technologies to achieve this goal.
- Many participants emphasized the importance of climate change measures, capacity building and knowledge sharing on digital and economic policies for achieving growth with the participation of women and MSMEs. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continue their cooperation to achieve sustainable and inclusive APEC.