Japan and the United Nations
Meeting between Prime Minister ISHIBA and United Nations Secretary-General Guterres
August 20, 2025
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
On August 20, commencing at 3:55 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, held a meeting in Yokohama with H.E. Mr. António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, who was visiting Japan to attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) and other events. The overview is as follows:
- At the outset, Prime Minister ISHIBA expressed his gratitude to Secretary-General Guterres for the United Nations’ partnership as a co-organizer of TICAD, and reaffirmed that Japan will continue to remain committed to the United Nations and to multilateralism. In response, Secretary-General Guterres conveyed his commendation for Japan’s partnership with African countries, including through the TICAD process.
- Prime Minister ISHIBA then, noting the progress of reforms within UN agencies under the UN80 Initiative, requested the continued retention and further recruitment of Japanese staff members. In reply, Secretary-General Guterres expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support for the activities of the United Nations, and delivered the efforts towards UN reform and the expectation for Japan.
- In addition, the two leaders exchanged views on United Nations reform, including Security Council reform, as well as on human security, and on policies toward North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue.