Overview

G20 Osaka Summit (Summary of Outcome)

June 29, 2019
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Below is a summary of the G20 Osaka Summit hosted by Japan on June 28 and 29.

1. 1. Introduction

   The G20 Summit, which Japan hosted for the first time, included G20 members, 8 invited countries, and representatives from 9 international organizations, and was historically the largest summit ever held in Japan. Leaders of the major countries gathered this year's Summit to identify a common ground, and to jointly grapple with major issues related to world economy.
   Amidst worldwide uneasiness and dissatisfaction stemming from changes accompanying globalization, Japan took leadership as the Presidency, ensuring that the G20 expressed strong message to the world via G20 Osaka Leaders' Declaration, which includes various areas such as leading global economic growth through promoting free trade and innovation, and addressing inequalities, as well as contributing to resolving environmental and global challenges.

2. 2. Overview of Discussions

   1. As the chair of the Summit, Prime Minister Abe proactively led discussions in sessions addressing the "Global Economy, Trade and Investment," "Innovation (Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence (AI))," "Inequalities and Inclusive and Sustainable World," and "Climate Change, Environment and Energy," ensuring that participants sought commonality rather than confrontation.
   2. At the outset of the Session 1 "The Global Economy, Trade, and Investment," Prime Minister Abe identified escalating tensions surrounding trade and geopolitics vis-a-vis the global economy, suggesting that the G20 should execute measures and take necessary actions to deal with these downside risks. Prime Minister Abe additionally expressed that the G20 should address issues arising from globalization, the ageing population, and digitization, while maintaining and strengthening a free, fair, and non-discriminatory trading system. In particular, Prime Minister Abe stressed the importance of: (a) WTO reforms such as dispute settlement including Appellate Body, and rule-making for this new era, including the one dealing with electronic commerce, and (b) securing level playing field as a basis of international trade and investment.
      The leaders gave innumerable insights into various issues, indicating, for example, that G20 should provide political impetus for WTO reforms. The leaders also pointed out that current trade situation has impacted global economic growth and the situation should be solved in conformity with the WTO agreement.
   3. During Session 2 with the focus on "Innovation," Prime Minister Abe suggested that innovation is the key to simultaneously achieving economic development and solutions to social issues. The Prime Minister highlighted the essential role played by free flow of data in the context of rapidly developing digitalization and presented the concept of Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT). He also referred to the "Osaka Track" launched at the Leaders' Special Event on the Digital Economy which preceded this session, explained his determination to promote international rule-making, especially on trade-related aspects of electronic commerce at WTO. Prime Minister Abe additionally stressed that the trust is essential in application of AI and other advanced technologies, alluding to the importance of the "G20 AI Principles."
      The various leaders commented on the role of innovation in economic growth and solutions to social issues, as well as on the importance of creating international rules for the digital economy. Participants also shared the importance of the concept of Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT).
      The second session additionally featured discussion on terrorists' intensified abuse of the Internet and social media, resulting in the issuance of the G20 Osaka Leaders' Statement on Preventing Exploitation of the Internet for Terrorism and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism (VECT), reflecting a shared recognition of the importance of initiatives harmonizing with the digital industry, based on the rule of law and the respect for human rights including freedom of expression.
   4. Prior to the Session 3, Prime Minister Abe hosted the Special Event on Women's Empowerment, with the attendance of Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and Ivanka Trump, Adviser to the President of the United States. The special event focused on: (a) women's labor participation, (b) support for girls' education, and (c) support for women's entrepreneurship, and contributed to a strengthened momentum for the advancement of women's participation in the international community as a whole.
      At the outset of the third session, focusing on "Inequalities and Inclusive and Sustainable World," Prime Minister Abe commented that while the fruits of economic growth should reach every corner of society, disparity brought about by innovation, demographic changes, and gender inequality in particular should be addressed. The Prime Minister additionally highlighted future challenges and Japan's initiatives. Prime Minister Abe discussed the importance of initiatives geared toward achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in realization of an inclusive and sustainable world, including addressing the debt issue in developing countries, quality infrastructure investment, global health, disaster prevention, education, and science, technology and innovation (STI). Furthermore, the Prime Minister declared that Japan would like to take the lead in reexamination and international discussion of diverse and innovative financing that embraces areas such as social impact investment and dormant assets.
      Discussion followed, with the various global leaders discussing their respective nations' initiatives in women's empowerment, disparity in education, support for developing nations, poverty, sustainable development, topped with comments emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in developmental fields including realization of SDGs.
   5. Session 4, targeting "Climate Change, Environment and Energy," began with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach delivering a speech on the role of sports and the realization of a society in which all constituents, including women, youths, the elderly, and people with disability, can flourish. The theme was in line with the goals of the Osaka Summit, occurring just a year before the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
      Prime Minister Abe then addressed the importance of promoting innovation to solve urgent global environmental issues such as climate change, energy, and marine plastic litter. He introduced Long-Term Strategies based on Paris Agreement, stressing the necessity for effort toward realization of the ultimate goal of a carbon-free society. The Prime Minister additionally iterated Japan's commitment to support developing countries through capacity building on waste management and infrastructure consolidation toward realizing the "Osaka Blue Ocean Vision", an agreement among leaders to achieve no additional marine plastic waste by 2050. Prime Minister Abe also spoke to the issues of space debris, declaring that the international community needed to cooperate in dealing with the issue, and that Japan would spearhead efforts by undertaking a large-scale debris-removal project.
      A number of leaders subsequently discussed climate change and marine issues, including the importance of implementing the Paris Agreement. They also discussed the related importance of capitalization of renewable energy, pointing out that corrective measures would involve new industry and job creation in the future and sharing an awareness of the importance of environmental issues, climate change, and challenges relating to the oceans.
   6. The G20 Osaka Leaders' Declaration, was adopted in the Closing Session as the outcome of the Summit, Prime Minister Abe extended a strong statement reflecting agreement among G20 leaders on challenges such as maintaining and strengthening a free, fair and non-discriminatory trade, rule-making for the digital economy including the free flow of data, the shared "Vision" on marine plastic litter, and women's empowerment.
      The leaders then heard from Saudi Arabia, the next G20 Presidency, on aspirations for the Riyadh Summit. Prime Minister Abe closed the G20 Osaka Summit with the wish for the members, as leaders of the world economy, to continue cooperation toward realization of a free, inclusive, and sustainable future society based on the G20 Osaka Leaders' Declaration adopted at the Summit.

3. 3. Outcome Documents

   Two outcome documents—the "G20 Osaka Leaders' Declaration" and the "G20 Osaka Leaders' Statement on Preventing Exploitation of the Internet for Terrorism and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism (VECT)"—were adopted in addition to following several supplementary documents covering various topics.

   1. The G20 Osaka Leaders' Declaration
   2. The G20 Osaka Leaders' Statement on Preventing Exploitation of the Internet for Terrorism and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism (VECT)
   3. Supplementary documents:
      • G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment
      • Programme of Work to Develop a Consensus Solution to the Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalization of the Economy
      • G20 Fukuoka Policy Priorities on Aging and Financial Inclusion
      • Proposed Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) Work Program
      • G20 Shared Understanding on the Importance of UHC Financing in Developing Countries
      • G20 Compendium of Good Practices for Promoting Integrity and Transparency in Infrastructure Development
      • G20 High Level Principles for Effective Protection of Whistleblowers
      • G20 AI Principles
      • Women at Work in G20 Countries: Progress and policy action
      • G20 Initiative on Human Capital Investment for Sustainable Development
      • Osaka Update on the G20 Action Plan on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
      • Guiding Principles for the Development of Science, Technology, and Innovation for SDGs Roadmaps
      • Osaka Comprehensive Accountability Report on G20 Development Commitments
      • G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter
      • G20 Action Agenda on Adaption and Resilient Infrastructure
      • G20 Karuizawa Innovation Action Plan on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth

Reference: G20 Osaka Summit

1. Schedule:

   • June 28 (Friday)
     Leaders' Special Event on Digital Economy
     Session 1 (working lunch): Global Economy, Trade and Investment
     Session 2: Innovation (Digital Economy and AI)
   • June 29 (Saturday)
     Leaders' Special Event on Women's Empowerment
     Session 3: Inequalities and an Inclusive and Sustainable World
     Session 4 (working lunch): Climate Change, Environment and Energy
     Closing Session

2. Participating Countries and International Organizations

   • (a) G20 members:
     Japan, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, UK, USA
   • (b) Invited guest countries
     Spain, Chile (APEC Chair), Egypt (AU Chair), Netherlands, Senegal (NEPAD Chair), Singapore, Thailand (ASEAN Chair), Vietnam
   • (c) International organizations:
     United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), International Labour Organization (ILO), Financial Stability Board (FSB), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), World Health Organization (WHO), Asian Development Bank (ADB)