Focusing on 2019-2020　─Major Opportunities for Diplomacy and International Exchanges─

2019 and 2020 will be important years for Japan holding international conferences such as the G20 Osaka Summit and TICAD 7.

Many country leaders and ministers from all over the world will also visit Japan for the opportunities of the Rugby World Cup 2019^TM, Japan and the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Taking full advantage of these opportunities, Japan will develop strategic diplomacy toward the international community through promoting Japan's initiatives to contribute to global peace and stability.

G20 Osaka Summit

The G20 Summit was started in 2008 to handle the financial crisis, and has come to have major influence in economic fields as the “premier forum for international economic cooperation.” Japan will host the G20 Summit for the first time in 2019. At the G20 Osaka Summit, Japan is determined to lead global economic growth by promoting free trade and innovation, achieving both economic growth and reduction of disparities, and contributing to the development agenda and other global issues with the SDGs at its core. Through these efforts, Japan seeks to realize and promote a free and open, inclusive and sustainable society (See Special Feature “G20 Osaka Summit - Hosting the G20 Summit for the first time”).

■Schedule: Friday, June 28 to Saturday, June 29, 2019

■Venue: Osaka City

G20 Buenos Aires Summit (December 2018, Argentina; Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

TICAD 7

The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) is a summit level international conference launched by Japan in 1993 for the development of Africa. As an inclusive and open forum, it has realized its guiding principles of African ownership and partnership with the international community. TICAD 7 is scheduled to be held in Yokohama in August 2019. Many participants will gather from African countries, international organizations, civil society, and more (See Special Feature “TICAD7 - Collaboration with host city Yokohama”).

■Schedule: Wednesday, August 28 to Friday, August 30, 2019

■Venue city: Yokohama City

TICAD VI (August 2016, Kenya; Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

Rugby World Cup 2019^TM, Japan

The Rugby World Cup, the tournament to determine the world champion of 15-player rugby that is held once every four years, will take place in Japan. The Rugby World Cup is considered to be one of the world's three largest sporting events alongside the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the FIFA World Cups. As this is the first game to be held in Asia, Japan will most likely draw attention (See Column “Not once in four years. Once in a lifetime.” (Rugby World Cup 2019^TM, Japan) ).

■Schedule: Friday, September 20 to Saturday, November 2, 2019

■Venues: 12 venues throughout Japan

14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

The UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, known as “Congress,” is the UN's largest international conference in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. The last 13th Congress was participated in by about 4,000 people from 149 countries. The 14th Congress (Kyoto Congress) will have discussions on measures and international cooperation in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice under the overall theme of “Advancing crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda” (see Chapter 3-1-3(5)).

■Schedule: Monday, April 20 to Monday, April 27, 2020

■Venue city: Kyoto City

The 13th Congress (April 2015, Doha)

The scheduled 14th Congress venue

Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020

It has been 56 years since the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games were held in Tokyo in 1964. With the three core concepts of “achieving personal best,” “unity in diversity,” and “connecting to tomorrow,” about 11,000 athletes will compete in 33 sports and 339 events at the Olympic Games, and about 4,400 athletes will compete in 22 sports and 540 events at the Paralympic Games (see Chapter 3-4).

■Schedule: Olympic Games, Friday, July 24 to Sunday, August 9, 2020

　　　　　　Paralympic Games, Tuesday, August 25 to Sunday, September 6, 2020

■Venue: 42 venues centered on Tokyo