Chapter 3
Japan's Foreign Policy to Promote National and Global Interests
3 Leading Discussions at International Conferences
(1) G7
With the foundation of the international order shaken by Russia's aggression against Ukraine which started in February, 2022 saw closer policy coordination than ever before in the G7, which shares fundamental values and principles.
At the G7 Elmau Summit held from June 26 to 28, under the overall theme of “Progress towards an equitable world” that was set forth by the German Chancellor Franz Scholz, which holds the G7 Presidency, in addition to the response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the G7 leaders had candid discussions on issues such as the global economy, including price measures, regional affairs in the Indo-Pacific and other regions, climate change, and food security. As in previous years, invited countries and organizations participated in parts of the conference, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine participated online in the session on the situation in Ukraine.
G7 Elmau Summit (June 28, Elmau, Germany; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
Prime Minister Kishida called for the G7, which shares values and principles, to continue to lead the international community's efforts on the situation in Ukraine. Regarding the global economy, he said that the G7 should also strengthen unity to protect people's livelihoods from rising prices. On regional affairs, the G7 reiterated the importance of maintaining “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” that is inclusive and based on the rule of law. Prime Minister Kishida explained that China continues to intrude into Japanese territorial waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, and emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Furthermore, Prime Minister Kishida stated that Russia's threat to use nuclear weapons and North Korea's progress in nuclear weapons and missile development have once again demonstrated the threat of nuclear weapons to the international community. He noted that maintaining and strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is becoming increasingly important, and pointed out that, in order to achieve a “world without nuclear weapons,” the declining trend in the number of nuclear weapons in the world must not be reversed. On climate and energy, he stated that it is essential to simultaneously work to achieve carbon neutrality and to strengthen energy security. On food security, he stressed the importance of ending Russia's aggression against Ukraine, which is the root cause of the problem, and of showing solidarity through concrete assistance to countries facing real food crises.
At the conclusion of the Summit, Prime Minister Kishida announced that, as the next G7 Presidency, the next G7 Summit would be held in Hiroshima in May 2023. Prime Minister Kishida stated that, with the world facing an unprecedented crisis of aggression against Ukraine and a growing risk of the use of weapons of mass destruction, at the 2023 G7 Summit he hopes to demonstrate with historic weight the G7's willingness to firmly reject armed aggression, threats with nuclear weapons, and attempts to overthrow the international order.
As a result of the discussions, the G7 leaders confirmed that the G7 would unite to uphold the international order against Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and as a summary of the discussions, a G7 Leaders' Communiqué and five individual statements were issued.
Under Germany's G7 Presidency in 2022, in addition to the Elmau Summit in June, in order to discuss the G7 response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine a face-to-face extraordinary G7 Summit Meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium in March along with additional extraordinary online G7 Summit Meetings in February, May, October, and December.
In addition to the G7 Summit Meetings, numerous Ministerial Meetings were also held, with G7 Foreign Ministers' Meetings alone being held 11 times in 2022 (includes G7 Foreign Ministers' Meetings that were held online). Two independent face-to-face G7 Foreign Ministers' Meetings, held in Weissenhaus, Germany from May 12 to 14 and in Münster, Germany from November 3 to 4, featured in-depth exchanges of views on Ukraine, China, North Korea, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East. In addition, at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in May, G7 cooperation was confirmed on COVID-19, infrastructure development, and climate change, and, at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in November, the Foreign Ministers of Ghana and Kenya and the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union (AU) were also invited to a part of the Meeting and the situation in the African region was also discussed.
As for the G7 Trade Ministers' Meetings, the first Meeting was held online on March 23, and the second meeting was held in Neuhardenberg, Germany on September 14 and 15. Foreign Minister Hayashi and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry HAGIUDA Koichi attended the Meeting on March 23, while Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry NISHIMURA Yasutoshi and State Minister for Foreign Affairs YAMADA Kenji attended the Meeting on September 14 and 15. At both meetings candid discussions were held on trade related responses to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, WTO reform, and a level playing field.
On May 18 and 19, the G7 Development Ministers' Meeting and the G7 Development and Health Ministers' Meeting were held in Berlin, Germany, with State Minister for Foreign Affairs SUZUKI Takako and State Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare SATO Hidemichi attending. Discussions were held on a variety of development issues, including on how the G7 should support Ukraine in response to Russia's aggression and on strengthening pandemic response measures in developing countries.
Since the beginning of 2023, Japan has been leading the G7's efforts as the G7 Presidency. At the February 18, 2023 G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Munich, Germany, which was the first face-to-face G7 meeting held under Japan's G7 Presidency, discussions centered on the situation in Ukraine, and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine participated in the latter half of the meeting. The G7 Foreign Ministers underlined their commitment to upholding the international order based on the rule of law, welcomed Ukraine's commitment to a just and lasting peace, and concurred on their commitment to actively working with Ukraine to that end. On February 24, 2023, one year after the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Prime Minister Kishida hosted a G7 Leaders' Video Conference and reaffirmed the G7's unwavering unity in responding to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
(2) G20
The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation participated in by both major developed countries and emerging countries.
At the G20 Bali Summit held on November 15 and 16, under the theme of “Recover Together, Recover Stronger,” which was advocated for by Indonesia, the G20 Presidency, discussions were held on issues that were currently important to the international community, such as food and energy security and international health. Prime Minister Kishida strongly condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine and stressed that Russia's threat of use of nuclear weapons, let alone any use of nuclear weapons, must not be tolerated. Furthermore, looking ahead to 2023 in which Japan holds the G7 Presidency, Prime Minister Kishida actively communicated Japan's position and efforts on these important issues, and contributed to the discussions.
G20 Bali Summit (November 15, Bali, Indonesia; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
The G20 Bali Leaders' Declaration was released as a summary of the discussions, stating that most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine, and clearly including the message that “The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.”
Foreign Minister Hayashi attended the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on July 7 and 8, and, amidst Russia's continuing aggression against Ukraine, discussions were held on important issues in the current international situation, such as the state of multilateralism and food and energy issues.
(3) Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
APEC is a framework of economic cooperation in which 21 economies (countries and regions) in the Asia-Pacific region participate. The Asia-Pacific region is the “world's growth center,” accounting for about 40% of the world's population, about 50% of the world's trade volume, and about 60% of the world's total GDP. APEC, in order to liberalize and facilitate trade and investment in the region, conducts activities such as deepening regional economic integration, and enhancing economic and technical cooperation. The Asia-Pacific region, which thrives by liberalizing trade and investment and strengthening connectivity in accordance with international rules, is the core of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” that Japan has been promoting. Japan's active involvement in and promotion of cooperation with APEC is of great significance to the effort to support our own economic growth and the overseas expansion of Japanese companies.
Thailand served as the Chair for APEC in 2022, and discussions were held at various meetings throughout the year under the overall theme of “Open, Connect, Balance (open to all opportunities, connected in all dimensions, and balanced in all aspects).” Among the topics discussed were cooperation for recovery after the spread of COVID-19 for inclusive and sustainable economic growth, as well as progress for the realization of an “open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community” as set forth in the APEC Putrajaya Vision adopted at the 2020 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.
At the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on November 18 and 19, which was held face-to-face in Bangkok, Thailand for the first time in four years, in addition to the “2022 Leaders' Declaration,” the “Bangkok Goals on Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy” document, which describes efforts for sustainable growth in the APEC region after COVID-19, was also adopted. The “Bangkok Goals on Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy” included targets to be addressed in the areas of responding to environmental issues, promoting sustainable and inclusive trade and investment, environmental conservation and resource management. In response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the Leader's Declaration incorporated language stating that “Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and stressed it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy – constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity, and elevating financial stability risks.”
APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (November, Bangkok, Thailand; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
Prime Minister Kishida, who attended the meeting, expressed his determination to put the Japanese economy on a new growth trajectory and to contribute to inclusive and sustainable growth of the Asia-Pacific region by aiming to realize a new form of capitalism. He then called for the realization of a green society, including zero emissions throughout Asia; the promotion of digital transformation; economic growth through an inclusive society, such as greater participation by women in economic activities; the promotion of free, fair, and open trade and investment based on rules; maintaining the high standards of the CPTPP that is incompatible with unfair trade practices and economic coercion; and the promotion of investment in “quality infrastructure” and transparent and fair development finance for sustainable development.
In 2023 the U.S. will serve as the Chair for APEC.
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