3 Leading Discussions at International Conferences

(1) G7

Japan held the G7 presidency for 2023 as the international community stood at a historic turning point, facing multiple crises including the climate crisis, the spread of COVID-19, and Russia's aggression against Ukraine (See the Opening Special Feature on page 2).

On February 24, one year after the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Prime Minister Kishida hosted the G7 Leaders' Video Conference. Opening remarks were made by President Zelensky of Ukraine, followed by discussions among G7 leaders, who concurred that G7's solidarity will never waver in standing with Ukraine, in supporting countries and people in need and in upholding the international order based on the rule of law.

Prime Minister Kishida hosted the G7 Hiroshima Summit from May 19 to 21.¹¹ At the meeting, G7 leaders affirmed that they will make active and concrete contributions under the broad theme of realizing an international community characterized by cooperation, not division and confrontation, and with the two pillars of upholding the free and open international order based on the rule of law and strengthening outreach with international partners beyond the G7.

President Zelensky also attended the meeting. On the situation in Ukraine, G7 leaders affirmed that they will continue to impose severe sanctions against Russia and strongly support Ukraine, stressing that peace cannot be achieved without the withdrawal of Russian troops, and reaffirming that they will make every effort to bring peace to Ukraine. G7 leaders issued the G7 Leaders' Statement on Ukraine.

Regarding diplomacy and security, Prime Minister Kishida stated that any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force is unacceptable anywhere in the world, and that it is essential to show the G7's strong will to uphold the free and open international order based on the rule of law. On the Indo-Pacific situation, G7 leaders also reaffirmed that they will continue to work closely together in responding to issues related to China as well as North Korea, including nuclear and missile issues and abductions issue.

Regarding nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, G7 leaders had candid discussions that touched on the reality of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, and affirmed their commitment to a “world without nuclear weapons.” The G7 leaders issued the “G7 Leaders' Hiroshima Vision,” the first independent G7 Summit document on nuclear disarmament.

In response to the rapidly growing importance of addressing economic security challenges, the G7 established an independent session on economic security for the first time at a G7 Summit, and had candid discussions. G7 leaders issued the “G7 Leaders' Statement on Economic Resilience and Economic Security,” the first independent G7 Summit statement, as a comprehensive and concrete message on this issue.

They also shared an intention to have discussions held as soon as possible through the “Hiroshima AI Process” about generative AI, a rapidly evolving technology, among the relevant ministers and have the results of those discussions reported by the end of 2023.

The G7 leaders, together with invited countries and organizations, discussed various issues facing the international community, including food, development, health, climate change and energy, and the environment, and reaffirmed the importance of working with developing and emerging countries, called the Global South, to address these issues.

At the end of the meeting, the leaders of the G7, the invited countries, and Ukraine discussed global peace and stability and shared a recognition of the importance of UN Charter principles such as the rule of law, sovereignty, and respect for territorial integrity.

In summing up their discussions, G7 leaders issued the “Clean Energy Economy Action Plan” in addition to the “G7 Hiroshima Leaders' Communiqué,” the aforementioned “G7 Leaders' Statement on Ukraine,” the “G7 Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament,” and the “G7 Leaders' Statement on Economic Resilience and Economic Security,” and, in collaboration with the leaders of invited countries, issued the “Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security.”

Also in December, Prime Minister Kishida hosted the G7 Leaders' Video Conference to conclude the year of Japan's G7 Presidency.¹² With President Zelensky joining at the opening, the meeting saw G7 leaders reaffirm the unwavering solidarity of the G7 with Ukraine and concur on remaining united and strongly promoting sanctions against Russia while providing support for Ukraine.

Regarding the situation in the Middle East, G7 leaders condemned the terror attacks by Hamas and others, demanded the immediate release of all hostages, and spoke of the importance of improving the humanitarian situation in the region. G7 leaders confirmed that the G7 will continue to take the lead in calming down the situation and providing assistance to the people.

On AI, G7 leaders welcomed the “Hiroshima AI Process Comprehensive Policy Framework” as agreed by the G7, which comprehensively sets out the rules to be followed by the relevant actors for the first time globally, and agreed on expanding these outcomes to the international community at large.

G7 leaders reviewed the initiatives under the Japanese Presidency, including the G7 Hiroshima Summit, and confirmed that they will further deepen cooperation under the Italian Presidency in 2024, then issued the “G7 Leaders' Statement” after the meeting.

A total of seven G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting were held in 2023, including five in-person and two online. At the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Karuizawa, Nagano, held April 16-18 and chaired by Foreign Minister Hayashi, the G7 foreign ministers confirmed their collaboration for the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May. In addition, for the first time as the G7, the G7 foreign ministers issued a G7 Foreign Ministers' Communiqué as the outcome of the meeting, confirming in written form their commitment to a free and open international order based on the rule of law, which Japan values, and their strong opposition to any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo anywhere in the world. At the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Tokyo on November 7 and 8 and chaired by Foreign Minister Kamikawa, the G7 Foreign Ministers held candid and in-depth discussions on the situation in the Middle East in particular and put together a comprehensive message in the form of a document. Regarding the situation in Ukraine, the G7 confirmed that, even given the current international situation, it will maintain its stance of strict sanctions against Russia and strong support for Ukraine. The Indo-Pacific, which is the most strategically important area under the Japanese Presidency, was also discussed.

The first G7 Trade Ministers' Meeting was held online on April 4, and the second meeting was held in Osaka-Sakai on October 28 and 29, attended by Foreign Minister Hayashi and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry NISHIMURA Yasutoshi and by Foreign Minister Kamikawa and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura, respectively. The G7 trade ministers candidly discussed economic coercion and supply chain resilience from the perspective of economic security, as well as the maintenance and strengthening of a free and fair trade regime with the WTO at its core, and adopted a G7 Trade Ministers' Statement.

• 11 For details about the G7 Hiroshima Summit, including the outcome document, see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website:
  https://www.mofa.go.jp/ms/g7hs_s/page1e_000666.html
  
• 12 See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for details about the G7 Leaders' Video Conference, including the outcome document:
  https://www.mofa.go.jp/ecm/ec/pageite_000001_00031.html
  

(2) G20

The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation participated in by both major developed and emerging countries. At the G20 New Delhi Summit held on September 9 and 10, discussions were held under the theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future” set forth by India, the G20 Presidency.

Prime Minister Kishida emphasized the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and, based on the idea that the outcome of the G7 should feed into the G20, he communicated Japan's position and initiatives on key issues such as food security, climate and energy, development, health, and digitalization.

Especially regarding food security, Prime Minister Kishida expressed his intention to work toward building a sustainable and resilient agriculture and food system, while introducing that at the G7 Hiroshima Summit a concrete action plan was formulated with the participation of invited countries, which confirmed the importance of G20's efforts to enhance data gathering, and the “Millet and other ancient grains international research initiative (MAHARISHI),” promoted by India. On the subject of health, Prime Minister Kishida stated that he attaches importance to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), in which all people can receive basic health services when they are needed and at a cost they can afford, and the strengthening of prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) for a possible next health crisis, including the provision of prompt and efficient funding in times of crisis. In particular, he emphasized the importance of strengthening the delivery of medical countermeasures (MCM), which was launched at the G7 Hiroshima Summit and of which its importance was confirmed at this G20 Summit.

The G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, agreed upon by all members including Russia, was issued as the summary of the discussions. It included commitments based on the outcomes of the G7 Hiroshima Summit in the areas of food, climate change and energy, environment, and health, as well as reference to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine and adherence to the principles of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty.

In addition, at the invitation of India, the G20 Presidency, the G20 Leaders' Video Conference was held on November 22 that Prime Minister Kishida attended. At the meeting, G20 leaders discussed key issues such as multilateral reforms, climate change, digital, and women-led development. Prime Minister Kishida emphasized that in addressing various challenges facing the international community, the G20 should aim for a world where “human dignity” is protected, and explained Japan's position and initiatives on issues such as reform of multilateral systems such as the UN and multilateral development banks (MDBs), climate change, AI, and women-led development.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yamada attended the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in New Delhi on March 2, where important issues such as strengthening multilateralism, food and energy security, and development cooperation were discussed. State Minister Yamada, emphasized that Japan, as the G7 presidency, intends to exercise leadership in resolving various issues facing the international community, and will also work with the G20.

(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 conducts activities such as promoting regional economic integration and enhancing economic and technical cooperation to liberalize and facilitate trade and investment in the region. The Asia-Pacific region, which thrives by liberalizing and facilitating 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 support our own economic growth and the overseas expansion of Japanese companies.

In 2023, APEC was hosted by the U.S. under the overall theme “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All,” with three policy priorities: “interconnected, innovative, and inclusive”, and discussions were held at various meetings throughout the year. Among other subjects, discussions were advanced on cooperation in line with the “Bangkok Goals on Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy,” endorsed at the previous year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, which stated initiatives for sustainable growth in the APEC region and on the realization of an “open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific Community” as outlined in the “APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040” endorsed at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2020.

At the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in San Francisco, U.S., on November 16 and 17, the leaders endorsed the “Golden Gate Declaration” as a Leaders' Declaration, which clearly stated the importance of the multilateral trading system based on free and fair rules, the commitment to WTO reform, and cooperation to facilitate flow of data. In addition to the Leaders' Declaration, a Chair's Statement on the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East was issued by the U.S.. Regarding Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Prime Minister Kishida reiterated that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapon is inadmissible that was also reflected in the Chair's Statement.

At the Leaders' Meeting, Prime Minister Kishida emphasized the growing importance of APEC cooperation at a time when the international community is facing complex challenges, and stressed that ensuring a fair and transparent trade and investment environment is essential for inclusive and resilient growth in the region. He also stressed the importance of advancing the efforts of the Hiroshima AI Process beyond the G7 and “Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT)” in promoting the digital economy. Prime Minister Kishida also asserted the importance of energy transition through various and realistic pathways to achieve decarbonization, and expressed Japan's willingness to contribute in various ways for the sustainable growth of the region. Peru will host APEC in 2024.