Press Conferences

Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Today, I will fly to Munich, Germany to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that is planned to take place on February 19. I will have candid discussions on the situation in Ukraine, which continues to be unpredictable, with the counterparts from the G7 countries who share fundamental values to reaffirm cooperation among us.

In addition, while in Munich, I will hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of other G7 countries, and I am also scheduled to participate in a panel discussion on the Indo-Pacific region at the Munich Security Conference. That is all from me.

NHK, Aoki: At the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, specifically what views regarding the situation in Ukraine do you intend to convey? In addition, what kind of role will the Government of Japan play? What about the panel discussion?

Minister Hayashi: Firstly, the Government of Japan has responded to the situation in Ukraine as its own issue and continued diplomatic efforts. On February 17, Prime Minister Kishida held a Japan-Russia Summit Telephone Talk with President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. During the telephone talk, Prime Minister Kishida conveyed that the Government of Japan is following the situation in Ukraine with grave concern. He appealed to President Putin to look for solutions that are acceptable for the countries involved in the situation, not through a unilateral change in the status quo by force but diplomatic negotiations.

I believe that the situation in Ukraine will be discussed from various aspects at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and we will affirm thorough coordination among the foreign ministers of the G7 countries.

At the Munich Security Conference, I plan to participate in a panel discussion on the Indo-Pacific region. While the importance of the international order based on the rule of law is increasingly recognized, I hope to convey the importance of promoting initiatives toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP).

Yomiuri Shimbun, Abe: I would like to ask about the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Given that Japan is the only G7 member from Asia, how do you intend to contribute to the discussions at the meeting?

Minister Hayashi: I would like to refrain from speculating about the content of discussions at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. I believe that we will discuss the situation in Ukraine from various aspects.

As Prime Minister Kishida stated in the Japan-Russia Summit Telephone Talk of February 17, the Government of Japan views that the situation in Ukraine affects Asia. Therefore, I will also engage in thorough discussions from this standpoint and reaffirm thorough coordination with other G7 countries.