Press Conferences

Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I will visit Poland, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Germany, and Türkiye from January 5 to 18. This will be my first overseas visit in 2024.

First, I offer my sincere condolences to those who lost their lives in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, and I extend my heartfelt sympathy to everyone affected. A whole-of-government approach is being taken to do everything we can to save lives and provide assistance, including finding missing people as quickly as possible.

We have received many messages of sympathy and offers of assistance from the international community. Since I assumed the post of Foreign Minister, I have known much about the international community places high expectations and trust in Japanese diplomacy. In this context, during my visit commencing from tonight, I intend to express Japan’s appreciation for the warm messages received from the international community and confirm our close cooperation with each country in person.

In addition, now as the international community faces a complex crisis and division and confrontation deepen, it is important to maintain and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law and to ensure “A World Caring for Human Dignity” for realizing peace. During my visits, I, from this standpoint, will seek to further collaborate and coordinate with a range of partners, which will contribute to Japanese diplomacy in the coming year.

Specifically, in Poland, the new Tusk administration that took office this month and I will confirm the strengthening of our bilateral relationship, as well as the importance of supporting Ukraine, for which Poland has played a significant role.

In Finland and Sweden, we will confirm our intention to strengthen cooperation in areas of interest to both Japan and Nordic countries, including gender equality and the Arctic, and lead the efforts to advance bilateral as well as Japan-Nordic cooperation.

In the Netherlands and Germany, I will visit the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and demonstrate Japan’s unwavering support for their contribution to strengthening the rule of law. Furthermore, the Government of the Netherlands and I will confirm the enhancement of our bilateral cooperation and coordination.

In the U.S., I will hold a Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ Meeting where we will exchange views on matters such as the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East. In addition, we will confirm our intention to cooperate in a range of areas, and further evolve the firm unity between Japan and the U.S. We will also align our policies in various areas, looking ahead to upcoming events including Prime Minister Kishida’s official visit to the U.S., which is to take place in the early part of this year.

In Canada, I will hold a Japan-Canada Foreign Ministers’ Meeting where we will exchange views on various issues of the international community and align our directions of bilateral cooperation. In particular, my counterpart and I will confirm the progress of the “Japan-Canada Action Plan for contributing to the free and open Indo-Pacific region” one year after its announcement, and confirm our way forward.

In Türkiye, I will hold a Japan-Türkiye Foreign Ministers’ Meeting where we will confirm to work together toward further advancing our strategic partnership relationship this year, which will mark the 100th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. In addition, I intend to exchange views with Türkiye, one of the major countries in the region, regarding the situations in Ukraine and Gaza, among other matters.

That is all from me.

Nikkei Shimbun, Nemoto: Happy New Year. I would like to ask about your overseas visit. Amid the increasingly tense international situation, I believe that not only deepening security cooperation with Western NATO members, but also enhancing collaboration with countries and organizations in areas such as upholding the rule of law, the Arctic, and Women, Peace and Security (WPS), will help create a desirable security environment. From this perspective, what are your thoughts on the significance of your upcoming visit that features the issues you have taken up as your life’s work?

Minister Kamikawa: During my visit to Europe and North America, I hope to strengthen cooperation with like-minded countries and others in the regions in wide-ranging areas, including security, as well as strengthen cooperation with the respective countries and organizations in areas that have become my life’s work, including the rule of law and WPS.

Specifically, ensuring the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is inseparable in the current severe international security environment. Based on this recognition, I intend to deepen discussions with like-minded countries and others in Western countries regarding cooperation in wide-ranging areas, including security.

In addition, by visiting the three international courts, I hope to show Japan’s strong support for their contribution to strengthening the rule of law, as well as exchange views on further cooperation for the courts to fulfill their roles.

With regard to WPS, through meetings with the Women Political Leaders (WPL), of which I serve as ambassador, as well as other such organizations, think tanks, and various stakeholders, I hope to expand the network that contributes to WPS, and seek insights for elevating WPS to the next level and translating it into concrete actions.

Through these efforts, I will further enhance Japan’s diplomatic efforts for maintaining and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law and for ensuring “A World Caring for Human Dignity” for realizing peace.

Asahi Shimbun, Matsuyama: Happy New Year to you. My question slightly overlaps with the previous question from Nikkei. As you just stated, I believe you will be visiting some countries from today, and will approach discussions with several themes during your visit. If you were to name one overarching item, what would it be? Which item is highest on the agenda?

Minister Kamikawa: As I mentioned earlier in my opening remarks, now as the international community faces a complex crisis and division and confrontation deepen, it is important to maintain and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law and to ensure “A World Caring for Human Dignity” for realizing peace.

During my visits, I, from this standpoint, will seek to further collaborate and coordinate with a range of partners, which will contribute to Japanese diplomacy in the coming year.

Asahi Shimbun, Matsuyama: I would like to ask about a different topic, the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. My question again overlaps with your earlier remarks. The U.S., the United Kingdom, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea, and other countries have offered assistance. Against this backdrop, the Prime Minister said yesterday in his press conference that the Government would not be accepting any offers of personnel and in-kind assistance from other countries, explaining that the areas are not ready to host them. You stated earlier that you hope to express Japan’s appreciation in person during your overseas visit. Please share with us again your thoughts on the offers of assistance from various countries and how the Government will be responding to the situation.

Minister Kamikawa: From the immediate aftermath of the earthquake to now, we have received numerous messages of sympathy and offers of assistance from more than 100 countries and regions around the world, including the U.S., other G7 members, China, and Taiwan, as well as from entities and individuals. The Government of Japan deeply appreciates these messages and offers of assistance.

At this time, the Government is doing everything it can to save lives and assist the affected areas. We are currently not accepting any offers of personnel and in-kind assistance from countries and regions, taking into account the work required to host them and the local situation.

However, we gratefully accept assistance that does not require preparedness and work on the ground as I just mentioned. For example, Taiwan has announced a donation of 60 million yen, and arrangements for this are being made among the organizations concerned.