Press Conferences

Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I would like to share my impressions of my visit. During my visit to the U.S., I attended the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the G4 Countries (Japan, Brazil, Germany and India) on United Nations (UN) Security Council Reform, the Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the Japan-Egypt-Jordan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. I also held bilateral foreign ministers’ meetings with China, Ukraine, and Iran. While it was a short stay of approximately 13 hours, I had a very productive visit holding intensive and strategic meetings covering Japan’s diplomatic priorities.

Looking back, it was exactly one year ago that I took the diplomatic stage for the first time during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, just five days after I assumed the office of Minister for Foreign Affairs. It is deeply moving to come full circle and return to the UN General Assembly. This past year was also a crucial period when Japan played an important role as the G7 Presidency and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. As Foreign Minister, I have conducted diplomatic activities with unwavering dedication, keeping in mind the aspirations I had when I first assumed this position.

To date, I have visited 44 countries and regions, and held around 150 meetings with world leaders. In particular, I have held meetings with Secretary of State Blinken of the U.S. 14 times, and with Foreign Minister Joly of Canada 10 times. For counterparts with whom I have met often, I saw our discussion deepen with each meeting. Based on such interpersonal relationships, I believe I was able to protect Japan’s national interests and enhance Japan’s presence in the international community, including by strengthening security cooperation with our ally and like-minded countries, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to the international community, such as the “rule of law” and a “world without nuclear weapons,” and contributing to global issues through “co-creation” with the Global South. I have also undertaken new initiatives aimed at linking the vitality of the Global South to the growth of the Japanese economy, along with embarking on new endeavors, including actively promoting Women, Peace and Security (WPS). In light of this, I would like to highlight three points regarding this visit.

First, I held a meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China. A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to discussing the recent incident that took the life of a child attending a Japanese school in Shenzhen, China. I strongly urged China to: first, investigate the facts as soon as possible, including the perpetrator’s motive, and provide a clear explanation to Japan, as well as strictly punish the perpetrator and prevent the recurrence of such incidents; second, take concrete measures to ensure the safety of Japanese residents in China, especially children; and third, ensure a swift crackdown on baseless and malicious anti-Japanese posts on social media, including those related to Japanese schools, which directly threaten the safety of children and are absolutely unacceptable.

Additionally, regarding the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea and import restrictions on aquatic products originating in Japan, I explained again Japan’s consistent efforts based on scientific evidence. I stated our intention to conduct additional monitoring as soon as possible, based on the recently announced shared recognition between Japan and China, and to demonstrate visible progress toward the lifting of the restrictions.

Furthermore, I reiterated Japan’s serious concerns over matters including the situation in the East China Sea, such as the installation of buoys, China’s recent military activities around Japan, and Japanese nationals detained in China, and once again urged China to swiftly provide a detailed and clear explanation on the intrusion into Japan’s territorial airspace by a Chinese military plane in August.

The second point is the further strengthening of our cooperation with like-minded countries. This morning, as soon as I arrived in New York, I met with my U.S. and ROK counterparts and we reaffirmed the close cooperation among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK, including in dealing with North Korea. At the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, we reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine as the G7, and concurred to continue to provide strong support for Ukraine in order to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine as soon as possible. On the situation in the Middle East, we agreed to respond in coordination as the G7 to stop the cycle of violence and prevent a broader regional conflict, as well as for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, an increase in humanitarian assistance, and reinvigorated efforts in the Middle East Peace Process.

The third point is stepping up our efforts in response to issues facing the international community. At the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the G4 Countries, building on the outcomes of the Summit of the Future, we candidly discussed concrete actions for UN Security Council Reform, and we were able to deepen our coordination. Regarding the situation in the Middle East, in addition to the G7 countries, I also candidly exchanged views with other relevant countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Iran. I engaged in diplomacy that firmly fulfilled our role as a country that has contributed to peacebuilding for many years.

Trust and continuity are key to diplomacy. Over the past three years, Prime Minister Kishida has worked to maintain and strengthen an international order based on the rule of law, where human dignity is protected, in order to lead the world to cooperation rather than division and confrontation, giving top priority to protecting the lives and property of Japanese nationals. As for myself, being responsible for diplomacy, I have given my all, believing that it is essential to steadfastly advance Prime Minister Kishida’s foreign policy in the face of the current severe international situation. I intend to continue to engage in diplomacy for Japan’s national interests with a sense of urgency and unwavering dedication, founded on the trust I have established with various countries to date and the initiatives we have undertaken. That is all from me.

Reporter: I would like to ask about the Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. You explained earlier that you made three major requests regarding the passing away of a male student of a Japanese school in Shenzhen. What was China’s response regarding the background of the incident, including the motive for the crime, and the measures it would be taking? Additionally, what did you discuss at today’s meeting about last week’s announcement of the resumption of imports of aquatic products originating in Japan? Did China indicate when it would resume imports? Please comment on each of these points.

Minister Kamikawa: On your first question, regarding the incident in which a child attending a Japanese school in Shenzhen, China was attacked and lost his life, I strongly urged Foreign Minister Wang Yi to ensure China takes measures on three points. The first is an investigation of the facts as soon as possible, including the perpetrator’s motive, and provision of a clear explanation to Japan, as well as strict punishment of the perpetrator and preventing the recurrence of such incidents. The second is concrete measures to ensure the safety of Japanese residents in China, especially children. The third is to crack down on malicious anti-Japanese posts on social media, including those related to Japanese schools. I strongly urged for these measures.

Minister Wang Yi responded that China’s position is as previously stated by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, namely that the incident was an accidental, isolated case that China also does not wish to see, and that it would be handled in accordance with the law. Based on my meeting with Minister Wang Yi, and the discussion between State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tsuge, who visited Beijing under my instruction, and the Chinese side, we intend to use various channels to realize concrete measures, with Japan and China working together to ensure the safety of Japanese residents in China, especially children.

Regarding your second question on ALPS treated water and China’s import restrictions on aquatic products, I explained again Japan’s consistent efforts based on scientific initiatives. I stated that such efforts will not change. I then stated our intention to conduct additional monitoring as soon as possible, based on the announcement made by Japan and China on September 20, and to demonstrate visible progress toward the lifting of the restrictions.

Japan’s position is to realize the immediate lifting of import restrictions, and this is what I requested. I will work to realize the lifting of the restrictions based on the recent announcement.

As for the timing, there is nothing specific to share at this point, but we intend to work persistently to ensure that such an announcement can be made as soon as possible.

Reporter: I would like to ask about the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the G4 Countries on UN Security Council Reform. At yesterday’s Summit of the Future, Prime Minister Kishida advocated that Security Council reform is necessary for restoring confidence in the UN. Please share with us the outcomes of today’s Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the G4 Countries. In addition, it has been noted that confidence in the UN has declined, and it has become dysfunctional. What do you consider as necessary for turning this momentum for reform into action?

Minister Kamikawa: I attended the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the G4 Countries. This foreign ministers’ meeting specializes in Security Council reform. It comprises four countries: Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan. With Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in Gaza, we recognize that strengthening the function of the UN, including Security Council reform, is becoming more important than ever. Therefore, following on from last year, the G4 countries gathered together and discussed the future course of Security Council reform.

I expressed my appreciation that the “Pact for the future,” the outcome document of the Summit of the Future, is the first ever concrete text on Security Council reform at the leaders’ level and thereby an important step towards future actions. Furthermore, I stressed that the G4 countries have a shared responsibility to advance Security Council reform. The G4 Foreign Ministers welcomed that Japan’s leader called for an urgent reform of the Security Council at the Summit of the Future. Next year is a milestone year marking the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the UN. Therefore, we also concurred that we will strengthen our efforts to achieve concrete progress as soon as possible. The Security Council is inherently a body where the interests of various countries are intricately intertwined. As for whether Security Council reform can be achieved easily, I have personally felt from the discussions so far that it would not be very easy. Nonetheless, there is a shared understanding regarding its necessity. We intend to persistently pursue the reform by involving the G4 countries, the U.S., Africa, and other such countries.

Reporter: There are about three days remaining until the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election. You have temporarily interrupted your election activities for a few days to attend the UN General Assembly. How confident are you feeling so far? How do you plan to campaign in the final stage of the race? Please share with us your enthusiasm.

Minister Kamikawa: I decided to temporarily interrupt my presidential election campaign and attend meetings related to the UN General Assembly because they are critical diplomatic fora that bring together various ministers and my counterpart foreign ministers, and also because I believe that, for the sake of Japanese diplomacy, we cannot create a vacuum on this occasion. It was a difficult decision. While it was for a very brief period, I am convinced that meeting in person with the relevant countries, including the G7 countries, to share views on the issues and matters that the international community and Japan are facing and have prioritized, as well as on regional and global issues, and, moreover, forming personal relationships through meetings in person, led to outcomes that exceeded expectations.

Conversely, as you mentioned in your question, I am absent for three days in my presidential election campaign. It was very heartening that Team Yoko, that is, my colleagues, including my recommenders, extended truly warm words, saying that they would protect my spot, and encouraged me to go to New York. I have exerted continuous efforts over these three days to deliver outcomes with unwavering determination. There are three days after I return. I intend to spend those three days campaigning effectively and persistently.