Press Conferences

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Good evening. I apologize for it being so late. Members of the press, I truly appreciate your hard work.

My name is IWAYA Takeshi and I have been appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs today. I look forward to working with you. I served as State Minister for Foreign Affairs 18 years ago. Since then, I have engaged with diplomacy and security while serving as Minister of Defense and in other roles. Therefore, I am honored and grateful to be appointed Foreign Minister, while at the same time being keenly aware of the great responsibility this entails.

Today, I was instructed by Prime Minister Ishiba to build on Japan’s diplomacy to date and further develop and enhance these efforts.

It goes without saying that diplomacy requires consistency and continuity. I am certain that preserving peace for Japan and striving for stability in East Asia, amid the rapidly changing international situation and the severe security environment surrounding Japan, also benefits the rest of the world. While leveraging the outcomes that Japan’s diplomacy has built up to date, I intend to engage in diplomacy that can contribute to the international community’s peace and prosperity.

Most important of all, needless to say, is the Japan-U.S. Alliance. It will continue to be the cornerstone of Japan’s diplomacy and security. I intend to further deepen the Japan-U.S. Alliance, and strengthen its deterrence and response capabilities.

In addition, I intend to make thorough efforts to promote initiatives for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” and to work with the U.S., the Republic of Korea, Australia, India, ASEAN, and Europe, among others, to maintain and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law. I also intend to firmly strengthen dialogue with China.

Furthermore, now in particular, as the international community faces deepening division and confrontation, I intend not only to continue cooperation among the G7, of course, but also to lead efforts to strengthen or, I should say, rebuild the international order in close collaboration with the countries of the Global South.

The world is headed toward division and confrontation, and I believe it is the duty of Japan’s diplomacy to redirect the world toward reconciliation and cooperation. Therefore, through various diplomatic opportunities, I will personally build strong interpersonal relationships with my various counterparts and demonstrate the presence of Japan’s diplomacy.

I would like to speak in further detail at tomorrow’s press conference. Thank you.