Press Conferences

Kyodo News, ONDA: I would like to ask about Prime Minister TAKAICHI’s attendance at the G7 Summit. The G7 members reportedly have not coordinated to adopt a comprehensive leaders’ communiqué and are expected to forgo issuing one at their Summit, which the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend next week. It would mark the second straight year without a leaders’ communiqué. Amid strained relations between the U.S. and Europe over the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, I would like to ask what role you think Japan should play in maintaining G7 unity.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: At the G7 Evian Summit next week, the leaders are set to discuss key international challenges, such as the situations in the Middle East, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific, as well as energy security in light of the current situation in the Middle East, an issue that is having a significant impact particularly on Asian countries, along with other pressing issues, such as cooperation toward stabilizing markets and strengthening the resilience of supply chains for critical minerals and other resources.

As the only G7 member state participating from Asia, Japan will proactively convey its position and initiatives, including from an Indo-Pacific perspective. Through candid discussions among the leaders, we intend to demonstrate our commitment to working together in solidarity as the G7 in leading the response to the various challenges facing the international community.

Jiji Press, KINOSHITA: I would like to ask about CEAPAD. At the working-level meeting on June 10, it was decided that the 5th CEAPAD Ministerial Meeting would be held next month, in conjunction with the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings. It will be the first ministerial meeting since last year’s and the first since a ceasefire came into effect in the Palestinian territory of Gaza. In the Middle East, tensions surrounding Iran have persisted and are drawing global attention. Under these circumstances, could you please share with us your views on the importance of sustaining assistance to the Palestinians and Japan’s role in this regard, as well as your expectations for the discussions at CEAPAD?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: On July 22, the 5th CEAPAD Ministerial Meeting will be held, co-hosted by Japan, Palestine, and the Philippines, which currently holds ASEAN Chairmanship.

When I visited Israel and Palestine in January, I expressed Japan’s determination to continue playing a proactive role in assisting the Palestinians.

One of the concrete initiatives is expanding the circle of assistance through this Japan-led CEAPAD. I believe that the ministerial meeting in July will provide an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation with East Asian countries to promote Palestine’s economic self-reliance.

Japan believes that, even amid the protracted tensions surrounding Iran, the importance of assisting the Palestinians, including addressing the situation in Gaza, remains unchanged. With this in mind, Japan intends to pursue its own diplomatic efforts, alongside the efforts under the CEAPAD framework, to contribute to peace and stability across the Middle East, including the realization of a two-state solution.