Press Releases

1. Overview

　Based on the three pillars of action “People, Planet, and Prosperity” under the Italian Presidency, the G20 leaders held a two-day discussion on major issues such as global health including the response to COVID-19, climate change and development, with a view to achieving a better recovery and sustainable and inclusive growth of the global economy.

　At the end of the meeting,the G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration (PDF) was adopted.

　Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio contributed to the discussion with his remarks on these major issues by introducing Japan’s own efforts and pointing out the areas where the G20 should further strengthen cooperation.

2. Japan’s remarks of each agenda item

1) Session 1 (Global Economy and Global Health)

i) Global Health

a) Prime Minister Kishida expressed his support for the goal of vaccinating 70% of the population in all countries by mid-2022. The Prime Minister then introduced Japan’s pledge of 1 billion US dollars in total announced at the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Advance Market Commitment (AMC) Summit co-hosted by Japan in June this year. The Prime Minister also explained about Japan’s decisions to provide up to approximately 60 million doses of vaccine in total and cold chain equipment to 59 countries and regions, and its swift implementation of these assistances. The Prime Minister called on other G20 leaders to continue to work together to improve access to vaccines.

b) Prime Minister Kishida pointed out the importance of preparing for future health crises and stated the need to strengthen global health architecture including through international collaboration between finance and health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) reform and to work toward the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC). The Prime Minister also introduced that Japan will host the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit 2021 in December and expressed Japan’s will to contribute to addressing global malnutrition from comprehensive perspectives including health and food.

ii) Global Economy

a) Prime Minister Kishida introduced that his cabinet places a “virtuous cycle of growth and distribution” as one of the basic principles and that he aims to raise people’s income and bring a “new capitalism” into realization, where everyone can feel the benefits of economic growth.

b) Prime Minister Kishida welcomed the agreement on introducing a new international tax system to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the economy,and expressed that he will swiftly work toward steady implementation of this historic achievement. The Prime Minister also stated that he will lead the international discussions on rule making under the concept of Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) and will domestically advance digitalization from the countryside and closing the digital gaps between urban and rural areas, under the “Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation.”

c) In addition, Prime Minister Kishida stressed that it is necessary to implement “Quality Infrastructure Investment” in accordance with the “G20 principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment” for the recovery of the global economy. The Prime Minister also pointed out that, as debt burdens of developing countries are increasing, it is important to ensure such elements as fairness and transparency of development finance and acceleration of debt treatments.

d) Finally, on climate change, which is one of the critical challenges to global economy, Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan has significantly raised its ambition in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to achieve net-zero by 2050. The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of further efforts by developed countries to achieve the goal to mobilize USD 100 billion per year from public and private sources. The Prime Minister called for the G20 to work together toward successful outcomes at the 26th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) which would take place in the United Kingdom, subsequent to the G20 Rome Summit.

2) Session 2 (Climate Change and Environment)

（Note） Japan’s G20 Sherpa, SUZUKI Hiroshi (Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) participated in this session at the venue and made remarks as follows on behalf of Prime Minister Kishida.

i) Climate Change

a) He stated that last year Japan declared to achieve net-zero by 2050, and this year, Japan decided to significantly raise its emissions reduction target for fiscal year 2030 from 26% to 46%, compared to fiscal year 2013 levels, and continue its challenge to meet the lofty goal of 50%. He also explained that Japan decided to end new direct government support for unabated international thermal coal power generation by the end of this year. He then stated Japan will pursue various avenues to realize a decarbonized society, such as introducing as much renewable energy as possible, harnessing innovation, while ensuring stable supply of energy at reasonable prices to safeguard Japan’s energy security.

b) Regarding assistance to developing countries, he highlighted the importance of further efforts by developed countries to achieve the goal to mobilize USD 100 billion per year from public and private sources. He also stated that, in particular, Japan will strengthen its support for adaptation to countries that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, by assisting basic infrastructure development and capacity building for disaster prevention. Furthermore, he underscored that in order to facilitate global effort for decarbonization, Japan will continue to support developing countries by various measures including the Joint Crediting Mechanism, and will support their transition to clean energy and decarbonized infrastructure development in their cities and regions, taking into consideration different national circumstances.

c) He called for the G20, collectively emitting 75% of global greenhouse gases, to demonstrate its strong determination to tackle the climate crisis, and strenghthen the momentum to bring about meaningful achievements at the COP26.

ii) Environment

a) He stated that Japan will actively contribute toward adopting the next post-2020 global biodiversity framework, to help bring biodiversity on a recovery track.

b) He also highlighted that Japan will take the lead in promoting efforts to realize the “Osaka Blue Ocean Vision” to address marine plastic litter.

3) Session 3 (Sustainable Development)

(Note) Japan’s G20 Sherpa, SUZUKI Hiroshi (Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) participated in this session at the venue and made remarks as follows on behalf of Prime Minister Kishida.

a) He highlighted that the G20 should take the lead in “building back better,” based on the philosophy of “leaving no one behind.” He indicated that, as the global economy gets back on a recovery phase, we expect growing needs for financing in developing countries, and therefore, that the G20 should lead the international discussion on how best to conduct development finance . He emphasized that, in this context, all major creditor countries must adhere to the relevant international standards such as transparency, openness, fairness, debt sustainability and accountability, and continue to put them into concrete practice and actions.

b) With regard to infrastructure, he underscored that it is vitally important to promote implementation of the“G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment”, which was endorsed by all G20 leaders at the G20 Osaka Summit, and by doing so, we can respond to the developing countries’ needs and realize “building back better.”

c) He pointed out that, as debt burdens of developing countries are increasing, we should urgently enhance debt transparency and accelerate debt treatments, with a view to fostering their sustainable growth. From this point, he welcomed the concrete and practical actions taken in the context of the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). He also underscored that it is necessary for all creditor countries and private creditors to swiftly implement necessary treatments for indebted developing countries, -including Chad, Ethiopia and Zambia, in a transparent mannar in accordance with the “Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the DSSI.”

Reference: G20 Rome Summit

(1) Schedule

Saturday, October 30

• Session 1 (Working Lunch) [Global Economy and Global Health]

Sunday, October 31

• Session 2 [Climate Change and Environment]
• Session 3 (Working Lunch) [Sustainable Development]
• Closing Session

(2) Participating countries and international organizations

(i) G20 members

Italy (Presidency), Japan, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, European Union

(ii) Invited countries

Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Brunei (Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)), Rwanda (Chairperson of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)), Democratic Republic of the Congo (Chair of the African Union (AU))

(iii) International organizations

African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Financial Stability Board (FSB), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), United Nations, World Bank, WHO, World Trade Organization (WTO)