Press Releases
Foreign Minister IWAYA’s Meeting and Working Dinner with H.E. Mr. Philemon YANG, President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
January 31, 2025
On January 31, commencing at 6:30 p.m. for approximately thirty minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Philemon YANG, President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, who is visiting Japan upon the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, followed by a dinner with President YANG for approximately sixty minutes.
The overview is as follows:
- At the outset, Minister IWAYA welcomed President YANG’s visit to Japan and stressed the significance of accelerating efforts to achieve the SDGs based on the concept of human security. The Minister further emphasized the need for the United Nations to tap on its convening power to lead the increasingly divided and confrontational international community toward reconciliation and cooperation. In response, President YANG expressed his appreciation for Japan’s long-standing contribution to the United Nations and expressed his hope for an even stronger relationship between Japan and the United Nations.
- Minister IWAYA further stated that concrete progress towards the realization of United Nations Security Council reform should be made this year, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, given the fact that world leaders concurred on an urgent need for the UN Security Council reform in the Summit of the Future last year. They exchanged their views on the UN Security Council reform and the revitalization of the UN General Assembly.
- The two sides discussed efforts regarding nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation toward the realization of a world without nuclear weapons, as President YANG is planning to visit Hiroshima during his stay in Japan. They exchanged opinions on regional affairs including Ukraine and Gaza, Japan’s initiatives on Africa such as TICAD process and climate change. They concurred to continue working together on these issues.