Press Releases
Foreign Minister MOTEGI’s Attendance at the APEC Ministerial Meeting 2026
November 4, 2026
On November 3, from 9:00 p.m., Japan time, (8:00 p.m., local time) for approximately 4 hours, the APEC Ministerial Meeting was held in a virtual format, hosted by China, and Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, participated in the meeting.
- In the first session themed “Work Towards an Asia-Pacific Community,” Minister MOTEGI made the following remarks:
- In today’s world, where uncertainty in the global economy is ever-increasing, it is crucial to strengthen a free, fair and rules-based international economic order. Japan supports the FTAAP agenda toward free and fair regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific.
- As part of its concrete efforts for rulemaking, Japan has led a project to advance the Data Free Flow with Trust initiative in digital trade and another project aimed at improving the business environment and exploring trade rules for the development of “safe, secure, and trustworthy AI.”
- To ensure that economic activities in the APEC region that is closely interconnected through supply chains are not negatively affected, APEC, as a forum responsible for realizing a free and fair regional economy, needs to work together to address challenges.
- In terms of energy security, early de-escalation of the situation in the Middle East is vitally important to the international community. Japan is making every effort to stabilize supply chains between the Middle East and Asia through such initiatives as POWERR Asia.
- Mr. AKAZAWA Ryosei, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, made remarks in the second session themed “Advance Economic Integration for New Growth in the Region.”
- Many of the participating ministers underscored the need to aim for further economic development by utilizing growth engines such as AI and digital technologies while addressing the rising uncertainty in the global economy. They reaffirmed the importance of further cooperation and partnership toward economic development and prosperity across the Asia-Pacific region.