INTERVIEW | Japan's Top Priorities As G7 Leaders Gather in Apulia

Leaders of the Group of Seven advanced economies are about to meet under the Italian presidency at Borgo Egnazia, in Italy's Apulia region. Japan is the lone Asian member of the G7 group. 

Seeking insight into how Japan's priorities might differ from those of other leaders, JAPAN Forward caught up with Noriyuki Shikata, Cabinet Secretary for Public Affairs for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration, to gain insight into Japan's priorities and the key themes Prime Minister Kishida plans to pursue at Apulia G7 Summit. The big takeaways were Japan's commitment to inclusivity and unsurprisingly firm opposition to armed aggression anywhere.

Other leaders of the G7 represent European countries (France, Germany, United Kingdom), North America (United States, Canada), and the European Union. Guests invited to the meeting include India and representatives from Africa and South America, but in sharp contrast to the 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit, no others from the Asia-Pacific region. 

Excerpts follow. 

Key Messages From Japan 

What is your key message regarding global security and efforts to destabilize it?

In terms of the security landscape, we are deeply concerned about the deepening of North Korean and Russian military cooperation. We strongly oppose the continued arms transfer from North Korea to Russia for use in attacking Ukraine. 

PM Kishida has been saying that today's Ukraine could be tomorrow's East Asia, as the European security landscape is inseparable from that of the Indo-Pacific. We have already collaborated with foreign ministers of G7 countries [on this issue]. The deepening North Korean-Russia military cooperation tells us that we need to work together, between Japan, the United States, the European countries, among G7 countries. 

What has Japan done to contribute to the international debate on reconstruction and aid in the wake of the war in Ukraine?

PM Kishida has also been very proactive in supporting Ukraine, especially its reconstruction. He hosted the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction in February in Tokyo. 

Many Japanese companies participated, offering to support Ukraine in wide-ranging areas. They included rebuilding transportation infrastructure, introducing Smart Agriculture, and restoring Ukraine's energy sector damaged by attacks from Russia. The Japanese government, in close cooperation with businesses, has been stepping up support. 

What is Japan's position on Russia's consistent threat to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine?

We have been deeply annoyed by Russia's threat to use nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Kishida has said that Nagasaki should be the last place where nuclear weapons were ever used. 

In 2023, following the initiative of PM Kishhida, the leaders agreed on the Hiroshima Vision on nuclear disarmament. It was the first-ever G7 standalone document of its kind. We know that the situation surrounding nuclear disarmament is challenging. However, that doesn't mean that we should give up hope. We need to continue to work on the ideal of realizing a world without nuclear weapons. 

On the theme of international security, are you expecting a discussion on China's position in the East and South China Sea?

As we stated in the national security strategy in late 2022, our view is that Japan's security environment is the most severe and complex since the end of World War II. We are deeply concerned regarding the unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. We think security across the Indo-Pacific region should be maintained. This is very important. We are also looking forward to discussing these issues with other G7 leaders. 

In the context of trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea, there was a summit in August 2023 at Camp David. Trilateral cooperation among Japan, the US, and the Philippines is also deepening. 

Priorities for 'Rule of Law' and Inclusiveness

What about other priorities on the G7 agenda? 

Prime Minister Kishida emphasized two pillars at the G7 Hiroshima Summit. Number one was to uphold the free and open international order based on the rule of law. The second pillar was outreach to international partners, including the so-called Global South. These two major pillars remain consistent priorities in his attendance at the G7 Apulia Summit this year. 

In addition, many of the same issues remain. Last year we discussed sanctions against Russia, stepping up support for Ukraine, the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), economic security, and how to promote cooperation among G7 members. 

The Italian presidency is inviting other countries beyond G7, corresponding to the inclusion of the so-called Global South. We attach importance to sharing understanding with the Global South on such issues as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of confrontations through dialogue. In upholding the free and open international order based on the rule of law, we also oppose any unilateral efforts to change the status quo by force.

Prime Minister Kishida visited India twice in 2023: in March for a bilateral meeting with India and in September to attend the G20 Summit in Delhi. Before the G7 Hiroshima Summit Mr Kishida visited African countries, and just a month ago he flew to several South American countries. 

As Japan is an Asian country, Prime Minister Kishida looks forward to explaining to other G7 leaders his views regarding the situation in the Indo-Pacific. 

How is Japan Fostering Economic Development in Asia?

Japan's meetings with other Asian countries addressed specific security concerns and promoted sustainable development. In the Philippines, we addressed connectivity in the Luzon Economic Corridor. 

Japan has also worked on broader connectivity initiatives, especially among ASEAN countries. Those include transportation projects, good quality infrastructure, and supporting the maritime enforcement capacity of many Southeast Asian countries. The connectivity between Northeast India and Bangladesh is also one such project. 

Japan hopes to realize the new plan for FOIP. We think that sustainable development projects like these in the Indo-Pacific are conducive to peace and prosperity across the region. 

On the Issues of Climate Change

What discussion can we expect on climate and Asia, and what topics will Japan bring to this year's G7?

Prime Minister Kishida has been implementing a green transformation (GX) promotion strategy. Since February 2024, the Japanese government has issued new "climate transition bonds." These are providing an advance of ¥20 trillion JPY (about $130 billion USD) toward a public and private sector investment of ¥150 trillion ($954 billion) over ten years in the research, development, and implementation of technological innovations aimed at accelerating the introduction of renewable energy or other alternative energy sources, such as hydrogen. 

We are looking into all energy solutions toward achieving net zero by 2050. Our aim is to meet three goals: energy security, environmental and climate change goals, and economic viability. 

Looking at Asian countries, PM Kishida has been taking the initiative under the concept of an "Asia zero-emission community." This is the so-called AZEC, with ASEAN countries and Australia coming on board. [Therefore] Japan is trying to support the creation of a roadmap for the eventual carbon neutrality of various countries. 

ASEAN countries are expected to grow further and we need to make sure that economic development is realized sustainably. For example, there is the introduction of subways or metro systems in various megacities across Asia. Those include India and Bangladesh. We're talking about subways such as the Delhi Metro and Dhaka Metro. 

We think that these good-quality projects could be conducive to addressing both air pollution in megacities and climate change targets.

On the Key Theme of Artificial Intelligence

Japan took the initiative with the Hiroshima AI process announced at the G7 Summit in 2023. Can we expect further debate on this issue going forward?

Prime Minister Kishida initiated the Hiroshima AI process at last year's G7 Summit. We realize that there are opportunities and challenges with generative AI. We have been working on creating international guiding principles applicable to all actors to build responsible AI tools and best practices. 

This theme has been tackled at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ministerial meeting in May in Paris. PM Kishida attended, but he has also been working on expanding this cooperation beyond non-OECD members. The Hiroshima AI process now consists of 49 countries and regions. They are working on implementing the international guiding principles and a code of conduct. 

Among the 49 countries and regions, there are Asian nations such as Laos. It simply reiterates the importance of also engaging the Global South countries in these efforts. 

The Summit's Key Theme of Migration

Another expected key theme at this year's summit is migration and African development. What contribution does Japan plan to bring to this discussion?  

Japan has been co-hosting the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) [since 1993]. The last meeting was held in Tunisia in August 2022. 

Also, we have been developing new partnerships with African countries in areas such as green investment, promotion of startups, public health, regional stabilization, and food security. Investing especially in human resource development is very important, as is training professionals in Africa. 

More Japanese companies are interested in investing in the [African] continent. Japan's theme for promoting cooperation is "as a new partner growing together with Africa." If more African countries achieve sustainable development, the root cause of migration from Africa to Europe may be addressed. 

Japan is also eager to promote the so-called trilateral cooperation in lessons African countries might learn from the development of Southeast Asian countries, for example. This, too, is an area where Japan can make an important contribution. 

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Author: Arielle Busetto