The G7 Summit = Summit of the seven major countries will begin in Germany on the 26th.
Leaders are expected to discuss increasing pressure on Russia to continue its military invasion of Ukraine, future support for Ukraine, and to respond to the growing global food crisis. ..
The G7 Summit will begin on the 26th in Elmau, Bavaria, southern Germany, with the attendance of Prime Minister Kishida.
The venue is a hotel called "El Mau Castle" located at the foot of the Alps, which is the same as the G7 Summit seven years ago. The posture was laid.
At this summit, as Russia's military invasion continues for more than four months, it is expected to discuss increasing pressure on Russia and future support for Ukraine.
President Zelensky will also participate in the conference online, and is expected to call for further provision of weapons and strengthening of support.
Meanwhile, leaders of each country are expected to exchange views on how to respond to the food crisis, which raises global concerns due to the stagnation of grain exports from Ukraine.
In addition, China, which is strengthening its marine expansion in the Indo-Pacific region, is expected to be on the agenda.
The G7 Summit will be held until the 28th of this month, and from the 29th, the NATO-North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit will be held in Madrid, Spain.
For Western countries and Japan, the focus will be on how much they can show a consistent attitude toward Russia and China, which are further strengthening their opposition through a series of conferences.
Prime Minister Kishida to Germany from 26th to attend the G7 Summit
Prime Minister Kishida will leave Haneda Airport on a government plane before dawn on the 26th to attend the G7 summit to be held in Elmau, southern Germany from the 26th.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Kishida shared with each country the recognition that Russia's military invasion of Ukraine has shaken the foundations of the international order, and explained Japan's response to the past, as well as Ukraine and I would like to express support for Middle East and African countries affected by the food crisis.
In addition, I would like to actively lead discussions on regional conditions including China and North Korea, climate change measures, energy issues, etc., and connect the results of the conference to next year's G7 Summit to be held in Hiroshima.
After the G7 summit, Prime Minister Kishida will head to Madrid, Spain, and will be the first Japanese Prime Minister to attend the NATO summit.
At the meeting, with Russia's military invasion and China's advance into the ocean in mind, they agreed that no one-sided change in the status quo by force should be allowed in any region of the world, and would like to confirm further cooperation between Japan and NATO. is.
Prime Minister Kishida's diplomacy over the situation in Ukraine
In responding to the situation in Ukraine, Prime Minister Kishida attaches great importance to cooperation with the G7.
Since the invasion began, I have participated in five G7-related meetings, including attending a summit meeting in Belgium in March.
In cooperation with each country, we are implementing strict sanctions such as "freezing of assets" for government officials such as President Putin and Russian banks, and withdrawal of "most favored nation" that guarantees incentives for trade. increase.
Last month, we held a summit meeting with US President Joe Biden who visited Japan (May) and a quad summit meeting with Australia and India joining Japan and the United States, allowing unilateral changes in the status quo by force in any region. We shared the recognition that we should not.
We are also holding meetings with the leaders of Asian countries.
In March, I visited India and Cambodia, and Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand during the Golden Week holidays.
Prime Minister Kishida is the only G7 member in Asia, as there are many countries in the Indo-Pacific region that keep a distance from the G7 in consideration of Russia and China due to historical background and economic ties. I want to expand my sense of values.
On the other hand, after the invasion with President Zelensky of Ukraine, we have held three telephone talks.
He explained that he would provide emergency humanitarian assistance and loans, as well as provide bulletproof vests and helmets owned by the Self-Defense Forces.
The G7 summit so far
The G7 Summit = G7 Summit is held annually with the participation of the leaders of the seven countries of France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada and the EU = European Union.
Germany's presidency will be held in the southern resort of Elmau.
For a while, it was held as a G8 summit with the participation of Russia, but Russia was excluded after Russia unilaterally merged Crimea in southern Ukraine in 2014, and it is being held again as a G7 summit.
The G7 Summit has played a leading role in maintaining the postwar international order while uniting in seven countries.
In 1979, the declaration of the summit held in Tokyo announced an agreement with concrete figures on the upper limit of oil consumption and imports in order to respond to the oil crisis.
In 1992, when it was held in Munich, Germany, following the end of the Cold War structure, a declaration was issued calling for cooperation toward "formation of a new partnership", and it was held face-to-face due to the influence of the new Corona. Was shelved, but last year it was held in the United Kingdom and announced a China-aware leaders' declaration, emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
This G7 summit is in the midst of continued invasion of Ukraine and rising prices worldwide.
The focus will be on how the G7 can show unity and send an effective message to the world.
Japan will serve as the presidency for next year and 2023, and the summit will be held in Hiroshima, the hometown of Prime Minister Kishida.
Focus: Diplomacy and Security
The world's diplomatic and security environment, which has changed significantly due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is also on the agenda this time.
The biggest challenge is dealing with China.
Last year, the G7 Summit Leaders' Declaration in the United Kingdom raised serious concerns over China, which is stepping up its expansion into the East China Sea and South China Sea.
He also mentioned for the first time the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
With this China in mind, Prime Minister Kishida has repeatedly argued that the situation in Ukraine is a matter of order for the entire international community, including the Indo-Pacific, and that "we must not allow force to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific."
As China and Russia show their opposition to Europe and the United States, they shared the view that security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable, and that unilateral changes in the status quo by force are not allowed in any region. It is expected that the G7 will confirm the policy of further strengthening cooperation.
In addition, as North Korea repeatedly launches ballistic missiles and other missiles more frequently than ever before, and the alertness to nuclear tests is increasing, discussions on North Korea's response are expected to take place.
Japan would like to agree on a policy of working closely with each country on the verifiable and irreversible destruction of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.
Focus: Ukraine situation
At this G7 Summit, in addition to themes such as "World Economy" and "Climate Change Countermeasures", a meeting will be held on the situation in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelensky and UN Secretary-General António Guterres will also attend the meeting online.
The G7 has clarified its position in favor of Ukraine, while strongly condemning Russia and President Putin in four summit statements since the start of the military invasion.
Russia is being sanctioned, including its ally Belarus, such as asset freezes by government officials, restrictions on imports and exports, and a gradual ban on the import of Russian coal and oil.
On the other hand, Ukraine is also promoting financial support and restoration of infrastructure destroyed by the invasion.
The Japanese government has also gradually tightened sanctions, such as the asset freeze of President Putin and the ban on new investment in Russia.
Four months after the invasion began, the conference will be held to increase pressure on Russia, support Ukraine, and cooperate in pursuing suspected war crimes committed by Russia. It is expected that opinions will be exchanged on the ideal way.
Japan is also making adjustments with the intention of expressing further support measures for Ukraine.
In addition, at this summit, a meeting will be held on the world economy, energy, and food security, and a wide range of discussions will be held on how to deal with global issues against the backdrop of Russia's invasion.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Kishida is expected to announce the policy of holding a summit in Hiroshima as the G7 chairman next year, explaining the significance of holding it in Hiroshima, a bombed area where concerns about the use of nuclear weapons are spreading due to the invasion of Russia. It seems to be done.
Focus: World Economy and Inflation
At this G7 summit, the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the world economy will also be discussed.
At the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' meeting last month, Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused a significant rise in energy and food prices, pointing out that inflation has reached record levels in each country.
▽ In the United States, the consumer price index last month rose 8.6% from the same month of the previous year, the highest level in 40 years and 5 months.
In 19 eurozone countries, such as Germany and France, last month's consumer price index rose 8.1% compared to the same month of the previous year, the highest growth rate since 1997, which is comparable. ..
▽ In the UK, the consumer price index rose 9.1% last month, 0.1 points higher than April, which was the highest rate in 40 years.
▽ In Japan, the consumer price index rose 2.1% last month.
It is the second consecutive month that the government and the Bank of Japan have exceeded the target of 2%.
In April, the IMF = International Monetary Fund lowered its global economic growth outlook by 0.8 points against the backdrop of soaring energy and grain prices.
Rising prices are a major burden on the global economy as it recovers from the impact of the new coronavirus.
On the other hand, central banks in the United States and Europe are moving to tighten monetary policy one after another in order to curb inflation, but financial markets in each country are volatile due to growing caution about the global economic slowdown. I'm continuing.
Japan will closely monitor market trends in collaboration with G7 countries, saying that the recent depreciation of the yen in the foreign exchange market in addition to soaring prices may affect corporate activities and the economy as a whole. I want to clarify my attitude again.
At the G7 Summit, the challenge is what kind of message can be put out in order to curb the effects of rising prices due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and to bring the world economy toward a stable recovery.
Focus: Energy (decarbonization)
At this G7 Summit, one of the focal points will be efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so-called decarbonization.
At the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers' Meeting in Berlin, Germany late last month, decarbonization of the electricity sector was a major theme, and a statement from the Ministerial Meeting stated that "most of the electricity sector will be decarbonized by 2035. We will do our utmost to achieve the goal of doing so. "
The discussion then was on the handling of coal-fired power generation, which emits a large amount of carbon dioxide.
Five G7 countries, including Germany, the presidency, have announced policies to abolish coal-fired power generation by 2030.
On the other hand, Japan is expected to cover 19% of its power generation with coal-fired power generation in 2030, and the difference in position is remarkable.
However, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there are voices from Germany and other countries that it is necessary to utilize cheap coal in order to reduce the dependence on Russian natural gas.
Japan is in a position to achieve both de-Russia and decarbonization by utilizing technologies that reduce carbon dioxide emissions, such as mixing coal with ammonia, which does not emit carbon dioxide when burning.
The statement of the Council of Ministers included the statement, "We will rapidly expand the necessary technologies and policies toward the goal of ultimately eliminating coal-fired power generation without emission reduction measures." ..
With the condition that "no emission reduction measures have been taken", some of Japan's claims were incorporated.
However, in response to Japan's claim, there is a strict indication that "the life of coal-fired power generation is extended," and at this summit, the handling of coal-fired power generation is drawing attention along with the implementation of goals and initiatives for decarbonization. Will be done.
Focus: Energy (de-Russia)
Regarding energy issues, in addition to decarbonization, how to reduce the dependence on Russian energy, the so-called "de-Russia", is expected to be a major agenda item.
Following the military invasion, G7 countries have already announced
▽ bans and gradual reductions in coal imports, and
▽ gradual or immediate bans
on oil imports.
At the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers' Meeting last month, they agreed that reducing the dependence of natural gas on Russia was an urgent task.
LNG = liquefied natural gas holds the key to this.
European countries are supplied with gas by pipeline from Russia, but at the meeting, while reducing dependence on Russia, "increasing supply of LNG plays an important role" in order to maintain supply. it was done.
However, I couldn't touch on how to increase the supply.
If European countries switch gas procurement to LNG, competition for procurement in each country will become fierce, and prices may rise further.
For that reason, it is expected that LNG production will increase in the United States, but from the perspective of American companies, it is uncertain whether European countries will continue to buy LNG as they proceed with "decarbonization", and they are aiming to increase production. Some are skeptical about the investment.
Japan has compiled a statement confirming the importance of American LNG when Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hagita visited the United States last month and met with the Commissioner of the Granholm Energy Agency. We would like to create an environment where people can move easily to increase production.
At the G7 Summit, the focus will be on how far we can come up with concrete measures such as increasing LNG production toward "de-Russia" in terms of energy.
Focus: The invasion of Ukraine will also affect food security
At the G7 Summit, the impact of Russia's military invasion on global food security and food assistance to the Middle East and African countries as well as Ukraine will be important themes.
Ukraine is an agricultural country with a thriving grain production, with
▽ corn exports ranked 4th in the world and
▽ wheat ranked 5th in the world.
However, due to the military invasion by Russia, Ukraine
▽ the port facing the Black Sea was blocked by the Russian army and exports became impossible, and
▽ agricultural production stagnated, which would
have a great impact on the world's food security. Is concerned.
In addition, Russia has restricted wheat and barley exports in order to prioritize its domestic supply.
A report released by the United Nations World Food Program in April points out that if Russia's military invasion continues, 47 million new people around the world could starve.
At a meeting of G7 agriculture ministers last month, he expressed strong concern that "a serious impact on global food security is expected" and "the need for global humanitarian assistance has further increased. I have. "
At this summit, Prime Minister Kishida will announce food assistance to the seriously affected Middle East and African countries.
The Russian side argues that the rise in food prices is due to the stagnation of food exports due to Western sanctions, but G7 countries reject the Russian side's claim and each country is also affected. I would like to come up with specific support measures.