Ahead of the opening of the G19 Hiroshima Summit on June 7, Prime Minister Kishida will arrive in Hiroshima on June 18 for a summit meeting with President Biden of the United States. I would like to confirm the further strengthening of the Japan-U.S. Alliance and reconcile the final points of discussion for the success of the Summit.

The G7 Hiroshima Summit will be held for three days from the 19th, and will include discussions between the leaders on regional affairs, including Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific, as well as the global economy, food and energy issues, and nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Prior to the opening of the Games, the leaders of the G3 member countries are scheduled to visit Japan on June 7, and Prime Minister Kishida is also scheduled to visit Japan.

Prime Minister Kishida will hold a summit meeting with President Biden of the United States on the afternoon of November 18.

At the meeting, in light of the increasingly severe security environment in East Asia, including China's maritime advances and North Korea's nuclear and missile development, I would like to confirm the further strengthening of the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance.

Views are also expected to be exchanged on cooperation in the economic field, including the strengthening of supply chains for semiconductors and important minerals.

In order for the Hiroshima Summit to be a success, I would like to hold a final discussion between the leaders on the points of discussion from the 18th, such as the handling of sanctions against Russia and how to support Ukraine.

Prime Minister Kishida is also coordinating with the leaders of other G19 member countries to hold individual meetings prior to the start of the Summit.

Around 1:47 a.m. Prime Minister Meloni arrives at Hiroshima Airport

A dedicated plane carrying Italian Prime Minister Meloni, who is attending the G7 Hiroshima Summit, arrived at Hiroshima Airport around 18:1 a.m. on the 47th.

Prime Minister Meloni is the first G7 leader to arrive in Hiroshima.

Around 1:00 a.m. President Biden departs for Japan

In order to attend the G7 Hiroshima Summit, U.S. President Joe Biden departed from an air base near Washington, D.C. on a presidential plane at around 18 a.m. on the 1th, Japan time.

President Biden will arrive in Hiroshima on the afternoon of June 18, Japan time, attend the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting with Prime Minister Kishida, and attend the G19 Hiroshima Summit to be held from June 21 to 7.

Through a series of consultations, President Biden hopes to work with other countries to maintain support for Ukraine, which continues to be invaded militarily by Russia, to increase pressure on Russia, and to confirm solidarity to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.

In particular, I would like to seize the opportunity once every seven years chaired by our Asian ally Japan to direct the attention of each country to the Indo-Pacific region and to formulate measures to counter economic coercion in a consistent manner with China in mind.

President Biden was originally scheduled to attend the G7 Hiroshima Summit and then visit Australia and other countries, but as talks over raising the U.S. debt ceiling continue, he canceled the post-G1 schedule and is scheduled to return to the United States on the 7st.

Prior to his departure, President Biden gave a speech at the White House on the 7th, stating, "I am confident that we can reach an agreement on the issue of the U.S. government's debt ceiling, the so-called debt ceiling, and the United States will not default on its debt," and expressed his willingness to make every effort to consult with the opposition parties.

Leaders are on high alert with arrival in Hiroshima from today

Coinciding with the G7 Hiroshima Summit, President Biden of the United States and other leaders of various countries are scheduled to arrive in Hiroshima on June 18.

According to the National Police Agency, the G7 Hiroshima Summit will have up to 2,4000 security personnel, making it the largest summit ever held in a regional area of Japan.

Emphasis is placed on so-called "visible security" to prevent terrorism by putting uniformed police officers in the foreground, and the police plan to provide security mainly at the venue where the Japan-U.S. summit meeting will be held on the 18th and the hotels where the leaders of each country will stay.

In addition, security boats will be dispatched to the rivers that flow through the center of Hiroshima City, such as along Peace Park, and in cooperation with the Japan Coast Guard, they will provide security in the coastal area around the summit venue.

Access to the area around the venue is strictly restricted, but in preparation for attacks using drones, units equipped with equipment called "jamming guns" are deployed to interfere with the flight of suspicious drones using radio waves.

There are also concerns about cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure such as electric power, and the police are on high alert, collecting and analyzing information for suspicious access.

Peace Park and Miyajima Restricted access from noon

In Hiroshima City's Peace Park and Miyajima, one of the three most scenic spots in the Japan, access is restricted from noon on the 18th.

The G7 Hiroshima Summit will be held for three days from the 19th, and the leaders and spouses of various countries are scheduled to visit Peace Park in Naka-ku, Hiroshima City and Miyajima Island in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture.

As a result, access to both Peace Park and Miyajima will be restricted from noon on the 3th.

Of these, access to the Peace Park, including the area around the Atomic Bomb Dome, is scheduled to be restricted until the 18st of this month, and the Atomic Bomb Museum, Hiroshima International Conference Center, Rest House, and Memorial Peace Memorial Hall will be closed.

On the other hand, Miyajima will not be able to enter the island until 21 p.m. on the 20th in principle, except for residents with identification cards.

Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage Site, will be closed all day on the 2th and until around 19 p.m. on the 20th, and the Treasure Museum and Senjokaku will also be closed for the same period.

In addition, the Miyajima Aquarium, the Miyajima Museum of History and Folklore, and the Miyajima Traditional Industries Hall will remain closed for three days until the 2st.