February 28

Opening

President Sasae offered welcoming remarks in which he described current international circumstances in keeping with the "Strategic Annual Report 2023", including the "three fronts" of Ukraine, the US-China, and the Middle East, and then stressed the significance of worldwide discussion among experts.

Prime Minister KISHIDA took the podium next and in his remarks stressed the value of Japanese efforts to lead the world toward cooperation rather than division and confrontation, highlighting the international contributions that Japan has made as a peace-loving nation. He accordingly noted his plans to pay an official state visit to the US in April as part of his efforts to work with allies and like-minded states, and to pursue further cooperation with the Global South through the 10th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM 10) to be held in Tokyo in July.

▶ The full address by H.E. Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, is available here

Finally, Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA gave a keynote speech on the theme of this year’s Tokyo Global Dialogue, "A World in Turmoil: How Can We Rebuild International Security and Cooperation?". She expressed her view that bringing stability to an international community in the midst of turmoil requires maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law, managing inter-state conflicts and preserving peace, and safeguarding human dignity by focusing on people, especially vulnerable populations. She then noted that she would be convening an open ministerial meeting on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation as president of the UN Security Council in March, launching the Advisory Panel on New Financing for Development and convening its first meeting on March 1, and stepping up efforts pertaining to Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

▶ The full speech by H.E. Mrs. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, is available here

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