On the agenda

Under Japan’s presidency, the G20 Osaka Summit will provide an opportunity to cover more than economic risk over a series of meetings scheduled throughout the year, writes Taro Kono, foreign minister, Japan

Japan will host the G20 Osaka Summit on 28 and 29 June this year. The G20 summit is a forum for addressing the major economic challenges that the international community faces today. The G20 today must tackle pressing issues that go beyond preventing future economic and financial crisis. The G20 Osaka Summit will focus on fostering robust economic growth through the promotion of free trade and innovation.

Furthermore, the Japanese presidency seeks to pave the way towards the creation of a virtuous cycle of economic growth and distribution, by addressing disparities and realising a society where all actors, including women, youth, the elderly and the disabled, can actively engage in society.

The G20 has traditionally discussed a wide range of global issues that have an immense impact on the world economy. These include topics of global significance such as development, environment and energy, labour and employment, sustainable development, health, and women’s empowerment. Through these discussions and the efforts they foster, the G20 is striving to achieve an inclusive and sustainable world that ‘leaves no one behind’.

For this year’s summit, the Japanese G20 presidency has introduced innovation as the overarching theme. Emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, robotics, and Big Data are bringing about transformative impacts on our economies and societies. They have immense potential to drive global economic growth as well as play a key role in resolving a wide range of economic and social challenges, including various inequalities, while
also contributing to global efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to the summit, eight related ministerial meetings will be hosted in different locations throughout Japan, including the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, which will take place in Nagoya on 22 and 23 November at the conclusion of our presidency.

The foreign ministers’ meeting will serve as an opportunity to sum up Japan’s contributions to the G20 process through the G7 Biarritz Summit and the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VII) in August, and a series of high-level meetings during the United Nations High Level Week. Furthermore, these meetings also provide opportunities to promote engagement with countries, including non-G20 members, in various international forums that will take place after the G20 Osaka Summit.

Many delegations and journalists from all over the world will be visiting Japan this year for the G20 Osaka Summit and related ministerial meetings. We would like to take this opportunity to showcase the spirit of Japanese hospitality as well as our unique culture and traditions to the world.