The G7 Hiroshima Summit was convened from May 19 to 21. G7 leaders held candid and in-depth discussions on the various issues that the international community is facing. The leaders of eight invited countries and the heads of seven international organizations, as well as Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, also participated. Prime Minister Kishida reflected on the Summit, saying that it was a meeting of “historical significance.”
The G7 leaders participating in a family photo. From left: Charles Michel, President of the European Council, Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Emmanuel Macron, President of France, KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, Joe Biden, President of the United States, Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
In May 2023, the G7 Hiroshima Summit was convened for three days. The leaders of the G7, along with leaders of eight invited countries, namely Australia, Brazil, Comoros, the Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, and Vietnam, as well as the heads of seven international organizations, namely the United Nations, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO, attended online), and the World Trade Organization (WTO), attended the meetings. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy also participated. The “G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué” and five standalone statements were issued at the meetings.
Prime Minister Kishida made it clear that the overall theme of the Summit was to confirm the unity of the G7 and strengthen the roles of the G7 toward an international community characterized by cooperation, not division and confrontation, and to demonstrate active and concrete contributions toward this aim. For this purpose, the G7 leaders shared the importance of the two perspectives, namely, upholding the free and open international order based on the rule of law, and strengthening engagement with international partners beyond the G7.
Prime Minister Kishida and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, who visited Japan to attend some of the sessions of the Summit, laid wreaths at the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Hiroshima was the first city in the world to be hit by an atomic bomb, and the leaders of the G7 and the invited countries, the heads of the international organizations, as well as President Zelenskyy, visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and laid flowers at the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims in the Peace Memorial Park. The G7 leaders had detailed discussions on the realization of a “world without nuclear weapons” and issued the “G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament”—the first stand-alone G7 leaders’ document focusing on nuclear disarmament. The G7 will continue to strengthen its realistic and practical efforts towards realizing the vision.
As Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues, the G7 leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to providing the necessary support for Ukraine for as long as it takes and concurred on concrete efforts for strengthening sanctions against Russia, releasing the “G7 Leaders’ Statement on Ukraine.” They also had a candid discussion with President Zelenskyy.
The Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad) Leaders’ Meeting was held in Hiroshima as the third in-person meeting reaffirming steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The G7 leaders held earnest discussions on regional situations, focusing on the Indo-Pacific. They reiterated the importance of realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and confirmed that they will continue to work closely together to address various issues related to China and those related to North Korea, including the nuclear and missile development and the abduction issue.
Also, for the first time, the G7 leaders addressed economic resilience and economic security as a stand-alone agenda item of a G7 Summit. The G7 leaders confirmed their united response to and follow up on a range of issues that need to be tackled in the long term and in close coordination. They sent comprehensive and concrete messages by issuing the “G7 Leaders’ Statement on Economic Resilience and Economic Security.” They also issued the “G7 Clean Energy Economy Action Plan,” which covers the building of resilient supply chains of clean energy including critical minerals.
The leaders of the G7 and the invited countries and the heads of the international organizations had candid discussions on a broad range of global challenges including development, food, health, gender, the climate, energy and the environment. They shared the view that these issues need to be tackled in close cooperation with a wide range of international partners. The leaders of the G7 and the invited countries jointly issued the “Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security” and concurred on the need for cooperation.
Finally, the leaders of the G7, the invited countries and Ukraine had a candid discussion on the peace and stability of the world. They shared a recognition of the importance of the rule of law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
The three-day meeting ended with “historical significance,” showing the world that the G7, in close cooperation with international partners, will make continuous efforts for a peaceful and prosperous world. Japan will proceed to make full use of the fruitful discussions and the outcome of the Summit.
The G7 leaders, along with the leaders of eight invited countries and the heads of seven international organizations, discussed such issues as food, health, development, and gender.
