Several men and one woman sitting at a table. They are discussing and pondering.

Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru (center) participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting.

 

On November 15 and 16, 2024, Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, the capital of the Republic of Peru, and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to sustainable growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, he engaged in a trilateral summit with the presidents of the U.S. and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and held bilateral meetings with various countries, including China and Peru.

　In November 2024, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting was held in the Republic of Peru, with Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru in attendance. At a session on achieving strong, balanced, secure, sustainable, and inclusive growth and addressing the needs of the region’s most vulnerable populations, in accordance with the APEC Putrajaya Vision, Prime Minister Ishiba mentioned the following three points to continue contributing to the realization of sustainable growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
 
　Firstly, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized the importance of maintaining and strengthening a rules-based, free, open, fair, and transparent trade and investment environment. He conveyed his message to advance further WTO reform including dispute settlement system reform to maintain and strengthen the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core.
 
　Secondly, he pointed out that in terms of promoting quality infrastructure investment, the development of highly resilient and robust socioeconomic systems is required amid the impacts of climate change and the increasing risks of natural disasters.
 
　Thirdly, from the viewpoint of promoting women’s economic empowerment and capacity building, Prime Minister Ishiba indicated the significance of participation of women in decision-making processes in all public and private organizations to dramatically improve the quality of such processes.
 
　At the end of the session, Prime Minister Ishiba announced that Japan is willing to host APEC in 2031, making use of its past experiences as the APEC chair.
 
　At a session on advancing APEC’s inclusive economic agenda and its relevance amid current global challenges, Prime Minister Ishiba stated the following three points, to which Japan attaches importance, to realize inclusive growth in the Asia-Pacific region: firstly, promoting the use of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI); secondly, energy transition towards achieving decarbonization; and thirdly, promoting the reduction of food loss and waste in the Asia-Pacific region. At the end of the meeting, the APEC Leaders’ Declaration was released. (Full text: 2024 APEC Leaders’ Machu Picchu Declaration)
 

Two men shaking hands and two flags of Japan and the United States in the background.

Prime Minister Ishiba also held a summit meeting with President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the United States of America.
　During his stay in Peru, the Prime Minister also held a summit meeting with President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., of the United States of America. The two leaders concurred to continue further developing the unwavering Japan-U.S. alliance and strengthen strategic cooperation globally in a wide range of fields.
 
　Prime Minister Ishiba also held a Japan-U.S.- ROK Summit Meeting. The three leaders confirmed that, given the increasingly severe security environment surrounding their countries, strategic collaboration among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK has become more important than ever in effectively responding to the complex international challenges, and that trilateral cooperation has been expanding globally across a wide range of fields. On this basis, the three leaders concurred to establish the Trilateral Coordinating Secretariat and to continue working closely together including through this Secretariat in various fields such as policies toward North Korea. Prime Minister Ishiba also expressed his appreciation for continued support from President Biden and President Yoon Suk Yeol of the ROK on the abductions issue. After the meeting, the Japan-U.S.-ROK Joint Leaders’ Statement was released. (Full text: Joint Statement of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States)
 
A diverse group of individuals seated at a table, with three flags displayed prominently in the background.

The three leaders at the Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit Meeting.

 
　Prime Minister Ishiba also held a summit meeting with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China. The two leaders confirmed that Japan and China continue to share a broad direction of comprehensively promoting a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests” and building “constructive and stable Japan-China relations.”
 
　Following this, Prime Minister Ishiba also had a meeting with President Dina Boluarte of the Republic of Peru, at which they welcomed the adoption of the Joint Statement and the Roadmap covering five fields and confirmed that they will further deepen relations between the two countries in the future.
 
　At a press conference, Prime Minister Ishiba looked back on his visit to Peru and stated the following about APEC. “Japan emphasized the importance of such cooperation (among the APEC member economies), under the recognition that we must maintain and strengthen a rules-based, free, open, fair, and transparent trade and investment environment in order to foster sustainable and inclusive growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.”
 

Two men shaking hands and the Japanese and Chinese flags in the background.

Prime Minister Ishiba at a summit meeting with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China.
A man and woman in formal attire wave to an enthusiastic crowd, showcasing a moment of celebration.

Prime Minister Ishiba made an official visit to Peru and held a meeting with President Dina Boluarte of the Republic of Peru.