Welcome to Osaka: Japan’s vision for the G20 and Society 5.0
Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister, Japan
Following the successful completion of the G20 Buenos Aires Summit on 1 December 2018, Japan has assumed the G20 presidency for the very first time. Japan will host the G20 Osaka Summit on 28–29 June 2019. In addition to the G20 members, we will also welcome leaders of invited guest countries and heads of invited international organisations. This will be the largest summit meeting that Japan has ever hosted.
Osaka will be the venue for hosting the G20, the premier forum for international economic cooperation, which gathers and brings together many developed countries and emerging countries with growing presence in the international economy. Osaka has historically prospered as a commercial hub and its unique tradition and culture, including food culture, has recently gained much reputation at home and abroad. Moreover, Osaka has thrived as a merchant city and has constantly sought to take in new ideas. It is a place where the spirit and willingness to take on new challenges have been nurtured, and has also been chosen to host the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025.
At the Osaka Summit, Japan is determined to lead global economic growth by promoting free trade and innovation, achieving both economic growth and reduction of disparities, and contributing to the development agenda and other global issues with the Sustainable Development Goals at its core. Through these efforts, Japan seeks to realise and promote a free and open, inclusive and sustainable, human-centred future society.
In addition, we will lead discussions on the supply of global commons for realising global growth such as quality infrastructure and global health. As the presidency, we will exert strong leadership in discussions aimed towards resolving global issues such as climate change and ocean plastic waste.
Furthermore, we will discuss how to address the digital economy from an institutional perspective and issues
that arise from an ageing society. We will introduce Japan’s efforts, including the productivity revolution amid a ‘Society 5.0’ era, towards achieving a society where all individuals are actively engaged.
We have also been hosting related ministerial meetings starting with the finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Fukuoka, agriculture ministers’ meeting in Niigata, ministerial meeting on trade and digital economy in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, ministerial meeting on energy transitions and global environment for sustainable growth in Karuizawa, Nagano, labour and employment ministers’ meeting in Matsuyama, Ehime, health ministers’ meeting in Okayama, tourism ministers’ meeting in Kutchan, Hokkaido, and foreign ministers’ meeting in Nagoya, Aichi.
There will be many delegations and journalists from all over the world who will be visiting Japan on the occasion of the Osaka Summit and these ministerial meetings. We will take this as an opportunity to exhibit Japan’s Omotenashi spirit (hospitality) and introduce the unique aspects and attractiveness of Japan and the host cities to the world.
With great support from you all, I am determined to lead the Osaka Summit towards great success.
