Analytical Studies
Summits > 2024 Apulia Summit | Road to the 2024 G7 Apulia Summit

G7 Leaders’ Video Conference

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
December 13, 2024

On December 13, commencing at 11:40 p.m. (JST), for approximately 70 minutes, the G7 Leaders’ Video Conference was held under the chairmanship of Italy, this year’s G7 Presidency. Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the meeting. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. Introduction

Prime Minister Ishiba paid tribute to the leadership of H.E. Ms. Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, who has led the G7 as the Chair, and emphasized that the most important role of the G7 is to uphold and strengthen the international order based on the rule of law. He also pointed out that the security of Europe including Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific is getting closely connected each other, and stated that Japan would like to coordinate and cooperate in unity with the G7.

2. Ukraine

Prime Minister Ishiba made the following remarks.

The G7 needs to remain united and to continue working closely to promote support for Ukraine, which faces the continuing severe situation.
Japan expresses serious concern on the advancement of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including the deployment of North Korea’s troops to Russia. There will be a direct impact on the security in the Indo-Pacific.
Japan is considering additional sanctions against entities in third-countries that have been involved in circumventing sanctions against Russia. Japan also continues to focus on providing winterization assistance in the energy sector and support for recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine.
It is important to continue to support Ukraine, and a just and lasting peace in Ukraine must be achieved. Japan would also like to work together with the G7 in this regard.

3. The Middle East

Prime Minister Ishiba made the following remarks.

Regarding the situation in Syria, we must avoid further destabilization, and the international community needs to support a peaceful and stable transition process in Syria.
Related to the situation in Gaza, Japan is concerned about its humanitarian situation, and also supports momentum towards ceasefire and hostage release.
On Iran, it is important to call for restraint while also promoting dialogue with Iran.

4. The Indo-Pacific

Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized the need to further strengthen cooperation among like-minded countries on the situation in the Indo-Pacific including China. He also asked anew for continued understanding and cooperation of the leaders of the G7 for the immediate resolution of the abductions issue by North Korea, and gained their support.

5. Conclusion

Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized that Japan will make its utmost contribution under the Canadian presidency next year, while a number of challenges including climate change and energy, AI, and disaster risk reduction still remain.

At the end of the meeting, Italian President Meloni handed over the G7 presidency to the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and the G7 leaders reconfirmed their intention to continue working closely to address various issues that the international community faces.

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Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

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	Please send comments to: g7@utoronto.ca This page was last updated December 13, 2024.