Meeting to Promote Cooperation with Global South Countries

[Provisional translation]

On October 17, 2023, Prime Minister Kishida participated in the 1st meeting to promote cooperation with Global South countries at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, the participants engaged in discussions on strengthening cooperation with the “Global South”.
 
Following the discussion, the Prime Minister said:
 
“The international community is now at a turning point in history, and we have seen developments arise that differ from the trend toward globalization. In this context, I announced Japan’s New Plan for a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)’ on my visit to India this March, aiming at a world filled with cooperation. And in the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May, I sought to strengthen Japan’s relations with the so-called Global South.
 
I believe that going forward, enhancing the collaboration with emerging and developing countries collectively called the Global South and becoming partners with these countries, in addition to coordinating with like-minded countries, will not only serve Japan’s national interests, including its economic security aspects, but also lead the international community from division and confrontation to cooperation.
 
In working with the Global South, Japan will build a stable international order and formulate programs that should serve as flagship projects through public-private partnership, thereby creating a mechanism that will benefit both Japan and Global South countries.
 
Specifically, Japan will effectively and strategically utilize Official Development Assistance (ODA), one of its important diplomatic tools, and deepen economic and business activities, including by accelerating the local expansion of Japanese companies.
 
To this end, Japan will promote the creation of a framework to support and cooperate with vulnerable countries through the enhancement of industrial cooperation measures with Global South countries and effective and strategic utilization of ODA, among others, toward fleshing out Japan’s New Plan for a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)’ in relation to these countries, so that Japan will strive to thrive together with them.
 
Based on this approach, I ask the relevant ministries and agencies to work together on the issue, incorporate measures that require swift implementation into an economic package, deepen discussions in this meeting moving forward, and compile a policy toward the collaboration with Global South countries by next spring.”