Address by Prime Minister Kishida at the Summit of the Future (Summary)
On September 22, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan who is visiting New York, U.S. for attending the United Nations General Assembly, delivered an address at the Summit of the Future. The overview of the speech is as follows:
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Prime Minister Kishida highlighted the following five points to ensure a future defined by peace, freedom, and prosperity, recalling that clear guiding principles are critical in times where nations with diverse values take actions to safeguard the interest of present and future generations.
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First is to uphold the “rule of law”. Prime Minister Kishida stated that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force cannot be tolerated anywhere in the world and that only the free and open international order based on the “rule of law” can deliver sustainable development and prosperity.
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Second is to defend “human dignity”. Prime Minister Kishida mentioned that “human dignity” is the foundation for all international cooperations to tackle complex crises.
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Third is to “invest in people”, guided by the concept of human security. Prime Minister Kishida stated that the empowering women, children and youth is a top priority, and that Japan has been a global leader in championing universal health coverage (UHC) and quality education. Furthermore, Prime Minister Kishida announced Japan ’s plan to launch a programme to nurture the next generation of leaders in the field of gender.
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Fourth is nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Prime Minister Kishida expressed his determination to promote realistic and practical efforts towards a “world without nuclear" amid the increasingly severe situation surrounding nuclear disarmament.
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Fifth is UN Security Council reform. Prime Minister Kishida emphasized that, with the majority of states supporting the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership categories and concrete actions should be taken towards the Security Council reform.
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Finally, Prime Minister Kishida called the international community for sharing responsibility and realizing genuine solidarity and for strengthening multilateralism towards a better future and expressed Japan's unwavering commitment to the UN.
