Press Conference by Prime Minister Kishida on His Upcoming Visit to the United States

(On Prime Minister Kishida's upcoming visit to the United States)

First of all, yesterday I delayed my departure to the United Nations General Assembly, but given the weather information thus far regarding Typhoon No. 14 and the damage situation, including confirmation made by helicopter, I took the decision to visit New York from today and attend the UN General Assembly.

The theme of this year's UN General Assembly is "a historic watershed moment." The foundation of the entire international order is now being shaken because of Russian aggression against Ukraine. I will deliver an address to the General Assembly, sending out a clear message of Japan's views, including regarding strengthening the functions of the United Nations.

I will also take this opportunity to attend the meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the first Friends of the CTBT meeting to be held at the summit level. I will attend multilateral meetings, including this Friends meeting that Japan will co-host, and as for bilateral meetings, I have meetings scheduled with Prime Minister Truss of the UK, who took office just recently, as well as with the leaders of Turkey, the Philippines, Iran, and Pakistan, among others. We will engage in thoroughgoing discussions on various topics of international concern and confirm our cooperation.

In addition, I will deliver a speech at the New York Stock Exchange. In that speech I will clearly lay out upcoming measures we will be taking and future directions for the Japanese economy, including the New Form of Capitalism Japan has been advocating.

As for responses to Typhoon No. 14, even while I am overseas, the Government will continue to respond working as a unified force, acting in close cooperation with local authorities under the leadership of Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno, who is Prime Minister ad interim, and Minister of State for Disaster Management Tani. We will dispatch relevant ministers and others, as well as personnel from relevant ministries and agencies, to the affected areas in accordance with the damage situation and take all possible measures as we mount our response. We will also assess the needs of the affected areas in a pinpointed manner to foster the areas' recovery and we will move quickly in our responses to facilitate that recovery.

As for a summit meeting with the Republic of Korea, nothing has been decided regarding the schedule as of now.