Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As
 
(Abridged)
 
REPORTER: I have a question related to the G20. Some members of the media have reported that the Government decided that Osaka will be the host city for the G20 Summit Meeting in 2019. Could you tell us the facts behind these reports?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Based on comprehensive deliberations, Prime Minister Abe has decided to host the G20 Summit Meeting in Osaka in 2019. The exact dates for the Summit Meeting are currently being arranged.
 
REPORTER: Various local governments, including the town of Kutchan in Hokkaido, are engaged in promotional activities, seeking to host G20 Ministerial Meetings. What is the outlook for announcing the venues of these ministerial meetings?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We will continue our deliberations concerning ministerial meetings and announce a decision at an appropriate time.
 
REPORTER: You have just stated that Osaka was chosen as the host city for the G20 Summit Meeting after comprehensive deliberation. Could you give us a more detailed reason for the decision?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In the process of making a decision, Osaka was highly evaluated for its past track record, including hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meetings.
 
REPORTER: Does that mean the decision was made based on security considerations, and other factors such as the availability of accommodation and the scale of nearby airports?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Given that the G20 Summit Meeting is a major international meeting that welcomes the leaders of 20 countries and regions, a decision was made to select Osaka in view of its past track record in holding the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meetings, as well as other considerations such as the availability of hotel rooms and also security-related matters.
 
REPORTER: What about the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting? There are press reports suggesting that Fukuoka will host that meeting.
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It was also decided that Fukuoka will host the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting.
 
REPORTER: Osaka is also bidding to host the World EXPO 2025 and there is a possibility that major international events would concentrate on Osaka. How is the Government seeking to address such matters from the perspective of regional revitalization?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A nationwide effort is being made to ensure the success of Osaka’s bid to host the World EXPO 2025. For the G20 Summit Meeting in 2019, three cities indicated their desire to host the summit. As I have just noted, Osaka has past experience of hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meetings. Taking such factors as hotel availability, security and various other considerations that are necessary when hosting leaders from 20 countries and regions into comprehensive account, a decision was made that Osaka will be the host city.
 
REPORTER: Is there a possibility that for the other G20 Ministerial Meetings, locations will be chosen other than those where the local governments have indicated their wish to host?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In principle, the local governments that have engaged in promotional activities to host meetings will be prioritized. However, as there is a great deal of competition to host events, including various tourism-related matters, it may not be the case that all locations that are selected will be those that indicated their wish to serve as host. In any event, we will naturally give due consideration to all local governments that have indicated a desire to host a meeting.
 
REPORTER: You stated that Fukuoka has been chosen as the host city for the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting. Could you tell us the reasons behind the decision?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A decision was made on the basis of comprehensive deliberations.
 
REPORTER: In addition to Osaka, Fukuoka was also bidding to host the G20 Summit Meeting. Is that the reason why Fukuoka has been swiftly chosen as the host city of the finance ministers’ meeting?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting is a large meeting on the scale of the G20 Summit Meeting and accordingly there are only a limited number of cities that are capable of hosting it. It was with this in mind that a decision was made.
 
REPORTER: Press reports suggest that the meetings will be held in late June or early July. Can you confirm that the Government is working with such a schedule in mind?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At this point nothing has been decided with regard to timing. Arrangements are still being worked out.
 
REPORTER: When is it expected that an announcement will be made concerning the timing of the meetings?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Various preparations will need to be made and once everything has been decided an announcement will be made in due course. Various international conferences take place during the course of the year and we are therefore coordinating the schedule with that in mind.
 
(Abridged)
 
REPORTER: I would like to return to the matter of the G20. Some people inside the Liberal Democratic Party have suggested that the Government decided to host the Summit Meeting in Osaka so as to gain the cooperation of Mr. Ichiro Matsui, Governor of Osaka Prefecture, who is also the leader of the Japan Restoration Party, in the debate on constitutional reform. Did such considerations factor in the decision to make Osaka the host city?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That was not the case at all.
 
REPORTER: With regard to the G20, Aichi Prefecture has also announced that it is seeking to host a meeting, along with Osaka and Fukuoka. Now that a decision has been made concerning Osaka and Fukuoka, has anything been determined about holding a ministerial meeting in Aichi Prefecture?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Aichi has also submitted its candidacy as a city to host the G20 Summit Meeting. I am scheduled to meet with representatives from Aichi Prefecture today and would like to listen to their views on this matter.
 
REPORTER: I would like to confirm. Is the question of when to host the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Fukuoka still under consideration?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We have not decided the schedule for the G20 Summit Meeting. Once we have confirmed when we will host the G20 Summit Meeting in Osaka, the date of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Fukuoka will also be decided in due course.
 
(Abridged)