Highlighting JAPAN

The G7 Ise-Shima Summit

The G7 Summit took place on May 26–27 in Ise-Shima, Mie Prefecture. This was the first time Japan had hosted the G7 Summit since the Hokkaido-Toyako Summit in 2008. Chaired by Prime Minister Abe, the leaders held discussions on the themes of “G7 Values and Solidarity, Global Economy,” “Trade,” “Politics and Diplomacy,” “Climate Change, Energy,” “Stability and Prosperity in Asia” and “Development, Africa.”

Based on their discussions, the G7 leaders announced the G7 Ise-Shima Leaders’ Declaration, which includes the G7 Ise-Shima Economic Initiative.

President Obama Visits Hiroshima

On May 27, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, visited Hiroshima, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to visit the city. President Obama was welcomed in the city by Prime Minister Abe and together they visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. After laying wreaths at the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims, President Obama, followed by Prime Minister Abe, delivered a statement. Powerful messages on realizing “a world free of nuclear weapons” were delivered by the two leaders, respectively the leader of the only country to have used nuclear weapons and the leader of the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings.