Chairman Kobayashi’s Comments on the G20 Summit in Rome

November 2, 2021

The G20 Leaders’ Summit was held in Rome, Italy on October 30 and 31. I applaud the common understanding reached by the leaders on a wide range of challenges. They addressed recovery of the global economy, strengthening of international health frameworks, including COVID-19 countermeasures, and sustainable and inclusive growth that factors in measures to combat climate change.

Regarding the pandemic, I would like to commend in particular the leaders reaffirming their commitments to ensure universal access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics through international cooperation and financial support for developing countries.

The promotion of mutually beneficial trade and investment is essential for the recovery of the international economy, so it was encouraging to hear that the leaders continue to share the spirit of free trade and desire for reforms. The 12th WTO Ministerial Conference will commence at the end of November with the aim of rebuilding the international economic order, and I hopeful that it will produce tangible results.

Unfortunately, the countries seem to have different agendas on climate change, including their timeframes for realizing carbon neutrality. With any luck, resolutions at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) will provide practical, agreed upon frameworks for the countries to decarbonize, bearing in mind the importance of energy security during the transition period.