Chairman Yasunaga’s Comments on the Inauguration of the New Ishiba Cabinet

October 1, 2024

I hope that the new Ishiba cabinet inaugurated today will be able to steadily increase trust in the administration by setting out policies that preserve some continuity for key issues within Japan and internationally, and providing detailed, transparent explanations of such policies to the Japanese public.

Japan is a nation whose livelihood depends on free and open trade and investment systems. Amid the current wave of political administration changes all over the world, therefore, I urge the Ishiba cabinet to promptly forge close relationships with new leaders in other countries. Further reinforcing ties with countries in the Global South should form part of this effort.

I look forward to rapid action from Japan’s new administration on pressing issues of key importance. These include green transformation and digital transformation to further grow the Japanese economy and the drafting of an energy policy to guide the use of diverse energy sources in achieving national security and carbon neutrality. At the same time, I hope the administration will take urgent action on social issues, such as tackling Japan’s declining birthrate and facilitating the entry and participation in the workforce of human resources from overseas.

Through the second half of this year, several important diplomatic events are scheduled, including the G20 Summit, the APEC Leaders’ Meeting, the ASEAN-Japan Summit, and COP29. I hope the government will take these opportunities to give a strong demonstration of Japan’s international influence and to reinforce ties with Japan’s allies.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Shosha industry will draw on its knowledge and experience and join forces with the government in working to address issues at the global level.