Hiroshima summit to strengthen ties between G-7, global south: Japanese premier

By Riyaz ul Khaliq and Shuriah Niazi

ISTANBUL, Türkiye/NEW DELHI, India (AA) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Monday that the upcoming G-7 summit is a chance to bridge the gap between the world’s richest nations and the emerging economies.

Calling for an "international order based on rule of law," Kishida said the upcoming G-7 Hiroshima summit will help in "strengthening partnerships with international community, including the countries that are within what is called the global south."

Kishida was speaking to media alongside his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where he arrived early Monday on an official two-day visit.

In May, Japan will host this year’s G-7 summit in the nuclear-bombed Hiroshima city, where he has also invited non-G-7 nations, including India and South Korea.

A joint statement, released by New Delhi after the bilateral meeting, said Modi and Kishida exchanged views on defense and security, technology, and reliable supply chains of semi-conductors, as well as other critical technology.

“The India-Japan bilateral special strategic global partnership is based on rule of law, and it is important for both sides to strengthen it, and it will help boost peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Modi.

Japan holds the presidency of G-7, while India is the current chair of G-20 this year.

Earlier this year, the Japanese premier visited all G-7 nations to personally invite their leaders for the Hiroshima summit in May.

Kishida said Modi readily accepted his invitation for the summit.

Speaking at a side event, Kishida also said Japan will “provide more than $75 billion to developing countries in the region by 2030 through the public and private sectors so that they can improve their infrastructure.”

Japan and India are part of the US-led Quad, which includes Australia as well, a security alliance formed to counter China’s expanding economic and military influence in the wider Asia-Pacific region.

In January, India and Japan conducted their first-ever joint air drills.

The bilateral trade volume between India and Japan stands at $20.57 billion during the financial year 2021-22. Exports from Japan to India during this period were $14.39 billion and imports $6.18 billion.