|

Dear friends, partners, colleagues,

Let me begin by thanking Germany for demonstrating excellent leadership of the Global Partnership (GP) in 2022, at a time when the global pandemic inhibited face-to-face communication for most of the year. We are pleased to be able to take over the GP presidency from Germany at a time when in-person meetings are possible again.

As a G7-led international platform against the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and related materials, last year marked the 20th Anniversary of the GP. However, after twenty years since the launch of the initiative, the world continues to face WMD threats.

Furthermore, Russia’s unjustifiable and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine underscored the need for the international community to join together to ensure nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, taking into account the seven indispensable pillars outlined by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

As President of the G7 in 2023, we intend to attach importance to the following activities:

1. Promoting the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 in the Indo Pacific region, in cooperation with UNODA and relevant regional countries. Having undergone rapid economic growth, this region already plays a significant role as a production and distribution hub in the global supply chain, and is at greater risk of being targeted by non-state entities who pursue the development of either WMD or conventional weapons.
2. Facilitating coordination against significant CBRN threats in Ukraine among GP members and other partners by taking stock of the current CBRN risk situation, sharing lessons and experiences of support for Ukraine as well as seeking possible joint actions.
3. Highlighting the important initiatives in the field of Biological Security, including the Signature Initiative To Mitigating Biological Threats in Africa as well as the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies & Emerging Diseases, which Prime Minister Kishida expressed his intention to continue supporting including through the dispatch of Japanese health experts during the 25th ASEAN-Japan Summit in November. Taking into account the outcome of the 9th BWC Review Conference, now is the time to support these initiatives in whatever way each member can

In addition, Japan will reenergize matchmaking activities under the GP in order to coordinate WMD threat reduction programs. We will encourage all GP members and the international community to utilize the GP website and the GP unveiled portal, which enables us to share sensitive information, find valuable resources and continue dialogues on various issues and challenges.

We look forward to working with and seeing all of you in person at the beginning of March in Tokyo, where pandemic related border measure controls have been greatly reduced since October 2022.

Best wishes,

ITO Shigeki

Ambassador, Deputy Director-General of the Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan