Hiroshima Mayor expresses eagerness to host G7 summit and communicate spirit of A-bombed Hiroshima to world leaders
Nov. 23, 2021
by Tsuyoshi Kubota, Staff Writer
At a news conference held on January 22, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui expressed his eagerness to host the summit meeting of the G7 (G7 summit, attended by the Group of Seven industrialized nations), to be held in Japan in 2023. “If held in Hiroshima, a symbol of peace, the G7 summit would be of great significance,” said Mr. Matsui. Indicating that the city government was involved in preparations with the Hiroshima Prefectural government and the business community, he said, “With public and private sectors joining forces, Hiroshima will make a concerted effort to call for the summit to be convened here. We want to ensure that the summit can be held in Hiroshima.”
Mr. Matsui stressed that Hiroshima City is increasingly recognized throughout the world as a city of peace, boosted by then U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima in 2016 and Pope Francis’ visit to the city in 2019, among other events. “We hope to widely communicate the spirit of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima to the world,” Mr. Matsui said. He added, “From that perspective, we are coordinating our efforts with the Hiroshima Prefectural government.”
Member nations take turns hosting the G7 summit. In May 2016, the G7 Ise-Shima Summit was held in Mie Prefecture in Japan. Although Hiroshima was rejected as a host city for the summit at that time, the G7 Hiroshima Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Hiroshima in April 2016 in advance of the Ise-Shima Summit.
Mr. Matsui said, “We have experience in hosting the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting and therefore have confidence in hosting the G7 summit. We will make every preparation possible, because we need to meet more stringent standards as a venue at which world leaders will gather together.”
The Fukuoka City and Nagoya City governments have already expressed their intent to call for the G7 summit to be held in their respective cities. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is accepting applications through mid-December from local governments that hope to host the summit. Some believe the inauguration in October this year of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a member of the lower house of the Diet representing Hiroshima's District No. 1, will provide a tail wind for Hiroshima’s bid to host the summit. Mr. Matsui said, “I also want to consider making a direct request to Mr. Kishida.”
(Originally published on November 23, 2021)
At a news conference held on January 22, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui expressed his eagerness to host the summit meeting of the G7 (G7 summit, attended by the Group of Seven industrialized nations), to be held in Japan in 2023. “If held in Hiroshima, a symbol of peace, the G7 summit would be of great significance,” said Mr. Matsui. Indicating that the city government was involved in preparations with the Hiroshima Prefectural government and the business community, he said, “With public and private sectors joining forces, Hiroshima will make a concerted effort to call for the summit to be convened here. We want to ensure that the summit can be held in Hiroshima.”
Mr. Matsui stressed that Hiroshima City is increasingly recognized throughout the world as a city of peace, boosted by then U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima in 2016 and Pope Francis’ visit to the city in 2019, among other events. “We hope to widely communicate the spirit of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima to the world,” Mr. Matsui said. He added, “From that perspective, we are coordinating our efforts with the Hiroshima Prefectural government.”
Member nations take turns hosting the G7 summit. In May 2016, the G7 Ise-Shima Summit was held in Mie Prefecture in Japan. Although Hiroshima was rejected as a host city for the summit at that time, the G7 Hiroshima Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Hiroshima in April 2016 in advance of the Ise-Shima Summit.
Mr. Matsui said, “We have experience in hosting the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting and therefore have confidence in hosting the G7 summit. We will make every preparation possible, because we need to meet more stringent standards as a venue at which world leaders will gather together.”
The Fukuoka City and Nagoya City governments have already expressed their intent to call for the G7 summit to be held in their respective cities. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is accepting applications through mid-December from local governments that hope to host the summit. Some believe the inauguration in October this year of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a member of the lower house of the Diet representing Hiroshima's District No. 1, will provide a tail wind for Hiroshima’s bid to host the summit. Mr. Matsui said, “I also want to consider making a direct request to Mr. Kishida.”
(Originally published on November 23, 2021)
