What is the G7 Summit?
About the G7 Summit
The G7 Summit is an international forum held annually for the leaders of the G7 member states of France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada (in order of rotating presidency), and the European Union (EU).
Features of the G7 Summit
At the G7 Summit, the leaders of the G7, which shares fundamental values such as freedom, democracy and human rights, exchange candid views on important challenges the international community is facing at that time, such as the global economy, regional affairs and various global issues, and issue a document as an outcome of such discussions. With the leadership of the leaders of the G7, which shares fundamental values, the G7 has effectively responded to important challenges that the international community faces.
The Beginning of the G7 Summit
In the 1970s, developed countries that faced various challenges such as the Nixon shock (1971) and the first oil crisis (1973) began recognizing the need to create a forum to comprehensively discuss policy coordination of macro economy, currency, trade, and energy, among others, at a leader’s level. Against this backdrop, proposed by then-French President Giscard d’Estaing, the first Summit was held in November 1975 at the Chateau de Rambouillet (located in the outskirts of Paris), with participation from six countries—France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Italy. Since then, Summits have been held annually with revolving Presidency.
The Significance of Holding the G7 Summit in Hiroshima
In 2023, as the G7 Presidency, Japan will host the G7 Hiroshima Summit. It has significant implications that the leaders of the G7 gather for discussions in Hiroshima, a city which has recovered from the catastrophic damage by an atomic bomb and which continues to seek lasting world peace.
Prime Minister Kishida states that as the world is facing an unprecedented crisis by aggression against Ukraine and the growing risk of use of weapons of mass destruction, at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in 2023, Japan would like to demonstrate G7's strong determination to categorically deny military aggressions, any threats of nuclear weapons, as well as attempts to overthrow the international order with historical significance. From such viewpoints, the Government of Japan decided to host the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, considering Hiroshima as the most fitting location to express its commitment to peace.
At the occasion of the G7 Hiroshima Summit, the leaders of the G7 will get acquainted with the realities of the nuclear weapon use and share their desire for peace. Japan hopes that it will solidify steps toward achieving a world without nuclear weapons. Furthermore, by showing the world the strength of Hiroshima’s recovery from the atomic bombing, Japan can once again emphasize preciousness of peace.