Japanese Media: "US Informs Japan and Others of Plan to Hold G7 Summit on 31st Next Month"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] On the 2nd, the Yomiuri Shimbun, citing sources familiar with US-Japan relations, reported that the US government has communicated to the Japanese government its plan to hold the Group of Seven (G7) summit in the United States from August 31 to September 1 next month.

According to the report, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is coordinating to attend the G7 summit. The Mainichi Shimbun also reported that the US government has inquired with participating countries about holding the G7 summit in late next month, and the Japanese government has conveyed that Prime Minister Abe intends to attend if the event is confirmed.

However, the Yomiuri noted that it remains uncertain whether the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the US will be contained, making it uncertain whether the leaders of each country will accept the schedule and whether the summit will actually take place.

In this context, attention is focused on whether the G7 expansion and South Korea's participation plan, which US President Donald Trump publicly mentioned earlier, will be realized. The Japanese government has stated that "maintaining the framework of the G7 is important," effectively opposing the idea of expanding the G7.

Earlier, Japanese media reported that a senior Japanese government official conveyed opposition to South Korea's participation to the US. Regarding this, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, "Maintaining the framework of the G7 is important," but did not comment on whether opposition to South Korea's participation was conveyed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.