The 2020 GZERO Summit started online on Wednesday, with cochairs including U.S. political scientist Ian Bremmer and Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) Chairman Hiroaki Nakanishi. Participants discussed how to respond to the spread of the novel coronavirus and the accompanying changes to international affairs.
"Amid the unprecedented challenge posed by COVID-19, we must realize a united world, not a divided world, to overcome this crisis," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said in a video message. Referring to the distribution of vaccines to developing countries, he said, "Japan will value multilateralism and take the lead in global efforts driven by international solidarity and cooperation."
During a panel discussion, Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister in charge of economic revitalization, explained the measures taken in Japan against the coronavirus, such as wearing masks and avoiding the Three Cs -- closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings. He said, "Making focused efforts, such as conducting PCR tests and requesting businesses to suspend operations in high-risk areas, was successful in reducing the number of infections."
In a separate panel discussion on geopolitics, Bremmer expressed concern that China would use the vaccines for diplomatic leverage, saying: "The United States must vaccinate at least 250 to 300 million people before they start exporting. China doesn't have to because China has already shown that they can effectively quarantine."
Taro Kono, minister in charge of administrative and civil service reform who served as foreign and defense minister in the Cabinet led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said, "I think that global society should make China pay a high cost whenever they try to break the rules," adding that strong cooperation among Japan, the United States, Australia and India was necessary.
The summit, hosted by Eurasia Group and supported by The Yomiuri Shimbun and other entities, will last until Friday.
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