Japan Welcomes World Leaders to Its First-ever G20 Summit in Osaka

Thirty-seven governments and organizations gather in nation’s second city to tackle global issues

G20 Osaka Summit Family Photo (Photo: Business Wire)

OSAKA, Japan--()--On June 28 and 29, Japan hosted the G20 Summit, which was attended by all 20 member parties and 17 invited guests. Held in Osaka, Japan’s second largest city, this was the country’s first time for Japan to host a G20 Summit, having previously hosted the 2016 G7 Summit in Ise-Shima.

At this year’s Summit, leaders discussed important topics on the global agenda. One prominent issue was of marine plastic litter, a problem that is recognized as affecting the marine ecosystem on a global scale.

To demonstrate a commitment to this issue, the G20 Osaka Summit promoted the Ministry of Environment’s Plastics Smart Campaign along with the concept of “the 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and Renewable” with actions such as using no plastic bottles and straws and introducing renewable materials on site. Throughout the summit period, no single-use plastic products, including bottles, cups, straws, and dishes were available. Instead, attendees were provided with alternative, reusable products and services.

Other items on the Summit agenda included economy, trade and investment, innovation, employment, women’s empowerment, development, and health, all of which were a focus for productive discussions.

Outside the meeting rooms, attendees enjoyed Japanese culture and hospitality. On the first day, they were welcomed to the venue with a display of danjiri wooden float, and mikoshi portable shrines, all used in one of the local area’s famous festivals. The venue interior showcased the Osaka and Kansai region’s unique assets to visitors, including the latest information on Expo 2025. Leaders and their partners were also treated to cultural shows, examples of Japanese heritage, and washoku cuisine.

The country’s cutting edge innovations in fields including robotics, medical, and space also astonished visitors. The expansive Exhibition Space introduces Japanese technology and products related to each category representing the Summit agenda: “Society & Innovation,” “Health & Innovation,” “Marine Plastic Litter & Innovation,” “Energy & Innovation,” and “Economic Cooperation & Innovation.” The space also included exhibits on themes like “The Olympics and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020,” “Disaster Recovery,” “Japan’s Tourism Resources,” and “Traditions.” The total of some 50 displays incorporated a range of entertaining and informative content, from panels and models to videos, and hands-on activities.

The G20 Summit members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of South Africa, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union.

Other official images from the Summit are available for press use from the website below:
https://g20.org/en/media/hostphotographer/

Contacts

Yuki Koda
Dentsu Public Relations Inc.
y-koda@dentsu-pr.co.jp

Contacts

Yuki Koda
Dentsu Public Relations Inc.
y-koda@dentsu-pr.co.jp