ウィスパリング同時通訳研究会コミュの第75回国連総会における菅総理大臣一般討論演説

議長、皆さま、

　創設75周年の国連で、9月16日の総理就任後、初めての演説ができることを光栄に思います。

　新型コロナウイルス感染症による未曾有の危機は、ともすれば分断と隔絶に傾きがちな国際社会を、連携へと引き戻しました。過去75年間、多国間主義は、課題に直面する度、強くなり、進化してきました。今回の危機も協力を深める契機としたく、皆様に連帯を呼びかけたいと思います。

議長、

　日本は、ウイルスとの闘いにおいて、官民の知恵を集め、国内外の人々の健康と安全のために、最善を尽くしてまいりました。感染拡大防止と両立させながら、社会経済活動の回復を進めています。その経験を踏まえて申し上げます。

　この感染症の拡大は、世界の人々の命・生活・尊厳、すなわち人間の安全保障に対する危機であります。これを乗り越えるには、「誰一人取り残さない」との考え方を指導理念として臨むことが、極めて重要です。一人一人に着目する「人間の安全保障」の概念は、ここ国連総会の場で長年議論されてきた考え方であります。

議長、

　今回の危機に際し、人間の安全保障の理念に立脚し、ユニバーサル・ヘルス・カバレッジの達成に向け、「誰の健康も取り残さない」という目標を掲げることが重要と考えます。まずは、こうした目標を皆さんと共有したいと思います。その上で、日本として以下に述べる三つの分野を中心に、各国とも協調しながら、国際的な取組を積極的に主導していきます。

　第一に、新型コロナウイルス感染症から命を守るために、治療薬・ワクチン・診断の開発と、途上国を含めた公平なアクセスの確保を、全面的に支援していきます。国際的枠組みが成果を挙げるよう、国際機関を後押ししています。「特許権プール」枠組みも提案しています。とりわけ保健分野では、官民の連携が不可欠であり、日本としてもしっかり進めていきます。

　第二に、次なる健康危機に備え、これまで以上に途上国での病院建設に力を入れるとともに、機材の整備、人材育成などを通じ、各国の保健医療システム強化を支援していきます。ASEANでは感染症対策センターの設立、アフリカでは疾病予防管理センターを支援していきます。アフリカにおいては、TICADを通じて、長年行ってきた保健分野の人材育成や施設整備などの取組が、真価を発揮しました。日本が設立を支援し、検査技師の育成に協力してきたガーナの野口英世記念・医学研究所は、ガーナのPCR検査の最大約8割を担う、コロナ対策の拠点となっています。

　第三に、より幅広い分野で健康安全保障のための施策を講じていきます。これからも、水・衛生や栄養などの環境整備を含め、協力の手を止めません。日本は、今回の危機に際し、1,700億円を超える医療・保健分野での対外支援を実施しています。

　こうした施策と並んで、打撃を受けた経済への対策が不可欠です。日本は、途上国の経済活動を支えるため、2年間で最大5,000億円の緊急支援円借款を実施しています。経済を再活性化する基盤である、「安全な人の移動」を実現するためにも、ワクチン・治療薬の普及にしっかりと取り組みます。制約が生じる中でも、「自由貿易を止めない」との考えから、WTO改革や各国との経済連携協定を、引き続き推進します。困難に直面した時こそ、イノベーションが生まれます。日本自身も、喫緊の課題としてデジタル化に取り組んでいく考えです。

　いま、新たな時代の人間の安全保障の考え方に立って、様々な危機を乗り越え、SDGs達成をはじめとした地球規模の課題への取組を加速する。そのために、私は、世界の英知を集め、議論を深めていくことを提案いたします。

議長、

　今後、コロナからの「よりよい復興」を遂げ、SDGsが達成された、しなやかで強靱な、環境と成長の好循環のある社会を実現していく必要があります。未来を担う子ども・若者の教育や女性に大きな影響が出ています。すべての人を包摂する、よりよい社会を作るために、三点、私の考える重要事項をお話します。

　一点目は、国連と多国間主義の重要性です。国連は、危機への対応にすべての関係者が建設的に関与し、透明性をもって連携する場であるべきと考えます。これまでの国連の活動と尽力に敬意を表しつつ、国連には、中立・公正なガバナンスが一層求められていることを申し上げます。感染症対応に鍵となるWHOは、検証・改革によって、必要な知見を一層、適時適切に活用できます。この信念のもと、日本は検証・改革に協力してまいります。また、創設75周年の今、21世紀の現実を反映した形での安保理改革を含め、国連改革は、待ったなしの課題です。

　第二に、今回の危機のために、国際の平和と安全が損なわれてはならないと確信します。PKOや平和構築における国連の取組は、引き続き不可欠です。日本は積極的平和主義の下、これまでの経験を活かし、制度・能力の構築分野で取り組むなど、平和構築委員会の場を含め、平和の持続に貢献していきます。アフリカやアジアの諸国と協力してきた、PKO要員の能力向上も続けていきます。

　第三に、不確実性が増す状況において、法の支配への挑戦を許してはなりません。SDGsにも我々自身が明記した法の支配は、国内・国際を問わない秩序の基盤であり、国連のよって立つ精神そのものです。来年3月には、オンライン形式も活用し、国連・犯罪防止・刑事司法会議を京都で開き、法の支配推進を後押しします。日本は、世界的な法の支配に基づく地域の平和と繁栄の礎である、「自由で開かれたインド太平洋」を推進していきます。

議長、

　北朝鮮による拉致問題は、国際社会の重大な関心事項です。私自身も、この問題に長年取り組んできました。今年、拉致被害者の御両親お二人が、お亡くなりになりました。必死に救出活動に取り組まれながら、最愛の子どもとの再会を果たすことなく旅立たれた御家族の思いを想像するだけで、胸を締め付けられる思いです。拉致被害者御家族が御高齢となる中、拉致問題の解決には一刻の猶予もありません。日本として、日朝ピョンヤン宣言に基づき、拉致、核、ミサイルといった諸懸案を包括的に解決し、不幸な過去を清算して、国交正常化を目指す考えに変わりはありません。日本の新しい総理大臣として、私自身、条件をつけずにキム・ジョンウン委員長と会う用意があります。日朝間の実りある関係を樹立していくことは、日朝双方の利益に合致するとともに、地域の平和と安定にも大きく寄与するでしょう。あらゆるチャンスを逃すことなく、全力で行動していきます。

　本年は、最初の核兵器の使用から75年が経過した年であります。ヒロシマ、ナガサキが繰り返されてはならない。この決意を胸に、日本は非核三原則を堅持しつつ、核兵器のない世界の実現に向けて力を尽くします。国際的な核軍縮・不拡散体制の礎石であり、今年発効から50年を迎えた核兵器不拡散条約の維持・強化の重要性を、改めて強調します。「人命を救う軍縮」とされる通常兵器の軍備管理・軍縮にも、国際社会が一丸となって、取り組んでいかねばなりません。

議長、

　来年の夏、人類が疫病に打ち勝った証として、東京オリンピック・パラリンピック競技大会を開催する決意です。安心安全な大会に皆様をお迎えするために、今後も全力で取り組んでまいります。

　御清聴、ありがとうございました。
[Provisional Translation]

Mr. President, Excellencies,

It is an honor for me to deliver my first statement after assuming office on 16 September as Prime Minister of Japan, at the United Nations which is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

The novel coronavirus disease has pulled us into an unprecedented crisis, which in turn has brought the international community back to cooperation from its tendencies towards division and isolation. For the last 75 years, multilateralism has become stronger and made progress in the face of multiple challenges. I call on all of you to unite in solidarity so we can turn the current crisis into an opportunity to reinforce our cooperation.

Mr. President,

In our fight against the virus, Japan has been doing its utmost for the health and safety of the people of Japan and around the world, harnessing the wisdom of public and private sectors alike. Now we are at the stage of revitalizing socio-economic activities while maintaining measures for preventing the spread of infections. Let me share my thoughts with you based on Japan’s experiences.

The spread of the coronavirus is a human security crisis, posing a threat to the lives, livelihoods and dignity of people across the globe. The guiding principle for us to overcome this crisis must be “leave no one behind.” The concept of human security, which focuses on individuals, has been debated for many years at this very forum of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr. President,

As we face the current crisis, and guided by the principle of human security, I think it is essential to set the goal of “leaving no one’s health behind” as we work towards achieving universal health coverage. I expect this to be our shared goal. On that basis, Japan will proactively lead international efforts with a focus on the following three perspectives in collaboration with other countries.

First, we need to safeguard lives from the novel coronavirus diseases. Japan fully supports the development of therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics, and works towards ensuring fair and equitable access for all, including those in developing countries. Japan also works with international organizations so that relevant international frameworks will be able to deliver results. We are also proposing a framework of “patent pooling”. Public-private partnership is essential particularly in the health sector, and Japan is going to promote it steadfastly.

Second, we must prepare ourselves for future health crises. Japan is committed to expanding its efforts in developing countries to build hospitals as well as to assist strengthening health and medical systems through providing equipment and supporting human resource development. Working with the ASEAN, Japan is supporting the establishment of an ASEAN Centre for public health emergencies and emerging diseases. Japan has also been supporting the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. As a matter of fact, in Africa, we are witnessing the concrete result of our longstanding cooperation through the TICAD process for human resource development as well as for provision and maintenance of facilities in the health sector. Japan has provided support for the establishment of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Ghana and assisted in the training of its medical laboratory technologists. The Institute serves as the hub of the country’s response to the coronavirus and processes up to about 80% of PCR tests carried out in the country.

Third, we will take measures to ensure health security in an even broader context. We will continue to work with other countries to improve the conditions of water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition and other environmental factors. In response to the current crisis, Japan has provided foreign aid of over 170 billion Japanese Yen or 1.54 billion USD to medical and health sectors.

Along with these initiatives, it is critically important to take steps towards revitalizing the economies hit hard by the crisis. To bolster economic activities in developing countries, Japan is implementing the COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan of up to 500 billion Japanese Yen or 4.5 billion USD over the course of two years. Reviving the economy rests on the safe movement of people. We will make our utmost efforts to ensure universal distribution of vaccines and therapeutics. Free trade should not stop even with the restrictions caused by the crisis. We continue to promote WTO reform and economic partnership agreements with other countries. Times of difficulty are in fact times of innovation. Japan, for its part, will work on digitalization as a matter of urgency.

Now we must look to the human security concept of the new era in responding to various challenges, accelerating efforts to achieve SDGs and to tackle global issues. To this end, I propose that we tap into the wisdom from around the world to deepen our discussions.

Mr. President,

Looking forward, we need to “build back better” from the COVID-19 pandemic and create a flexible yet resilient society where the SDGs have been achieved and a virtuous cycle of environment and growth is generated. The ongoing crisis is heavily impacting the education of children and the youth who shape the future. It is also affecting women among others. In order to create a better and more inclusive society, there are three points that I consider to be of paramount importance.

The first is the significance of the United Nations and multilateralism. The UN should be a forum where all stakeholders engage constructively to respond to crises and work together with transparency. While I greatly respect the activities and efforts of the UN thus far, I would also like to emphasize that the Organization is in need of neutral and fair governance more than ever. The WHO is key in our collective response to infectious diseases. Through its review and reform, I believe the WHO will be able to make even better use of necessary expertise at the right time, in the right manner. With this conviction, Japan stands ready to cooperate in the review and reform process. Likewise, UN reform, including the reform of the Security Council to reflect the realities of the 21st century, is an urgent task as the UN marks its 75th anniversary.

Second, I am convinced that the current crisis must not jeopardize international peace and security. UN engagement in peacekeeping operations and peacebuilding remains vital. Based on the policy of “Proactive Contribution to Peace”, Japan will continue to contribute to sustaining peace, drawing on its experiences, including through our role in the Peacebuilding Commission, and engaging in strengthening institutions and building capacities. We also remain committed to the capacity building of peacekeeping personnel in collaboration with African and Asian countries.

Third, we must not allow challenges against the rule of law in times of increasing uncertainties. The rule of law as we ourselves set forth in the SDGs is the foundation of order, both domestic and international, and the very spirit which the UN is built on. In March next year, using virtual platforms, we will host the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Kyoto with the aim of advancing the rule of law. Japan continues to promote a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, the foundation of regional peace and prosperity rooted in the global rule of law.

Mr. President,

The issue of abductions by North Korea is a matter of serious concern for the international community. I myself have worked on this issue for many years. This year, two parents of the victims passed away. It is heartbreaking to imagine the pain of the family members who passed, after working so hard to rescue their dearest children and yet not achieving a reunion in the end. As the families of the victims continue to age, there is no time to lose before we resolve the abductions issue. Japan’s position remains unchanged. Japan seeks to normalize its relationship with North Korea, in accordance with the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, through comprehensively resolving the outstanding issues of concern such as the abductions, nuclear and missile issues, as well as settlement of the unfortunate past. As the new Prime Minister of Japan, I am ready to meet with Chairman Kim Jong-un without any conditions. Establishing a constructive relationship between Japan and North Korea will not only serve the interests of both sides but will also greatly contribute to regional peace and stability. I will miss no opportunity to take actions with all my dedication.

This year marks the 75th anniversary since the first use of nuclear weapons. Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated. With this resolve, Japan will spare no effort in realizing a world free of nuclear weapons while firmly upholding the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which serves as the cornerstone of the international regime for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. I wish to emphasize once again the importance of maintaining and strengthening the Treaty. We, as the international community, need to stand united to work on arms control and disarmament of conventional weapons, or “Disarmament that Saves Lives.”

Mr. President,

In the summer of next year, Japan is determined to host the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games as proof that humanity has defeated the pandemic. I will continue to spare no effort in order to welcome you to Games that are safe and secure.

I thank you for your attention.