at 18:30 (JST), May 05

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230505183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : prime minister engagement
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230505_02/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he will use the upcoming Group of Seven summit to boost G7 engagement with emerging and developing nations collectively known as the Global South. Japan will host the summit in the city of Hiroshima from May 19.

Kishida was speaking on Thursday at a news conference in Mozambique, the fourth and last leg of his Africa tour.

He said he will draw on his diplomatic achievements during discussions at the summit to strengthen unity of the G7 and its engagement with the Global South.

Kishida said that at a time when the international community is marking a historic turning point, the G7 needs to show it is committed to safeguarding a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

Many Global South nations, including African countries, tend to take a non-aligned stance over the situation in Ukraine.

Kishida warned that a plot is in the works to split the world by giving an erroneous impression that surging food and energy prices are stemming from G7 sanctions against Russia.

The prime minister said Japan needs to offer active cooperation in a tangible manner, act as a bridge between the G7 and the Global South, and follow through with the rule of law.

He also stressed the need to form closer ties with Global South nations by understanding various challenges facing them and sincerely providing support to solve the issues.

He explained that he agreed with African leaders during his trip that Japan would help their nations resolve challenges. He added that they confirmed that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force is unacceptable anywhere in the world.

Kishida said he and the African leaders also discussed Sudan. He said Japan will join hands with other countries to help calm the situation in Sudan and restore order by dispatching a special envoy and supplying emergency humanitarian assistance.

Key words : foreign minister discussed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230505_03/

Russia says Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang have underscored the solidarity between their countries.

Lavrov and Qin met on Thursday, one day before a foreign ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation opens in India's southern state of Goa. The SCO is a regional framework on security and economic cooperation led by China and Russia.

Russia's foreign ministry says Lavrov and Qin discussed issues surrounding Ukraine, including how to resolve the conflict peacefully.

The ministry also says the ministers agreed to oppose neocolonialism. This suggests both sides confirmed their stances against the United States and other nations.

The ministers also separately met India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Analysts say Russia seeks to bolster economic ties with SCO members, including China and India, as Western nations are intensifying their sanctions against Moscow.

They add that China also hopes to showcase its unity with SCO members as a counterweight to the US, with which Beijing remains at odds in economic and security arenas.

Key words : children celebrate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230505_09/

On a national holiday dedicated to children, the latest data shows Japan's child population has dropped for the 42nd straight year.

The internal affairs ministry estimates that the number of children aged 14 or younger was 14.35 million as of April 1, down 300,000 from the previous year. Of the total, boys accounted for 7.35 million and girls 7 million.

The figure has continued to shrink since 1982.

There were 3.21 million children aged between 12 and 14, while 3.08 million were aged 9 to 11, 2.96 million aged 6 to 8, 2.67 million aged 3 to 5, and 2.43 million aged 0 to 2.

The ratio of children in the total population also fell to 11.5 percent, marking the 49th consecutive year of decline.

By prefecture, Okinawa had the highest overall share of children at 16.3 percent as of October last year, followed by Shiga and Saga at 13.2 percent, and Kumamoto at 13 percent.

Akita Prefecture had the lowest rate at 9.3 percent, followed by Aomori at 10.2 percent and Hokkaido at 10.3 percent.

In its latest estimate released last month, the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research forecast that Japan's child population will fall below 10 million in 2053. It also estimates the figure will drop to 7.97 million, or 9.2 percent of the total population, in 2070.

Japan celebrates Children's Day on May 5.

Key words : global south major topic
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