(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I would like to report about my attendance at the Shangri-La Dialogue (IISS Asia Security Summit). I will visit Singapore from today to June 3 in order to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue. The Shangri-La Dialogue, a gathering of defense ministers from various countries, is a very meaningful opportunity to state the views of Japan. In the Dialogue, I am scheduled to give a speech in which I intend to emphasize, to the other countries, the importance of fully upholding the free and open international order based on the rule of law. On this occasion, we are also making final arrangements to make time for talks with the defense ministers of other countries, as much as time allows, including a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin, a meeting with Chinese Minister of Defense Dong, and a Japan-Republic of Korea-United States Defense Ministerial Meeting. In both the bilateral and multilateral meetings, I intend to hold candid exchanges of views regarding security issues in the region and the further promotion of defense cooperation and exchanges.