In Japan, eyes were turned to the 3-day G7 Summit in Hiroshima, in the southwestern part of the country. The leaders of the USA, France, England, Germany, Canada and Italy are attending the summit hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
G7 countries as well as the European Union (EU), Indonesia, India, South Korea, Australia and Vietnam are invited to the summit, which will last until May 21.
The host Japanese Prime Minister and his wife Kishida Yuko welcomed the visiting heads of state and government in front of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The museum, which exhibits more than 100 thousand artifacts and relics from the period of the atomic bomb dropped in 1945, was the scene of the first collective visit of the G7 leaders.
BIDEN IS THE SECOND US PRESIDENT
Accompanied by the Kishida couple, guest leaders, including US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden, and their spouses toured the historical museum and the campus. After the visit, the leaders walked to the mausoleum built for the victims of the atomic bomb in the campus and laid flower wreaths. Biden became the second incumbent US President to arrive in Hiroshima after the 1945 atomic bombing. Barack Obama visited Hiroshima in 2016.
Considered as one of the important international platforms in solving global political and economic problems, the G7 Leaders’ Summit will be held at the Grand Prince Hiroshima Hotel. With the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 and on Nagasaki on 9 August 1945, the USA caused the death of nearly 210,000 people.
EXTENSIVE SAFETY MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN
On the other hand, within the scope of the summit, where the leaders of the European Union (EU), Indonesia, India, South Korea, Australia and Vietnam were also invited, extensive security measures were taken by the Japanese security forces.
The death of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in an assassination in 2022 and the throwing of explosives near Kishida during his election tour in April increased security concerns.
AWARE WAS TAKEN
Demonstrations against the G7 and globalization are planned in the region where the summit will be held. The Japanese security, which was on the alert throughout Hiroshima, completed its preparations against possible events.
Nearly 24 thousand security personnel are on duty for the security of the G7. Police teams deployed to the city for summit security from different parts of the country are patrolling the main streets of Hiroshima.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and its surroundings, which are considered to be the symbols of the city in the possible travel program of the leaders, were closed to public visits and security measures were tightened.
For the convenience and safety of guest leaders’ travel within the city, roads leading to possible visiting points, including the Grand Prince Hiroshima Hotel, the main venue of the summit, will also be closed.
As part of security measures, the service time of public buses and trams has been shortened. About 140 schools and some factories in the city will take a break in the days covering the summit in order to prevent possible transportation disruptions for students and employees.
Source: AA