Ｇ８首脳宣言 日本経済が久々に示す存在感

The Yomiuri Shimbun June 21, 2013
Japan, Abenomics grabbed spotlight at G-8 summit meeting
Ｇ８首脳宣言　日本経済が久々に示す存在感（6月20日付・読売社説）

For the first time in many years, a Japanese prime minister has grabbed the spotlight in the international arena. Now all eyes are on whether Shinzo Abe can steadily implement his policies to rejuvenate Japan’s economy, a pledge the prime minister presented to world leaders at the recent Group of Eight summit meeting.
　久しぶりに日本の首相が存在感を示した。公約となった日本経済の再生に向け、政策の着実な実行が求められよう。

The summit meeting, held at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, concluded Tuesday after the adoption of a joint statement. Leaders of Japan, the United States, Germany, and other G-8 nations took part in the meeting.
　英国の北アイルランドで行われた日米独など主要８か国首脳会議（Ｇ８サミット）は、首脳宣言を採択し、閉幕した。

“Global economic prospects remain weak,” the statement said, stressing the necessity for countries “to press ahead with the necessary reforms to restore sustainable growth and jobs.”
　宣言は「世界経済の成長見通しは弱い」との認識を示した上で、「持続可能な回復へ断固たる行動が必要」と強調した。

The eurozone economy is still trapped in negative growth, and the growth of China and other emerging nations, which have been serving as the locomotive of the world economy, has lost steam. It was absolutely necessary for the G-8 nations to reconfirm their unity at the summit.
　ユーロ圏はマイナス成長が続き、牽引(けんいん)役だった中国など新興国の景気減速も目立つ。Ｇ８が結束を再確認したのは適切である。

Expectations for Abenomics

One of the agenda items discussed at the meeting was Abenomics, the economic policy of the Abe administration. During the meeting, Abe told world leaders that “Japan’s economic development will give a boost to the economic progress of the world.”
　今回、焦点の一つになったのが安倍政権の経済政策「アベノミクス」だ。安倍首相は会議で、「日本経済の発展が世界経済の発展に貢献する」と説明した。

It is noteworthy that the statement referred to the so-called “three arrows” of Abenomics--bold monetary easing, fiscal stimulus and growth strategy. The statement gave a positive assessment to Abenomics, saying that the three arrows would underpin the nation’s growth.
　宣言が大胆な金融緩和、財政刺激策、成長戦略という「３本の矢」に言及し、「日本の成長を支える」と評価した意味は重い。

Japan must work hard to meet this global expectation and speed up its efforts to conquer deflation and rejuvenate its economy.
　日本は期待に応え、世界の成長に寄与できるよう、デフレ脱却と経済再生を急がねばならない。

However, the statement did not forget to make requests of Japan, whose fiscal condition is the worst among advanced nations. Japan needs to “address the challenge of defining a credible medium-term fiscal plan,” the statement said.
　先進国最悪の財政状況にある日本には、厳しい注文も付いた。宣言が「信頼できる中期的な財政計画」を求めたことだ。

The Abe administration plans to draw up a medium-term fiscal plan this summer. It is crucial for the government to show in the fiscal plan a concrete path toward simultaneously achieving the goals of economic growth and fiscal rehabilitation. After announcing the plan, the government must make wholehearted efforts to realize it.
　政府は、今夏策定する中期財政計画で、成長と財政再建の両立への具体的な道筋を示し、その実現を図ることが肝要である。

The statement said open trade is a key engine of global economic growth. It listed ongoing free trade talks, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership framework talks in which Japan is involved, and added that the G-8 nations “aim to finalize all these deals as soon as possible.” In this regard, we urge the Abe administration to speed up its preparations for agricultural liberalization.
　世界が成長するための原動力は自由貿易推進だとして、宣言は、日本が参加する環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉などについて「可能な限り速やかな完結を目指す」と明記した。日本は、農業自由化への対応を急ぐべきだ。

Regarding the problem of tax avoidance, or global companies trying to reduce their tax payments by exploiting low tax rates of certain countries, the G-8 leaders agreed to speed up their efforts to create an international legal framework to prevent such moves. This is an important step forward--we urge Japan to play a leading role in establishing a framework that enables countries to fairly collect taxes from companies.
　グローバル企業が税率の低い国の制度を利用して節税している問題に関し、Ｇ８首脳が、課税逃れ防止の国際ルール作りを急ぐことで合意したのは前進だろう。日本などが主導し、適正に徴税できる仕組みを整えてもらいたい。

Pile pressure on N. Korea

The G-8 leaders also agreed to take concerted action on measures against terrorism in North Africa, in light of January’s hostage crisis at an Algerian natural gas complex. This is also a laudable development.
　一方、１月のアルジェリア人質事件を受け、北アフリカ諸国でのテロ対策にＧ８が協調することで一致したのは評価できる。

The joint statement demanded North Korea to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and refrain from taking provocative actions. It also urged Pyongyang to address the concerns of the international community over its human rights violations, including the abduction issue.
　宣言は、北朝鮮に核・弾道ミサイル計画の放棄を要求し、挑発行為の自制を促した。懸案の拉致問題を巡っても、人権侵害に関する懸念の解消に取り組むことを北朝鮮に強く求めた。

We believe it suggests that Abe’s message on North Korean problems was appreciated by the G-8 leaders. Abe has been keen to express Japan’s stance on the issue.
　首相が日本の立場を主張し、理解を得た成果と言える。

The G-8 leaders should also seek to join hands with China to urge North Korea to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions as well as obligations stipulated in a joint statement issued in six-party talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
　Ｇ８は中国とも連携し、北朝鮮に対し、国連安全保障理事会の決議や、核問題に関する６か国協議の共同声明にある義務を履行するよう、強く働きかけるべきだ。

(From the Yomiuri Shimbun, June 20, 2013)
（2013年6月20日01時28分 読売新聞）