September 18, 2024 Results of the G20 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting

 On Friday, September 13, 2024, the G20 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting was held in Maceió, Brazil, and Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination, IMAGAWA, attended from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). At the meeting, G20 member countries and regions as well as invited countries and international organizations participated, and various policy issues in the digital fields were discussed. The Ministerial Declaration was adopted as the outcome document.

1. Date of holding the meeting

 Friday, September 13, 2024

2. G20 member countries and regions as well as invited countries and international organizations

 [G20 member countries and regions]
the AU, Argentine, Australia, Brazil (presidency), Canada, China, the EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the USA
 [G20 member countries and regions]
the AU, Argentine, Australia, Brazil (presidency), Canada, China, the EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the USA
 [Invited countries]
Denmark, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, the UAE
 [Invited international organizations]
ITU, OECD, UNESCO, UNDP, UNIDO

3. Summary of outcomes of the meetings

 The G20 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting has been held since 2017 to promote policy discussions on the digital economy sector, as digitalization is having a broad and significant impact on the economy and society and a wide range of new policy issues are being recognized.
 At this year's meeting in Brazil, the following four themes set by the presidency were discussed: "Digital Inclusion, Universal and Meaningful Connectivity," "Digital Government and Inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure," "Integrity of Information Online and Trust in the Digital Economy," and "Artificial Intelligence for Inclusive Sustainable Development and Inequalities Reduction."
 In the discussion on "Integrity of Information Online and Trust in the Digital Economy," Vice-Minister IMAGAWA introduced Japan's efforts to improve the system for addressing mis- and dis-information and emphasized the need for international cooperation by sharing each country’s efforts and promoting best practices.
 In the discussion on "Artificial Intelligence for Inclusive Sustainable Development and Inequalities Reduction," he introduced Japan’s international efforts, such as the "Hiroshima AI Process", and domestic efforts such as the establishment of the GPAI Tokyo Expert Support Center and the release of "AI Guidelines for Businesses." He also emphasized the importance of promoting international interoperability in AI governance and highlighted the need for discussions based on a multi-stakeholder approach. Furthermore, he expressed Japan’s commitment to continuous contribution to international discussions and efforts toward the global proliferation of "safe, secure, and trustworthy AI."

 As a result of the ministerial discussions, the Ministerial Declaration was adopted as the outcome of the meeting.

4. Overview of bilateral meetings

 Making use of the opportunity to attend the ministerial meeting, Vice-Minister IMAGAWA held bilateral meetings with the following ministers and officials to have in-depth the dialogues on common policy issues with individual counterpart:

• Brazil: Mr. Juscelino Filho, Minister of Communications
• Canada: Ms. Alix Dostal, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategy and Innovation Policy Sector, Innovation, Science and Economic Development
• OECD: Mr. Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, Deputy Secretary-General
• ITU: Ms. Doreen Bogdan Martin, Secretary-General