Japan did not walk out of G-20 meeting but criticized Russia: Finance minister

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said that in not walking out like the US, UK, and Canadian finance ministers, it meant that he “sternly criticised Russia at the meeting.”

The Japan News

The Japan News

          

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Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks to reporters in Tokyo on April 13. Yomiuri Shimbun file photo

April 26, 2022

TOKYO – Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said Wednesday that he did not follow the lead of the U.S., U.K. and Canadian finance chiefs in walking out when Russia spoke during a Group of 20 meeting in Washington.

“As a matter of fact, I did not walk out,” he said. “By not leaving, it means I sternly criticized Russia at the meeting venue.”

Suzuki spoke to reporters along with Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda after the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, when some Western officials protested Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine.

He also commented on the rapidly weakening yen. The dollar rose to the mid-¥129 range on Wednesday, the highest level in 20 years.

“We confirmed at the meeting that we need to be highly cautious and closely watch market trends,” Suzuki said. “During the G7 talks, we also confirmed that we will maintain close communication in line with our previous agreements.”

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