Amid major changes in the geopolitical landscape and the economic balance of power on a global scale, we are witnessing the destabilization of the international order and the deterioration of diverse global issues, including risks to the world economy. Excessive globalization is triggering numerous economic and social issues, bringing about tension in relations between globalization and nation-states, and threatening the individual freedoms that are the very basis of liberal democracies.

In advanced countries, populist moves are spreading and political leaders overtly call for protectionist and exclusionist policies. In such circumstances, how should the G-7 member countries, which have been sharing the common values of democracy, liberty and equality, address these challenges? And what should developing countries do?

The aim of the Tokyo Conference is to have the representatives of the leading think tanks in 10 major countries conduct dialogue on diverse issues facing the world today in an open forum in Tokyo, and to forward what will be agreed or what will be discussed at the forum to the government of Canada, the chair of this year's G-7 Summit, and the government of Japan as a message to the G-7 leaders.

At the same time, the contents of the discussions at the forum will be broadly delivered to civil society in Japan so as to generate debates among the public leading to the solution of problems, at home and abroad. Furthermore, we aim to create a multi-layered venue for public debate in Japan by bringing together diverse discussions on how to address global issues. With an international forum of its kind being organized in Tokyo, it is expected that Japan's opinions will be heard globally and that Japan's proactive contribution to the solution of issues facing the world will be shown more tangibly to international society.