Tokyo Conference 2025 opened on March 3, and the public forum on the afternoon of the second day welcomed an audience of approximately 400. Five keynote speakers were invited to take the stage after opening remarks by former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Yasushi Kudo, President of The Genron NPO.

Watch video: Tokyo Conference 2025 Highlights

The Tokyo Conference: An important platform to advance the Pact's objectives and drive multilateralism into the future

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres greeted the conference by video.

"This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the founding of the United Nations. This milestone is a crucial opportunity to reaffirm enduring principles that emerge from one of humanity's darkest hours: peace through dialogue, respect for human rights and international law, and the promotion of social progress and sustainable development," he said.

"Japan is a leader in advancing these values and the pillars of multilateralism," he continued. "Your commitment to international cooperation stands as a powerful example that our nations can transform historical legacies into positive change."

The Secretary-General went on to mention the Pact for the Future, which was adopted by the member states of the United Nations as part of the effort to reform global governance to meet the needs of the 21st century, including reform of the Security Council and international financial architecture. He emphasized that the Tokyo Conference also plays a vital role.

"By bringing together government leaders and diverse voices from around the world, the Tokyo Conference offers an important platform to advance the Pact's objectives and drive multilateralism into the future," he said.

He concluded his address by calling on the world to "Seize this moment to strengthen the foundations of trust, solidarity and cooperation and write a new chapter in our shared journey towards lasting peace, dignity, and progress."

Taking humanity further by reforming the UN and rebuilding multilateralism

Former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was next to speak and offered an assessment of the current global situation.

"We are living in a turbulent world which is becoming increasingly fragmented, marked by rising geopolitical rivalry, growing mistrust, and less cooperation. Confidence in the rules-based world order is seriously shaken. There is a widespread sense that the world is not well and heading in the wrong direction," he said. Yudhoyono stressed the importance of the Tokyo Conference as a forum for discussing international cooperation and the restoration of peace on the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, which was founded to create a better world.

"The UN is...a grand effort to replace a ruthless, anarchic world where might was right, where any strong country could arbitrarily invade and annex the territory of another country with impunity. It represented a grand effort to replace the jungle of violence with a rule-based international order, where nations, great and small, rich and poor, are equal. Where nations have mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Where nations commit to resolve their disputes by peaceful means and without the use of force. What a beautiful world that would be."

However, he pointed out that the ideals upon which the United Nations was founded have not yet been brought to fruition.

"The bad news is this multilateralism today is in crisis," he said, and pointed to recent actions by the Trump administration, to geopolitical conflicts constraining multilateralism and regional cooperation, and to the growing perception that there is a double standard at play in the application of international laws and norms. He summed up the issue succinctly.

"'Me-ism' rather than 'we-ism' is rapidly growing," he said, and warned that the continued failure of multilateralism will have dire consequences.

"The cost to World Peace and the survival of human race would be too great."

However, Yudhoyono also believes that a way forward can be found.

"The world desperately needs imaginative statesmanship. Leaders who have the wisdom to connect the local and the global, who are courageous...and take bold actions, who encourage...and can be solution providers to our problems and not make our problems worse," he said. "I am convinced that we have plenty of these leaders in the global south as well as the global north."

Yudhoyono offered some concrete and exhaustive proposals for implementing reform.

"The first solution to the weakened multilateralism is this: strengthen the United Nations, the embodiment of global multilateralism. Cure the paralysis of the Security Council by liberating it from the veto power of the P5. Empower the General Assembly, enhance peacekeeping operations, and create stable funding systems so that no major power can intimidate the UN by threatening to withhold funds."

Next, Yudhoyono described how countries could play leading roles in bolstering multilateralism, and called on countries to take the initiative to promote cooperation based on the founding spirit and ideals of the United Nations.

"I do believe that the most effective multilateral landscape is one where various countries can take the lead in the particular field of their interest and strength. For example, in tackling climate change, Indonesia can lead in protecting and expanding forest cover to strengthen the world's carbon sink. Japan can lead in climate technology cooperation. The European Union can help with climate funding or the carbon market. China can lead in electric vehicles."

Yudhoyono concluded by calling on all to take on this challenge.

"Multilateralism may be very complex, may take a longer time, and may be exhausting, but the overall result would be much better than unilateralism. As the African proverb says, 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.' So, let us go far together."

Unlocking Africa's immense potential requires a "new multilateralism"

Ahunna Eziakonwa is Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and Head of the Regional Bureau for Africa. Eziakonwa began her keynote speech with a somewhat pessimistic appraisal of the current state of global poverty and inequality. However, she tempered that with a more optimistic outlook on the immense potential of Africa.

"The continent's young people are leading the way with dynamism, creativity, and hope. Africa's young entrepreneurs are seizing new opportunities and forging ahead with ideas and businesses that are transforming lives and revitalizing communities. Africa's fashion industry, for instance, is estimated to be $31 billion (USD). Its sports industry is valued at $12 billion and the film industry is worth around $5 billion and growing. In addition, the continent's ICT sector is valued at $30 billion, and the potential is massive."

Eziakonwa emphasized that earning enough from trade is the only way that African countries will be able to "wean themselves off of dependency of the aid framework," reverse their crippling debt, and invest enough in addressing poverty. To do so, the current overdependence on imports must be resolved.

"Creating avenues for African exports to access lucrative global markets and fast-tracking regional industrialization to reduce their reliance on expensive imported food and manufactured goods is the only sustainable way to guarantee sustainable progress," she said.

Eziakonwa described her concerns about the connection between economic disparity and domestic conflict, and the currently stagnant state of multilateral cooperation.

"The UNDP's 2022 Human Development Report highlights increasing global mistrust and deepening uncertainty which contribute to an atmosphere of fear and polarization...this dynamic fuels a contentious political atmosphere and deepens intergroup animosity in Africa. This translates into the persistence of political violence and upsurge of intercommunal strife," she explained. "Africa yearns for a new multilateralism, ladies and gentlemen, not one that is based on handouts, but one that's based on a handshake."

She went on to explain that this "new multilateralism" she refers to must be one that "acknowledges Africa's immense potential and facilitates the continent's economic and financial sovereignty through fairer trade, through more affordable development financing, through the technology driven public private partnerships that boost entrepreneurship and create meaningful jobs and shared prosperity."

Eziakonwa believes that the world is a much different place than it was 80 years ago, when it was faced with building a new world order, and that today the focus must be on "forestalling global disorder that a retreat from multilateralism could portend."

"The discussions we're having today matter, and we must redouble our efforts to usher in a new multilateralism that is effective and inclusive," she concluded.

As a "center of gravity," how should Poland face Russia?

Retired General and former Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Rajmund Andrzejczak began his keynote by referring to Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz, who once described war as a system, and by explaining how that applies to the current geopolitical situation.

"We are dealing with three systems, each becoming increasingly turbulent, unpredictable, and dangerous: China, the Middle East, and Russia," Andrzejczak said. "To manage these dangerous systems, we must define and protect these key centers of gravity."

He explained that each of those systems has its own "center of gravity," and noted that in the case of China, that center of gravity is located in Taiwan, which Andrzejczak believes must not be lost, under any circumstances.

"Losing Taiwan would not only reshape the balance of power in the Pacific, but also send a clear signal to authoritarian regimes that military aggression and coercion are effective strategies," he said. "It would destabilize global supply chains, particularly in the semiconductor industry, which is crucial for the world's economy and technological advancement. Militarily, it would embolden regional security partnerships. Economically, it would disrupt markets and trade routes affecting countries far beyond. Politically, it would weaken democratic resilience and embolden other revisionist powers. This is not just a regional issue; it is a global challenge that demands a firm, coordinated response from the free world."

Regarding the Middle East, Andrzejczak described its center of gravity as being located in Israel, which "serves as a barrier against Iran and its proxies." He explained that another potential crisis in this region can be found in "Iran's nuclear aspirations and its use of non-state actors Hamas, Hezbollah, and Yemeni Houthis to support terrorism."

He next turned to the system surrounding Russia, the center of gravity of which he described as being found in Ukraine and Poland, and expressed his concerns regarding their future.

"Currently, discussion about ending the war do not constitute a real plan. Because today there's no plan," he said. "It seems that America's Russian policy prioritizes short-term tactics over grand strategy. It may offer short-term gains, but sets the stage for a larger system, with transforming conflicts likely to happen as Moscow reconstitutes its land forces and the U.S. military is pulled into the Pacific."

For Andrzejczak, the risk is illustrated by Poland's history with Russia.

"For five centuries, we have struggled against Russia's imperial policies of expansion, plundering, destruction, and genocide, (from the) Kievan Rus, (to the) Muscovites, Tsarist Russia, Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. The Russians do not honor agreements, do not follow the law, and do not share our values. If we stop the war now on their terms, they will be convinced that using military force is an effective and legitimate political tool and that the West is weak, and then they can push for even more."

He spoke about a conversation he had with Valerii Zaluzhnyi, current Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. When asked to define what "victory" would mean in the Ukraine War, Zaluzhnyi responded, "Victory will come when Russia can never return."

Andrzejczak pointed out that treating Russia has always been a mistake historically, and noted that the "so-called reverse Kissinger model" of "binding Russia and drawing it away from China" may not work as the positions of the actors involved are still unknown.

He noted that Europe's slow response to Russian aggression in Georgia and Crimea aggravated the situation in Ukraine, as did increasing Europe's energy dependency on Russia. He also warned that the current plan to bring about a ceasefire could result in what he described as a "bad peace." However, while using the UN as a tool for diplomacy is still viable, Andrzejczak believes that it is not the only tool available and that such tools should be explored, as, "The recent meetings at the UN Security Council show that nations have not united against evil."

He pointed to developments in the Asia-Pacific with more meaningful relationships being built between the US, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, and Singapore. He also mentioned the Three Seas Initiative, an effort on the part of Poland, the Baltic states, and other partners that aims to strengthen regional cooperation to prevent potential threats, before concluding with praise for Japan's investments in security and in gaining a better understanding of geostrategic implications in the region.

Multilateralism has been protected and fortified in the past; reform is still possible for the future

The final keynote was provided in the form of a video message from Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and current member of The Elders, the international humanitarian group of former heads of state founded by Nelson Mandela.

"It would be an understatement to say that the world is experiencing significant geopolitical volatility and tension," she began, and pointed to US President Donald Trump.

"The new United States administration appears to be calling into question fundamental principles of multilateralism and international law which have helped underpin global security for the past 80 years," she said. "For example, President Trump's proposals for a future for Gaza without its people fly in the face of international law and they also jeopardize prospects for settlement of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. For Ukraine, the prospect has been raised of Russia, the aggressor, deciding the country's fate together with the United States, with neither Ukraine nor European representatives at the table."

Clark warned that the Asia-Pacific needs to keep its eye on developments in those regions.

"The developments in the Middle East and Ukraine conflicts can't be just dismissed as peripheral concerns. After all, North Korean troops have been deployed on Russia's front lines...Asian states can show much needed leadership in protecting the multilateral system and the strong body of international law, which has been built over the past eight decades."

She continued by explaining that awareness about the dangers posed by nuclear weapons must be understood both by states that maintain a nuclear arsenal, and by states that benefit from the shelter of a nuclear umbrella.

That being said, Clark also recognizes that risk minimization will suffice if complete de-nuclearization is not yet possible. This would revolve around four critical areas: "adoption of a no first-use doctrine, de-alerting as many weapons as possible from their current high states of readiness, dramatically reducing the number of nuclear weapons currently deployed, and reducing the overall number of warheads to the lowest level possible."

Clark noted that there is a commonality between the various challenges the world currently faces, from climate change to pandemics and regulation of artificial intelligence.

"The common thread running through all these existential challenges is that they can only be managed effectively through multilateral cooperation. No nation can address them effectively by itself, regardless of how large it is, how big its economy is, or how militarily powerful it is," she said.

That is why Clark believes that states that value international law must defend the institutions and frameworks which are so central to it, including the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and the UN Charter itself.

"The international system must also be updated to reflect the world of the 21st century," she continued. "The most glaring reform needed is for a more representative and effective Security Council. We must not return to a "might is right" world order dominated by spheres of influence. We need to defend and update the international system now, not abandon it."

Clark wrapped up her remarks with a positive outlook for the future, pointing to several historical examples of the successful implementation of reforms to multilateral institutions and mechanisms.

"Protecting and reinforcing multilateralism might seem a daunting challenge, but it isn't impossible. We've done it before. Cooperation is not just a utopian aspiration; it has been seen to work, and we need it now more than ever," she concluded.

"In the words of Nelson Mandela, the founder of the Elders, 'It always seems impossible until it is done.'"