Ｇ７、ＡＳＥＡＮと外相会合検討　１２月上旬、中国念頭

　先進７カ国（Ｇ７）が１２月上旬に東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）加盟国を招いた対面の拡大外相会合を英国で開く方向で検討していることが分かった。日本政府関係者が１５日、明らかにした。政治、軍事両面で影響力を増す中国を念頭に置いたもので、「自由で開かれたインド太平洋」実現に向けた認識の擦り合わせを図る。
　１２月上旬に英中部リバプールで開催する予定で、議長国・英国が準備を進めている。林芳正外相は国会日程を踏まえて調整しながら参加を検討。就任後初の外遊になる可能性がある。（2021/11/15-18:55）

The Group of Seven major industrial countries are planning to hold an extended in-person meeting of foreign ministers and their counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in early December in Britain, Japanese government sources said Monday.
   Participants of the meeting, which will come against the backdrop of China's growing political and military influence, are expected to share their views on realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
   Britain, which holds the G-7 presidency this year, is making arrangements to host the meeting in Liverpool, northern England, according to the sources.
   Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is considering participating in the meeting after adjustments to his parliamentary schedule. It would be his first foreign visit since he took office earlier this month.
   In June, the leaders of the G-7 countries--Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States--and the European Union said at their meeting in Cornwall, southwestern England, stressed the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo Pacific based on the rule of law.