SCHEDULE

The 2026 Global Plenary Meeting of the Trilateral Commission in Tokyo, Japan

*** North American Members, Speakers & DRFs are cordially invited to the welcome dinner on May 13th at 7pm (Meiji Kinenkan). The shuttle bus will depart from Hotel Okura at 6:30pm. Please meet us on the 5th floor (main lobby) and remember to bring your QR code.

Day 1: May 14, 2026

13:30–13:50 Opening Remarks

  • Framing keynote: “Why Global Stewardship Now?”
    The plenary opens with welcome remarks from the Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe Chairs. This session establishes the core purpose of the Tokyo Plenary: what global stewardship requires of the Trilateral Commission in 2026. It also clarifies which concrete outcomes (statements, notes, mechanisms) this meeting should prioritize to achieve a durable impact.

  • Speakers:
    Takeshi Niinami, Asia-Pacific Chair
    Axel Weber, European Chair
    Meghan O'Sullivan, North American Chair

13:50-14:00 Special Message by Video by Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan

14:00-14:30 Fireside Chat with Shinjiro Koizumi, Japanese Minister of Defense, moderated by Richard Fontaine, CEO, Center for a New American Security (CNAS); Executive Director, Trilateral Commission North America

14:30–15:30 Session 1：Rebalancing Power in a Fragmented Techno-Geopolitical World

  • Framing keynote: The return of great-power rivalry is reshaping legitimacy, sovereignty, and autonomy. This session examines how states can navigate contested spheres of influence while avoiding conflict. It explores pathways to manage territorial disputes, technology competition, and economic coercion.

  • Moderator: Sharanjit Leyl, Former BBC Senior Broadcast Journalist; Chancellor, Bath Spa University

  • Panelists:

    Takeo Akiba, Senior Advisor to the Cabinet, Prime Minister’s Office, Japan; Former National Security Adviser of Japan
    Kevin McCarthy, Former Speaker, United States House of Representatives
    José Manuel Durão Barroso, Former President of the European Commission; Former Prime Minister of Portugal

15:30–15:45 Coffee Break

15:45–16:45 Session 2: Technology, Trust and Democratic Resilience

  • Framing keynote: How can societies defend information integrity, electoral trust, and democratic legitimacy in an algorithmic age? This session focuses on governance tools, platform accountability, and civic resilience.

  • Moderator: Alexander Karsner, Google Fellow, Energy & Innovation, X, The Moonshot Factory (TBC)
    Panelists:

    Jason Kwon, Chief Strategy Officer, OpenAI
    Yoichi Iida, Minister’s Special Policy Advisor, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan
    Martin Weiss, Chairman, Desenio Group AB

16:45–17:05 TED-Talk “The Global Energy Crunch: Solving the Electricity-Data Center/AI–Climate Trilemma”

  • Framing keynote: This session examines how nations and regions can balance AI growth, energy security, and climate commitments—and who will shape the sustainable architecture of the AI era.

  • Speaker: Arunabha Ghosh, Chief Executive Officer, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)

17:05-17:45 Session 3: Strategic Dialogue-Managing Great-Power Relations in Asia

  • Framing keynote: Framed as a strategic dialogue rather than a country-specific panel, this session examines China–US relations within broader regional and global dynamics. It examines strategic perceptions, crisis management, and pathways to stability in Asia amid intensifying global great-power competition.

  • Moderator: Sharanjit Leyl, Former BBC Senior Broadcast Journalist; Chancellor, Bath Spa University

  • Speakers:

    Matt Pottinger, CEO, Garnaut Global LLC
    Wu Xinbo, Professor and Dean, Institute of International Studies; Director, Center for American Studies, Fudan University

17:45-18:00 Special Segment: Tribute to Joseph S. Nye, Jr. by David E. Sanger, White House and National Security Correspondent, The New York Times

A dedicated segment honoring the intellectual legacy and lifelong contribution of Joe Nye to the Trilateral Commission and to global thinking on power, leadership, and responsibility.

18:30–19:00 Cocktail Reception, Akebono Room (1st Floor, The Okura Prestige Tower)

19:00–21:00 Dinner Talks, Heian Room (1st Floor, The Okura Prestige Tower)

Tokyo Culture Night

  • Framing keynote: Anime: Japan’s Growth Engine, Beyond Borders

  • Speaker: Hide Nagata, Director of the Board, CFO & CSO, Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.

Day 2: May 15, 2026

Due to congestion in the hotel restaurants, breakfast for Trilateral Commission participants staying at The Okura Tokyo will be served in the Heian Rooms I & II (1st Floor, The Okura Prestige Tower).

07:45–08:45 North American ExCom Breakfast Meeting (L'etoile Room, 41st Floor)

09:00–10:00 Session 4: Geoeconomics of the AI Supply Chain

  • Framing keynote: As multipolarity reshapes supply chains and investment flow, this session examines how countries can move beyond de-risking toward co-investment in strategic sectors such as sourcing and processing of critical minerals; production and distribution of low nanometer semiconductors and key equipment; and siting of LLM inference and training.

  • Moderator: Alicia Garcia Herrero, Chief Economist, Asia Pacific, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking

  • Panelists:

    Bruce Andrews, Former United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce; Partner, Covington & Burling
    Hidetoshi Shibata, CEO, Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Kinga Piecuch, President of the Board, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Poland

10:00–11:15 Session 5: Global Economy in an Age of Uncertainty

  • Framing keynote: Amid persistent uncertainty, how should policymakers and investors navigate inflationary pressures, uneven growth, and rising geopolitical fragmentation? Bringing together perspectives from central banking and global investment, this session will examine how leading institutions interpret the macroeconomic environment and position their portfolios in response.

  • Moderator: Sharanjit Leyl, Former BBC Senior Broadcast Journalist; Chancellor, Bath Spa University

  • Panelists:

    Ashok Mirpuri, Head, International Policy & Governance, Temasek International Ptd Ltd.

    Marietje Schaake, Fellow at Stanford University; Former Member of the European Parliament; Member of Democrats 66, The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party

    Bob Prince, Chair, Board of Directors and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Bridgewater Associates

11:15–11:35 Coffee Break

11:35–12:35 Session 6: Geopolitical Crossroads: The Middle East

  • Framing keynote: This session will examine the evolving situation in the Middle East amid heightened geopolitical tensions and shifting regional alignments. It will focus on key flashpoints —including Iran, Gaza, and broader regional instability—and their growing interconnections. The discussion will also consider the role of major external actors and the implications for energy security, global markets, and political stability, as well as how these developments intersect with wider geopolitical competition and the evolving international order.

  • Moderator: Meghan O'Sullivan, Chair, Trilateral Commission North America

    Panelists:

  • Jared Cohen, President of Global Affairs & Co-Head Goldman Sachs Global Institute at Goldman Sachs

  • H.E. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, President, Global Council for Tolerance and Peace

  • Prof. Koichiro Tanaka, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University

12:45–14:00 Lunch: Conversation on AI and Scientific Advancement

  • Fireside Chat: How is AI accelerating discovery in science, robotics, biotechnology, and environmental research—beyond governance and strategy?

  • Moderator: Shery Ahn, Anchor & Editor-at-large, Bloomberg

  • Fireside Chat

    Alex Panas, Senior Partner and Global Leader, Industry Sectors, McKinsey & Company
    Hiroaki Kitano, CEO, Sony AI

14:15–15:45 Session 7: The Future of Finance: Digital Currencies, Tokenized Assets and Autonomous Markets

  • Framing keynote: CBDCs, tokenization and AI-driven markets are reshaping the financial system. This session explores regulatory redesign, interoperability and safeguards for stability and inclusion across regions.

  • Moderator: Takehiko Nakao, Chairman, Center for International Economy & Strategy Ltd; Former President, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

  • Keynote Speaker: Klaas Knot, Former President, Dutch Central Bank; former Chair, Financial Stability Board (FSB)

  • Panelists:

    Axel Weber, Chairman, Trilateral Commission Europe; President, Center for Financial Studies, House of Finance, Universität Frankfurt
    Chang Yong Rhee, Former Governor, Bank of Korea: Former ADB Chief Economist
    Megan Greene, Senior Fellow, Watson Institute for International and Public　Affairs, Brown University; External Member, Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee

15:45-16:00 Coffee Break

16:00-17:00 Session 8: Ukraine - Status, Prospects and Lessons for the World

  • Framing keynote: Where do we stand? What lessons are different regions learning about invasion and defense? How will the future relations between the US, Europe, and Asia be impacted? How will reconstruction proceed?

  • Moderator: Francesco Rocchetti, Director, Europe's Futures Initiative

  • Panelists:

    Yuichi Hosoya, Director of Research, International House of Japan; Professor, Keio University
    Oleg Goshchansky, Head of KPMG Ukraine Gateway; Former Member of the KPMG Global Board; Former Chairman and CEO of KPMG in the CIS Region
    Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky, Senior Fellow in Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs & Vice Chair of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

17:00 - 19:00: North American Cocktail Reception «Cinq à sept», La Lune, 41st Floor, The Okura Tokyo

& Free Evening for Dinner

Day 3: May 16, 2026

Due to congestion in the hotel restaurants, breakfast for Trilateral Commission participants staying at The Okura Tokyo will be served in the Heian Rooms I & II (1st Floor, The Okura Prestige Tower).

08:00–08:45 TC ExCom Breakfast Meeting (Akebono Room, 1st Floor), PRIVATE

09:00–10:15 Session 9: Leadership in AI & Security

  • Framing keynote: How can states promote the responsible use of AI in the military domain while reducing risks to strategic stability? This session examines challenges posed by machine-speed decision making, command and control, and AI-related risks in cyber and biosecurity contexts.

  • Moderator:Ken Jimbo, Managing Director, International House of Japan

  • Panelists:

    Video: Izumi Nakamitsu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General of Disarmament Affairs
    Yun Byung-se, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea; Chair, Global Commission on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain
    David Appel, Vice President for Global Government, Amazon Web Services
    Michael Sellitto, Head of Global Affairs, Anthoropic
    David van Weel, Minister of Justice and Security; former Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands; former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber

10:15–10:30 Coffee Break

10:30–11:00 Special Address - Lessons from Hiroshima and Nagasaki

  • Speaker: Terumi Tanaka, Co-Chair, Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations
    (Nihon Hidankyo) (Nobel Laureate 2024)

11:00-11:40 Special Fireside Chat

  • Speaker: Fumio Kishida, Former Prime Minister of Japan

11:40-12:00 Closing Remarks by the Three Chairs

  • Speaker:
    Takeshi Niinami, Chair, Trilateral Commission Asia-Pacific
    Axel Weber, Chair, Trilateral Commission Europe
    Meghan O’Sullivan, Chair, Trilateral Commission North America

12:00–13:30 Informal Buffet Lunch
(For participants not taking part in the Kyoto Optional Program)

***

KYOTO PROGRAM (Pre-registration & payment required)

May 16 Departure Logistics

  • 12:15 PM : Meet in the Hotel Okura Tokyo Lobby (5th Floor)

  • 12:30 PM : Departure for Tokyo Station (by bus)

  • Note: A bento box lunch will be provided to participants onboard the bullet train to Kyoto

Kyoto Dress Code

  • May 16 Welcome Dinner : Business casual attire

  • May 17 Day Program : Business casual attire*
    *Flat shoes are strongly recommended, as the tour includes walking on gravel paths and uneven surfaces.

  • Temple Visits : Participants are requested to wear socks, as shoes may need to be removed when entering temple buildings.

Baggage

Please bring only minimum luggage, as storage space on trains and buses is limited.

Shinkansen Schedule

May 16 Itinerary

1:21 – 3:32 PM : Shinkansen Transfer to Kyoto

Departing Train: Nozomi 407 (Carriages 8 and 9)
Participants will be provided with bento box lunches onboard.

May 17 Itinerary

5:36 – 7:51 PM : Shinkansen Transfer to Tokyo (optional)

Departing Train: Nozomi 462 (Carriage 8) from Kyoto to Tokyo Station

8:00 – 8:30 PM : Return bus to Hotel Okura Tokyo (optional)