Japan-EU Relations
Foreign Minister Taro Kono Meets with Mr. Neven Mimica, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development
On August 30, from 10:40a.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, during his stay in Yokohama to attend the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7), held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. At the beginning, Minister Kono expressed gratitude to Commissioner Mimica for his attendance to the TICAD 7. In relation to the establishment of next European Commission in November, Minister Kono expressed appreciation for Commissioner’s contribution to the advancement of Japan-EU cooperation in the area of development cooperation. Moreover, both agreed to further promote Japan-EU cooperation in the area of development cooperation under the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA).
2. Minister Kono and Commissioner Mimica shared the view to promote tangible cooperation for connectivity, based on Japan’s policies such as Free and Open Indo-Pacific and Quality Infrastructure, and EU’s Strategy on Connectivity.
3. Furthermore, Minister Kono and Commissioner Mimica exchanged views on the growing importance of Quality Infrastructure and private investment in Africa and other parts of the world in the area of development cooperation.