Japan-Denmark Relations
Japan-Denmark Foreign Minister’s Meeting
April 5, 2023
On April 5th, commencing at 1:05 p.m. (local time; April 5th, 8:05 p.m. JST), for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting Brussels, the Kingdom of Belgium, to attend the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Lars Løkke RASMUSSEN, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi expressed his pleasure to meet Minister Rasmussen for the first time. The two Ministers welcomed the steady development of bilateral relations on the basis of the “Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership” issued by the two leaders in 2014. They also confirmed their intention to deepen their collaboration to further enhance bilateral cooperation.
- The two Ministers shared, concerning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, that it is important for like-minded countries to unite to maintain strict sanctions against Russia and strong support for Ukraine and that strengthening outreach toward the international community including the Global South is essential. Minister Rasmussen mentioned that she highly appreciated Prime Minister Kishida's recent visit to Ukraine.
- The Ministers also discussed the situations of the East Asia, addressing economic security issues including economic coercion and North Korea, and concurred on their further cooperation.
- Minister Hayashi asked for Denmark's cooperation for the early removal of import restrictions by the EU on Japanese food products.