Japan-France Relations

(1) Minister Kishida explained that he had visited France to exchange opinions with Minister Ayrault ahead of >the G7 Hiroshima Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in April, and expressed condolences for the French victims of >the terrorist attack in Cote d’Ivoire. Minister Kishida also expressed gratitude to Minister Ayrault for his significant contributions to strengthening the Japan-France relation, including the sister-city affiliation between Nantes and Niigata.

(2) Minister Ayrault expressed his happiness to meet Minister Kishida for the first time, and commented that counter-terrorism would be a major theme at the G7 Hiroshima Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and that Hiroshima is a symbol of peace. Minister Ayrault also stated that this year was a good opportunity to move forward with the special partnership between Japan and France, because this year they celebrated the Japan-France Innovation Year and Japan would host the G7 Summit and >Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) , and also because Japan was a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

(3) The two foreign ministers confirmed that Japan and France intend to cooperate in the international arena.

(1) The two foreign ministers agreed to bolster cooperation in the areas of security and defense, including peace-building efforts , and to strengthen Japan-France cooperation in Africa via the TICAD VI scheduled to take place in Kenya in August 2016. They also acknowledged the value of ongoing high-level interaction between Japan and France, and agreed reinforce Japan-France relations while they would continue their cooperation in the Security Council reforms, nuclear cooperation, and other areas.

(2) Both foreign ministers agreed to pursue an agreement in principle on the >Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) at an early stage. Additionally, Minister Kishida expressed his expectations that the regulations applied to the import of food products and other items from Fukushima Prefecture in relation to the Great East Japan Earthquake would be further eased, on a scientific basis.

(1) Minister Kishida explained that the topics planned for discussion at the G7 Hiroshima Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in April, which aims to pave the way for a successful G7 Ise-Shima Summit, include global issues such as countermeasure against terrorism and violent extremism, disarmament and non-proliferation, and maritime security, as well as regional situations such as Russia and Ukraine, the Middle East, and Asia. Minister Ayrault expressed support for Japan as the country holding the G7 presidency.

(2) Regarding terrorism, the two foreign ministers condemned terrorist acts and agreed to cooperate closely with the international community to prevent terrorist attacks.

(3) Regarding disarmament and non-proliferation, Minister Kishida explained that the shortest path to the realization of a world without nuclear weapons is the steady implementation of realistic and practical measures with the cooperation of nuclear weapon countries and non-nuclear weapon countries. Minister Ayrault stated that France shared Japan’s goal.

(4) On climate change, Minister Kishida expressed respect for France’s leadership and efforts at the COP21, and the two foreign ministers agreed to pursue an early entry into force of the Paris Agreement.

(5) On regional situations, the two foreign ministers exchanged opinions regarding the Middle East, including Syria, East Asia such as North Korea as well as the situation of Russia and Ukraine. They agreed to resolutely condemn >North Korea’s nuclear weapon tests and >ballistic missile launches. They also shared serious concern about unilateral actions in the South China Sea.