Japan-France Relations
Japan-France Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
May 3, 2024
On May 3, commencing at 5:50 p.m. (local time; May 4th, 00:50 a.m. JST) for approximately 60 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Paris, France to attend the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Séjourné stated that he was pleased to welcome Minister Kamikawa in Paris, and that he appreciated the opportunities for close communication that have been maintained through the recent G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Italy, in addition to the Japan-France Foreign Ministers' Meeting held this February.
- In response, Minister Kamikawa expressed her pleasure at visiting Paris for the first time as Minister for Foreign Affairs, and stated that Japan attaches great importance to cooperation with France, an “Exceptional Partner” with which Japan shares values and principles. Minister Kamikawa stated that Prime Minister Kishida had a very fruitful meeting with President Macron and Prime Minister Attal, and that she was pleased that the launch of negotiations on the Japan-France Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) was announced at the summit meeting.
- The two Ministers then concurred to further deepen the historic friendship between Japan and France, “Exceptional Partner,” in the areas of security, economy, and culture. Minister Kamikawa also introduced the library that Japan and France jointly supported in Madagascar as a good example of Japanese-French collaboration in cultural diplomacy in third countries, and the two Ministers concurred to encourage such collaboration as well as collaboration between Japanese and French companies in Africa. Minister Kamikawa also wished for the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris this year, and the two Ministers shared their expectations that bilateral exchanges will be further promoted through Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan next year.
- Minister Séjourné gave a high evaluation of Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction held by Japan in February, and the two Ministers concurred to continue their support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. The two Ministers also exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific situation including China and North Korea including the nuclear and missile issues and the abductions issue, and the Middle East. Minister Kamikawa also explained that she had visited Madagascar, Cote d'Ivoire, and Nigeria, and that she would later visit Sri Lanka and Nepal, and the two Ministers exchanged views on the Global South, and concurred to continue to work closely with each other to address various issues facing the international community.