Japan-Latvia Relations
Japan-Latvia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
May 13, 2023
On May 13th, commencing at 10:30 a.m. (local time; May 13th, 05:30 p.m. JST), for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting Stockholm, the Kingdom of Sweden, to attend the EU-Sweden Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi mentioned that, as the international order was being challenged, collaboration among like-minded countries was more important than ever, and that he would like to continue to work closely with Minister Rinkēvičs for maintaining and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law. In response, Minister Rinkēvičs expressed his wish to further strengthen bilateral relations in various fields through this meeting.
- The two Ministers concurred to further strengthen security and defense cooperation in the current severe international security environment of and confirmed that they would work together to enhance the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries through the working holiday agreement which was signed last year.
- Minister Hayashi explained Japan’s views for the G7 Hiroshima Summit, and Minister Rinkēvičs expressed his high appreciation for Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to Ukraine, and he spoke highly of Japan’s positive initiatives as the G7 Presidency.
- The two ministers affirmed that like-minded countries will continue to be united in their response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine. In addition, the two ministers exchanged views on regional affairs such as China and North Korea.