Japan-Malta Relations
Japan-Malta Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
February 23, 2023
On February 23, commencing at 5:20 p.m. local time (7:20 a.m. on February 24, Japan Standard Time) for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with H.E. Dr. Ian BORG, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Malta, during his visit to New York to attend the emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly and the ministerial debate at the United Nations Security Council. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi thanked Minister Borg for attending the state funeral for former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo held last year, and expressed his respect for Malta's leadership as the President of the UN Security Council. Minister Hayashi also expressed his desire to closely work with Malta to maintain and strengthen the international order based on the rule of law, in the face of the Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
- As partners who share fundamental values, the two ministers concurred to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in light of the opening of the Embassy of Malta in Japan in 2020 and the opening of an embassy of Japan in Malta scheduled for within 2023 fiscal year.
- Regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the two ministers confirmed the importance of like-minded countries to unite to continue to impose strict sanctions against Russia and to provide strong support for Ukraine.
- Minister Hayashi explained the formulation of Japan’s the new National Security Strategy at the end of last year, in light of the increasingly severe international security environment. Minister Borg expressed understanding of the Strategy.
- The two ministers also discussed the situations of the East and South China Seas, addressing economic security issues including economic coercion, opaque and unfair development finance, dealing with North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, and strengthening the functions of the UN including the Security Council reform. The two ministers concurred on their further cooperation.