Japan-Canada Relations

On January 15, commencing at shortly after 6 p.m. (shortly after 11 a.m. on January 16, Japan time) for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Vancouver to attend a foreign ministers’ meeting on North Korea, held a Japan-Canada Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with the Honourable Christia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. At the beginning, Minister Freeland welcomed Minister Kono’s participation in this foreign ministers’ meeting on North Korea, and explained that she hopes to hold a close discussion on resolving the North Korea problem with the countries concerned, including Japan, at the meeting on the following day, January 16. Minister Kono expressed gratitude for the invitation to the meeting. The two foreign ministers shared recognition that it will be necessary to use the January 16 meeting to demonstrate the international community’s solidarity for maximizing pressure on North Korea.
2. In addition, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and G7 Summit Meeting, which Canada will host as the holder of the G7 Presidency. Minister Kono explained that Japan will do its utmost to cooperate for the success of the meetings, and stated that he hopes to hold a robust discussion on regional affairs, including Asia, at the meetings. The two leaders shared the view that they will continue to coordinate closely.