Japan-Canada Relations
Japan-Canada Summit Meeting
April 28, 2019
Japan-Canada Summit Meeting1
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Japan-Canada Summit Meeting2
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
Japan-Canada Summit Meeting3
Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office
On April 28, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, during his visit to Canada, held a Japan-Canada Summit Meeting with the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. An overview of the meeting is as follows. (The leaders exchanged jerseys of their national rugby teams, and held a one-on-one meeting from around 9:50 a.m. for approximately 30 minutes, and an expanded meeting from 10:20 a.m. for approximately 45 minutes.)
1 Cooperation towards the G20 Osaka Summit
The leaders shared the view that they would continue to work closely to make the G20 Osaka Summit successful. Prime Minister Trudeau stated that he would give his full support for the success of the G20 Osaka Summit, to which Prime Minister Abe expressed his appreciation.
2 Japan-Canada relations
- The leaders welcomed that Japan-Canada relations have strengthened in recent years in both the areas of security and economy, including cooperation for addressing ship-to-ship transfers, efforts towards concluding the ACSA, and the entry into force of the CPTPP. The leaders also shared the view on strengthening the strategic partnership between Japan and Canada under the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
- The leaders welcomed the expansion of trade and investment between Japan and Canada through the entry into force of the CPTPP, and confirmed that they would cooperate toward the steady implementation and expansion of the CPTPP.
3 Regional situation
- As for the situation regarding North Korea, the leaders reaffirmed that they would continue to work closely towards realizing the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement (CVID) of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges by North Korea, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. In addition, Prime Minister Trudeau announced a two-year extension of the deployment of aircraft and ships by Canada for monitoring and surveillance activities against ship-to-ship transfers, to which Prime Minister Abe expressed his gratitude. Prime Minister Abe also asked for understanding and cooperation towards the early resolution of the abductions issue and obtained the support of Prime Minister Trudeau.
- Regarding China, Prime Minister Trudeau explained the current situation concerning the issue of Canadians detained in China, among other matters. The leaders reiterated the importance of the rule of law, including in the detainment issue.
- As for the situation regarding Venezuela, Prime Minister Abe commended Canada’s leadership towards restoring democracy in Venezuela, and the leaders shared the view on continuing to cooperate closely.
Following the meeting, the leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Invest in Canada concerning bilateral investment promotion, and a memorandum of cooperation between Japanese and Canadian research institutes to promote bilateral R&D activities focusing on artificial intelligence (AI)(PDF). 