Press Releases
Japan-France Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
November 18, 2021
On November 18, commencing at 4:55 p.m. for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with H.E. Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic. The overview of the talk is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi extended his greetings upon being appointed foreign minister, and stated his intention to further strengthen Japan’s relations with France as an exceptional partner. In response, Minister Le Drian congratulated Minister Hayashi on his appointment as Foreign Minister and expressed his intention to work together with Minister Hayashi to strengthen Japan-France relations.
- Minister Hayashi welcomed the substantial deepening of cooperation between Japan and France in the Indo-Pacific, through the conducting of joint training during the visit to port in Japan by the “Jeanne d’Arc” in May, among other measures. Minister Hayashi also highly appreciated France's leading role in formulating the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The two ministers shared the view to work to further strengthen Japan-France and Japan-EU coordination in the Indo-Pacific, taking into account the fact that France will assume the EU Presidency in the first half of next year. Furthermore, the two ministers confirmed that they would promote a variety of Japan-France consultations and strengthen Japan-France cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in a multilayered manner.
- The two ministers also exchanged views on regional situations including China and North Korea and affirmed that they would continue to closely work together.
- Minister Le Drian highly appreciated the contribution of Japan at COP26, and the two ministers shared the view to closely collaborate in the international arena on the issues such as climate change.