Press Releases
Japan-France Foreign Ministers’ Dinner
November 8, 2023
On November 8th, for about 105 minutes from 7:50 p.m. to 9:35 p.m., Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, hosted a dinner for H.E. Ms. Catherine COLONNA, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, who is visiting Japan to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, at Yushintei, the Japanese Style Annex of the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace. The overview is as follows. The dinner was held in a friendly atmosphere and featured dishes such as scallops from Fukushima Prefecture and ingredients from Shizuoka Prefecture were served.
- At the outset, looking back the discussions at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Minister Kamikawa expressed her appreciation for Minister Colonna's contribution to the discussions. Minister Colonna praised Minister Kamikawa's chairmanship at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting and mentioned that Minister Kamikawa had put together an excellent Foreign Ministers’Statement. She also stated that it was a privilege for her that Minister Kamikawa had chosen the State Guest House, an excellent and historic place, for the bilateral dinner.
- The two ministers exchanged views on pressing international issues, including the situation in the Middle East, and concurred to carry on their close cooperation through bilateral channels and the G7 framework.
- Minister Kamikawa explained the latest situation regarding the discharge of ALPS treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, and Minister Colonna welcomed Japan’s efforts to promote transparency and dialogue on this matter.
- The two ministers had a series of dialogues in a friendly atmosphere, touching upon food and culinary culture among others between Japan and France, and concurred to work together to promote exchanges between Japan and France in a variety of fields.
- Furthermore, the two ministers experienced together carp feeding before the dinner, and after the meal, they enjoyed Shizuoka tea together, which they also had taken pleasure in drinking at the Japan-France Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York, while appreciating a demonstration of green tea hand-processing and a presentation of natural green tea aroma.