Press Releases
Japan-Brunei Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
November 17, 2021
On November 17, commencing at 3:00 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with Dato Seri Setia Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs II, Brunei Darussalam. The overview of the talk is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi expressed his respect to the leadership of Brunei as the Chair of ASEAN-related Meetings, including the ASEAN Summit Meeting held in October, and to Minister Erywan for his contribution as the ASEAN Special Envoy. Minister Hayashi also expressed his interest in forging close ties with Minister Erywan to promote bilateral cooperation. In response, Minister Erywan offered his congratulations to Minister Hayashi on his appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.
- Minister Hayashi stated that Japan hopes to enhance cooperation in fields such as security, climate change and digital, in addition to tackling to COVID-19 and economic fields including the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG). In response, Minister Erywan expressed his gratitude for the cooperation from Japan to date, and stated his intention to closely coordinate towards strengthening the relationship between the two countries.
- The two Ministers exchanged views on the situation in Myanmar, and Minister Hayashi reaffirmed that Japan will continue to fully support the initiatives of ASEAN. In response, Minister Erywan explained his activities as ASEAN Special Envoy and the initiatives of ASEAN, and the two Ministers concurred on further enhancing coordination in order to turn the deadlock of the situation in Myanmar.
- Furthermore, the two Ministers concurred on advancing concrete cooperation for the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” and the “ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific,” including in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and their surrounding areas. The two Ministers also exchanged views on regional affairs, and Minister Hayashi expressed his strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas. In addition, the two Ministers also exchanged views on North Korea including its nuclear and missile-related activities and Minister Hayashi asked for continued understanding and cooperation on the abductions issue.