Press Releases
Fifth Japan-France Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue
March 14, 2015
On March 14, for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from 1:00 p.m., Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is staying in Sendai to attend the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, held over lunch the Fifth Japan-France Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with H.E. Mr. Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France. An overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Opening Remarks
Minister Kishida stated that he was pleased by the concrete progress in the field of security and defense in the Japan-France Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting held the previous day, including the signing of the Agreement concerning the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology. Minister Kishida also expressed his gratitude to Minister Fabius for his contribution to the success of the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction such as the speech delivered as the Chair of the COP 21.
Moreover, Minister Kishida stated that Japan and France are exceptional partners that take initiatives in important issues that international society is facing in order to tackle them together and expressed his intention to further strengthen cooperation through this strategic dialogue. The two ministers confirmed that Japan and France would proactively work to solve global issues such as climate change, disaster risk reduction, and the development of African countries. - Climate change
Minister Fabius gave an explanation on his ideas as the Chair of the COP 21 including the initiatives concerning management of reduction of disaster risk related to climate change and requested cooperation so that concrete results could be obtained at the COP 21 scheduled to be held in December this year. In response, Minister Kishida stated that he would like to closely cooperate with France to proactively contribute to the adoption of a framework in which all the countries of COP 21 would join. - Economy
- (1) The two ministers confirmed again their intention to realize an agreement in principle on the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) by the end of this year and shared the view that they would further accelerate negotiations. Moreover, Minister Kishida requested cooperation for relaxation and abolition of the EU’s restrictions on imports of food as well as other products of Fukushima Prefecture based on scientific evidence.
- (2) The two ministers also confirmed that they would further develop bilateral economic relations and human exchanges between Japan and France.
- U.N. Security Council reform
The two ministers shared the view that they would cooperate for the United Nations Security Council reform this year that marks the 70th a - Africa
The two ministers confirmed that they would further enhance Japan-France cooperation in Africa, including cooperation for the realization of sustainable cities.