Press Releases
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane Meets with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal
On November 21 (local time), Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, met with H.E. Ms. Maria Teresa Gonçalves Ribeiro, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Portuguese Republic in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, during his visit to attend the 13th ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. State Minister Nakane expressed his condolences over the damages that Portugal suffered as a result of serious wildfires throughout this year. In response, Secretary of State Ribeiro expressed her gratitude.
2. State Minister Nakane stated that Japan, as a maritime nation, attached importance to its relations with Portugal, who shares fundamental values. In addition, State Minister Nakane explained that Japan was attaching importance to cooperation with the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), which wielded international influence, and would like to cooperate closely with Portugal from that perspective also. In response, Secretary of State Ribeiro welcomed Japan’s participation as an observer to the CPLP, and expressed expectation that Japan would continue to perform a proactive role.
3. State Minister Nakane explained Japan was promoting the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy” from a perspective, and that a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law formed the foundation for stability and prosperity in the international community, and that Japan would also like to cooperate with Portugal, who shares fundamental values.
4. State Minister Nakane explained that he would like to cooperate in order to maximize pressure on North Korea, including through the full implementation of relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. State Minister Nakane also requested for Portugal’s understanding and cooperation towards prompt resolution of the abductions issue. In response, Secretary of State Ribeiro stated that Portugal condemned North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests and supported the UN’s sanctions, and that it had suspended all diplomatic relations with North Korea in July this year.