Press Releases
Japan-Maldives Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
On June 15, from 11:30 a.m. for approximately 1 hour, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with H.E. Dr. Mohamed Asim, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
Prior to the meeting, Minister Kono and Minister Asim signed and exchanged notes in grant aid to Maldives.
1. Both Ministers highly valued the third foreign minister’s meeting between Japan and Maldives since last November, which reflects the close bilateral relationship. They also welcomed the holding the first Japan-Maldives Policy Dialogue which was established upon the agreement by both Ministers during the last ministerial meeting.
2. Both Ministers shared the view that they will strengthen their cooperation in maritime security under the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy
, while emphasizing that they will continue their bilateral cooperation in the fields such as the environment, climate change, and disaster prevention as well as tourism and medicine.
3. Based on the outcomes of the U.S.-North Korea Summit Meeting, both Ministers shared the recognition that it is necessary to urge North Korea to take concrete actions. They also agreed that they continue to strictly implement the UN Security Council resolutions by such measure as countering sanctions evasion including “ship-to-ship transfers.” Both foreign ministers reaffirmed the cooperation for the early resolution of the abductions issue.
4. Both ministers exchanged their views on South Asia and shared the view that the democratic development of Maldives is important for the peace and stability of the entire region.