Press Releases
Meeting between Foreign Minister Motegi and Mr. Rasmussen, Chairman of Rasmussen Global (former Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), former Prime Minister of Denmark)
On November 19, commencing at 4:15 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Chairman of Rasmussen Global (former Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), former Prime Minister of Denmark), who was visiting Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. Opening remarks
Minister Motegi welcomed Mr. Rasmussen to Japan and stated “I sincerely appreciate Mr. Rasmussen’s statement that ‘Japan is an important partner for Europe in a global battle for freedom and democracy’”. In response, Mr. Rasmussen stated “Japan and the EU have good cooperation. I would like to invite Minister Motegi to a democracy summit meeting to be held in June next year in Copenhagen.”
2. Japan-Europe relations
Minister Motegi stated “The relationship between Japan and the EU is very close due to the Japan-EU EPA and SPA. The Japanese and EU leaders signed ‘The Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure between Japan and the European Union’ at the end of September to reiterate bilateral cooperation on connectivity including in Indo-Pacific. Regarding the Japan-NATO relations, they develop steadily based upon the Japan-NATO Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program (IPCP) which was signed by Prime Minister Abe and then Secretary General Rasmussen in 2014.” In response, Mr. Rasmussen stated “I have been supporting to enhance Japan-NATO cooperation. The Japan-EU EPA is a good example and model to the world in terms of comprehensive economic cooperation. Japan, as a strong democratic country, plays a role to show outstanding examples to countries promoting democracy. For that reason, Japan and Europe should cooperate further.”
3. Regional situations
They exchanged views regarding the regional and international situations including Asia and Europe as well as NATO.