Press Releases
Japan-Netherlands Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
February 3, 2022
On February 3, commencing at 9:30 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with H.E. Mr. Wopke HOEKSTRA, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The overview of the talk is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi congratulated Deputy Prime Minister Hoekstra on his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and expressed his intention to further strengthen Japan’s relationship with the Netherlands, a strategic partner with whom Japan shares a relationship for over 400 years. In response, Minister Hoekstra expressed his intention to develop further the strategic partnership between the two countries in cooperation with Minister Hayashi.
- Minister Hayashi welcomed increased involvement of the Netherlands in the Indo-Pacific, such as the deployment of a Dutch frigate to the region, and stated that Japan highly values the Joint Communication on the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The two Ministers shared the view to further strengthen coordination bilaterally, as well as with the EU, towards the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
- Both Ministers shared the view to strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas. The two Ministers also exchanged views on North Korea, including the recent series of missile launches, and confirmed that they would coordinate their response to North Korea. In addition, the two Ministers exchanged views on Ukraine.
- Both Ministers affirmed that they would coordinate closely in the area of economic security. Minister Hayashi also requested cooperation for the early lifting of EU’s import restrictions on Japanese food products.