Press Releases
Courtesy call on Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. FUKAZAWA Yoichi by Mr. Bjørn BERGE, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE)
October 10, 2023
On October 10, commencing at noon for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. FUKAZAWA Yoichi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, received a courtesy call from Mr. Bjørn BERGE, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE). The outline of the courtesy call is as follows.
- At the outset, Parliamentary Vice-Minister FUKAZAWA welcomed Mr. BERGE, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, to Japan and paid tribute to the Council of Europe's commitment to upholding values and principles. Mr. FUKAZAWA also stated that Japan would like to strengthen relationship with the Council of Europe as the only observer state in Asia.
- In response, Deputy Secretary General Mr. BERGE expressed his appreciation for Japan's longstanding contribution to the Council of Europe as an observer state and for Japan's leadership as the G7 Presidency. Mr. BERGE also stated that the Council of Europe would also like to further strengthen its relationship with Japan and to deepen cooperation in areas such as support for Ukraine.
- Both sides confirmed that they will continue to work together to uphold the free and open international order based on the rule of law.
