Press Releases
Japan-Romania Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
March 7, 2023
On March 7, commencing at 4:00 p.m. for approximately 40 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Bogdan Aurescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania who is accompanying H.E. Mr. Klaus-Werner IOHANNIS, President of Romania on a visit to Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi stated that Romania is an important partner which shares fundamental values and it is grateful that the high level contacts between Japan and Romania has been intensified in the recent years. Minister Hayashi also expressed his hope such an exchange will become more vibrant through the establishment of the Culture Institute in your embassy in Tokyo. And Minister Hayashi noted that Japan intends to ensure that the visit to Japan of President Iohannis and Minister Aurescu will provide opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields.
- Minister Hayashi noted that amid the protracted invasion by Russia against Ukraine, it is important for the international community to unite in continuing strict sanctions against Russia as well as strong support for Ukraine, sharing that in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in February the G7 Foreign Ministers had confirmed this point. Minister Hayashi further stated that Japan, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during wartime, can never accept Russia’s nuclear threats, let alone its use of nuclear weapons, and that it is important for the international community as a whole to continue to express strong concern about Russia’s nuclear threats. Both Ministers confirmed that they will continue to work closely together on the response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
- Mr. Hayashi reiterated the necessity for like-minded countries to support the stability of the Republic of Moldova, Romanian speaking country, has become greater than ever, in the context the country has been greatly affected by Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Mr. Hayashi explained that in February 2023 Japan had decided to provide the Republic of Moldova with financial support by yen loan equivalent to 100 million US Dollars. Both ministers affirmed the importance of providing support to the Republoc of Moldova.
- Minister Hayashi explained the formulation of Japan’s new National Security Strategy at the end of last year, in light of the increasingly severe international security environment. Minister Aurescu expressed his support to the Strategy.
- The two ministers also discussed addressing economic security issues including economic coercion, opaque and unfair development finance, dealing with North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, and strengthening the functions of the UN including the Security Council reform. They confirmed that both would work closely together in the context of Japan-EU and Japan-NATO partnership as well.
- Minister Hayashi reiterated Japan’s request for Romania’s cooperation in early lifting of import measures on Japanese food products by the EU.