Press Releases
Japan-France Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
April 18, 2023
On April 18th, commencing at 4:30 p.m. for approximately an hour, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Ms. Catherine COLONNA, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Minister Hayashi, noting that given the current severe security environment, the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific cannot be discussed separately and that unity and alignment among like-minded countries are more important than ever, stated that he would like to further strengthen bilateral cooperation to maintain and enhance a free and open international order based on the rule of law. In response, Minister Colonna thanked Minister Hayashi for chairing the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting and for the hospitality of Japan, and stated that the security of Indo-Pacific and Europe is indivisible and that it is important to respect international order based on the rule of law.
- The two Ministers welcomed the progress of cooperation in security area between Japan and France, marked by the scheduled port call of the French frigate Prairial in Yokosuka in a few days, and concurred to further promote bilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The two Ministers welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The two Foreign Ministers concurred to compile a new roadmap on the Japan-France cooperation to further deepen bilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields. Minister Hayashi reiterated his request for France’s cooperation towards the early lifting of import measures on Japanese food products by the EU.
- The two ministers affirmed that the G7 would continue to make a united response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine based on the discussions at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The two Ministers concurred to continue to coordinate closely in addressing issues related to China, and reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as an indispensable element in security and prosperity in the international community, noting that there is no change in the basic positions on Taiwan, as confirmed at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Furthermore, the two Ministers concurred to continue to coordinate closely in responding to North Korea, including on nuclear and missile related issues as well as the abductions issue.
- The two Ministers confirmed to continue to work together closely towards the success of the G7 Hiroshima Summit.