Press Releases
Japan-France Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
October 11, 2024
On October 11th, commencing at 5:35 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with H.E. Mr. Jean-Noël BARROT, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Iwaya congratulated Minister Barrot on his appointment as Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. He also congratulated the success of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He stated that France is an “Exceptional Partner” which shares values and principles with Japan, and that he would like to cooperate closely to further strengthen bilateral relations as well as to uphold and bolster the free and open international order based on the rule of law.
- In response, Minister Barrot congratulated Minister Iwaya on his appointment as Foreign Minister. He stated that relations between France and Japan is exceptional and that he is looking forward to working closely with Minister Iwaya from now on and deepening the relations in a wide range of areas.
- The two Ministers concurred to cooperate in economic security, start-ups, trade and investment, AI and other advanced technologies, as well as in addressing global challenges based on the Roadmap on Japan-France Cooperation announced in December last year. The two Ministers also welcomed concrete progress in security and defence cooperation, including discussions on the Japan-France Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA).
- The two Ministers confirmed that Japan and France will work closely together not only on the security situation in the Indo-Pacific, but also on the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, since the security of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is inseparable.
- The two Ministers concurred to continue to cooperate closely both bilaterally and among the G7, aiming for an early realization of an in-person meeting.