Press Releases

On February 11, Mr. MATSUMOTO Hisashi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended the plenary session of the AI Action Summit hosted by France, the signing ceremony of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law, and the Workshop “African Engagement in Global AI Governance” organized by the Council of Europe.

On February 11, Parliamentary Vice-Minister MATSUMOTO held a meeting with Mr. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and exchanged views on cooperation with the OECD in fields such as AI, and support for the OECD accession process of Indonesia and Thailand. In addition, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto stated that the role of the OECD as a standard setter is important, and that Japan's commitment to the OECD remains unchanged.

On 12 February, Parliamentary Vice-Minister MATSUMOTO held a meeting with Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency. Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto referred to the importance of holistically addressing energy security, the climate crisis and geopolitical risks and reaffirmed the important role the IEA plays in global energy security. The two sides concurred on continuing to cooperate closely.

On February 12, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto visited the Japan Cultural Institute in Paris. The Institute is operated by the Japan Foundation, an independent administrative agency, with support from Japanese and French companies, and is a center for the promotion of Japanese culture and cultural exchange between Japan and France. Guided by Mr. Suzuki HITOSHI, President of the Institute, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto visited the exhibition “the world of Fusuma” alongside with the hall, library, tea ceremony room, and other facilities of the Institute, and was briefed on the current situation of cultural exchange between Japan and France through the activities of the Institute.

On February 12, Parliamentary Vice-Minister MATSUMOTO held a meeting with Japanese staff members of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and encouraged them with exchanging views on the Japanese government's contributions to UNESCO, including cultural heritage preservation, as well as issues facing UNESCO.

On February 12, Parliamentary Vice-Minister MATSUMOTO held a meeting with Mr. Saint-Martin, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, and exchanged on how to work more closely together under the roadmap for Japan-France cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region and to maintain and strengthen an international order based on the rule of law.

Minister Delegate Saint-Martin expressed his wish to further strengthen cooperation in the areas of economy, industry, and security among others, and also expressed his high expectations for the expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai.

Also, Parliamentary Vice-Minister MATSUMOTO clearly conveyed the position of Japan to the French government by explaining that the case of the suspect Paul Watson, who is currently in France, is a matter of law enforcement, and it has nothing to do with the debate over whaling.

On February 12, Parliamentary Vice-Minister MATSUMOTO met with officials of the Japanese-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Paris to exchange views on the current situations and challenges of business between Japan and France, the expansion of Japanese companies into Africa, and the role of the officials in charge of cross-border economic affairs.

On February 13, Parliamentary Vice-Minister MATSUMOTO met with Mr. Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, Minister Delegate for Francophonie and International Partnerships in charge of French-speaking countries and international partnerships and exchanged views on France-Japan relations and the situation in Syria.

Parliamentary Vice-Minister MATSUMOTO confirmed the cooperation between France and Japan, including in the field of maritime security, and agreed that France and Japan would work together towards the stabilization of Syria.

Minister Delegate Mohamed-Soilihi explained the France-Japan, cooperation in maritime and third countries and the French position on the situation in Syria and expressed his desire for Japan and France to cooperate on various regional and international issues, including the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East.

On February 13, Parliamentary Vice-Minister MATSUMOTO met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye Dr. Nuh Yılmaz to exchange views on the recent situation in Syria in relation to the ministerial-level meeting on Syria and confirmed continued cooperation.

On February 13, Parliamentary Vice-Minister MATSUMOTO attended the “Ministerial Meeting on Syria” hosted by the French government. H.E. Mr. Jean-Noël BARROT, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic presided over the meeting.

Parliamentary Vice-Minister MATSUMOTO expressed Japan's position that the future of Syria should be decided by the Syrian people themselves. He then expressed the importance of Japan's support for all Syrians in need, especially support that makes use of Japan's expertise in disaster recovery and reconstruction, as well as human resource development that will serve as the foundation for national development.

At the end of the meeting, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, called on the participating countries to work together to achieve stability in Syria.