Press Releases
Japan-New Zealand Vice Ministers’ Meeting
June 2, 2026
On June 2, commencing at 12:00 p.m. for approximately two hours, Mr. FUNAKOSHI Takehiro, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a Vice Ministers’ meeting in the form of a working lunch with Mr. Bede CORRY, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand, who is visiting Japan.
- In light of the current severe strategic environment, the two sides confirmed that they would further strengthen security cooperation between Japan and New Zealand as “Strategic Cooperative Partners” and also enhance collaboration in the field of economic security, including the strengthening of the resilience of supply chains, particularly for critical minerals, as well as in the energy sector.
- The two sides discussed various issues in the Indo-Pacific region, including in the Pacific Island countries, and concurred that Japan and New Zealand would work closely together with regional partners to advance concrete efforts under the updated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”