Japan-Malaysia Relations

On Wednesday, July 11, commencing at 1:30 p.m. (local time) for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Malaysia, held a foreign ministers' meeting with Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. The overview is as follows. Minister Kono is the first Foreign Minister whom Minister Saifuddin met after his appointment on July 2.

1. Minister Kono congratulated Minister Saifuddin on the victory in the recent election and his appointment to the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, and stated that he would like to expand, deepen, and bring to new heights cooperation based on the Look East Policy, which built current Japan-Malaysia relations. In response, Minister Saifuddin welcomed Minister Kono's visit, and stated that he would like to cooperate for further development of relations between the two countries. 
2. Both ministers confirmed continued bilateral cooperation, including the rejuvenation of the Look East Policy through advancing cooperation in various fields. In addition, Minister Kono conveyed his intention to enhance cooperation on regional issues under the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. 
3. Both ministers exchanged views on the regional situation, including North Korea and the South China Sea. Regarding North Korea, based on U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo's visit to North Korea last week and the Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea Foreign Ministers' Meeting held immediately afterward, Minister Kono stated that there is a need to urge North Korea to take  concrete actions. Both ministers agreed on the objective to seek the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges by North Korea, in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. In addition, Minister Kono called for  Minister Saifuddin's understanding and cooperation on the early  resolution of the abductions issue. 
4. Finally, Minister Saifuddin expressed his condolences for the victims of the heavy rain in western Japan.