Meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and President von der Leyen of the European Commission

[Provisional translation]

 

On June 28, commencing at 9:40 a.m. (local time; same day, 4:40 p.m. Japan time) for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, met with H. E. Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, while visiting Germany to attend the G7 Elmau Summit. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. At the outset, Prime Minister Kishida stated that a visit to Japan in May by President von der Leyen in the midst of the Ukraine crisis was an important opportunity to confirm the strategic partnership between Japan and the EU that share values. Prime Minister Kishida also said that the 28th Japan-EU Summit was instrumental in exchanging views in a meaningful manner and resulted in issuing a substantive joint statement. He also stated that the security of Europe and that of the Indo-Pacific are inseparable from each other and expressed his desire to continue to closely work together in responding to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” to ensure the protection of the international order based on the rule of law.
2. In response, President von der Leyen stated that the 28th Japan-EU Summit produced a good roadmap and expressed her desire to further deepen cooperation between Japan and the EU that share values and views regarding the international order based on the rule of law, thereby working together for the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
3. The two leaders concurred that they would unite together to continue strong sanctions against Russiaand support for Ukraine in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The two leaders also discussed the affairs in the Indo-Pacific region and concurred that any unilateral change of the status quo by force is unacceptable.
4. The two leaders concurred that economic relations between Japan and the EU will be brought to a higher level, and Prime Minister Kishida requested the early lifting of import measures on Japanese food products by the EU.