Japan-Romania Summit Meeting (Summary)

 
On March 7, commencing at 6:40 p.m. for approximately 80 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, held a Summit Meeting and a dinner meeting with H.E. Mr. Klaus-Werner Iohannis, President of Romania, who was on an official working visit to Japan. The summary of the meetings is as follows. After the Summit Meeting, the two leaders issued the “Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between Japan and Romania” that is aimed at upgrading the bilateral relations to a “strategic partnership.”
 
1. Introduction
 
(1) Prime Minister Kishida expressed his pleasure at upgrading the relations with Romania, with which Japan shares fundamental values, to a “strategic partnership” at a time when the international community is required to be more united in the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
 
(2) In response, President Iohannis expressed his hope that the two countries will further develop bilateral relations in various areas as strategic partners and work closely together in the international community.
 
2. Bilateral relations
 
(1) The two leaders agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in the areas of economy, science, technology and innovation, as well as people-to-people exchanges. Prime Minister Kishida welcomed the growing Japanese investment in various areas, noting in particular construction of the Braila Bridge over the Danube River as a successful exemple of EU-Japan connectivity project the in which a Japanese company is participating.
 
(2) Prime Minister Kishida also reiterated his request for Romania’s cooperation in the early lifting of the EU’s import restrictions on Japanese food products, and the two leaders confirmed that both countries will cooperate on the basis of scientific expertise.
 
3. International affairs
 
(1) Both leaders strongly condemned any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force, such as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which they said must never be tolerated anywhere in the world. Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan, as the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during wartime, can never accept Russia’s threat of nuclear weapons, let alone of its use. Furthermore, referring to Japan’s G7 Chair this year, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the international community’s continued solidarity and cooperation.
 
(2) The two leaders also shared the view that both countries should work together toward strengthening dialogue in the field of security amid such increasingly severe security environment.
 
(3) Prime Minister Kishida explained that Japan has provided more than 13 million dollars in assistance to Ukrainian evacuees who have fled to Romania, and President Iohannis expressed his gratitude for Japan’s assistance. The two leaders agreed to continue to work together in providing assistance to Ukraine and its neighbor, the Republic of Moldova.
 
(4) Prime Minister Kishida explained that Japan formulated a new National Security Strategy under a severe international security environment, and President Iohannis expressed his strong support for the strategy. The two leaders then described the security environment in their respective neighboring regions. The two leaders agreed to cooperate in responding to attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas. Furthermore, the two leaders shared serious concerns over North Korea’s increasingly active nuclear and missile programs and confirmed that they will work closely together in dealing with North Korea, including the abduction issue.
 
(5) In addition, the two leaders exchanged views on addressing economic security challenges, including economic coercion, and the importance of transparent and fair development finance, and confirmed that they will continue to work together.
 
(6) The two leaders agreed on the importance of strengthening the functions of the United Nations, including the reform of the Security Council. The two leaders agreed that Japan and Romania will further strengthen cooperation in the international arena, including the UN.
 
4. Others
 
After signing the “Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between Japan and Romania,” the two leaders witnessed the document exchange ceremony of the “Memorandum of Cooperation between the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Romania’s Ministry of Finance, and Banca de Export-Import a României EximBank S.A. (Romania EximBank)” and the “Memorandum of Cooperation between the Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Okamoto Optics, Inc. and Romania’s Extreme Light Infrastructure Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP).”