Japan-Sri Lanka Summit Meeting (Summary)
May 25, 2023
[Provisional translation]
On May 25, commencing at 11:40 a.m. for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, had a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, who was on a visit to Japan to attend the Nikkei Forum 28th Future of Asia. The summary of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Prime Minister Kishida welcomed President Wickremesinghe’s visit to Japan and expressed his hope for further developing the “Comprehensive Partnership” with Sri Lanka. In response, President Wickremesinghe expressed his pleasure at meeting with Prime Minister Kishida again after September last year, and expressed his hope for further deepening the bilateral relations into the future.
- Prime Minister Kishida explained the outcome of the G7 Hiroshima Summit, including on maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law, as well as Japan’s new plan for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).” President Wickremesinghe expressed his congratulations on the success of the G7 Hiroshima Summit.
- The two leaders welcomed the holding of the Creditors Committee meeting on restructuring of Sri Lanka’s debt under the three co-chairs, France, India and Japan, and confirmed the importance of carrying out debt restructuring with the participation of all the creditor countries in a transparent and comparable manner. President Wickremesinghe expressed his appreciation for Japan’s contribution to discussions on debt restructuring.
- The two leaders also exchanged views on regional affairs and international challenges, including disarmament and non-proliferation.
