Japan-Australia-New Zealand-ROK Leaders’ Meeting (Summary)

[Provisional Translation]

On July 11 commencing at 9:05 a.m. (at 10:05.p.m. JST) for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, who was visiting Washington D.C., the United States of America to attend the NATO Summit held a Japan-Australia-New Zealand-ROK Leaders’ Meeting with Rt. Hon. Christopher LUXON, Prime Minister of New Zealand, H.E. Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea and The Hon. Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of the Commonwealth of Australia. The joint statement was released after the meeting.

1. At the outset, Prime Minister Kishida stated that solidarity of Japan, Australia, New Zealand and ROK is foundation for peace and prosperity in the region and the world and a driving force for maintaining and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law. He also stated that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion are totally unacceptable anywhere in the world.
2. The four leaders exchanged views on the strategic environment in the region, including North Korea, and shared grave concerns over the development of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including the result of the recent Russia-North Korea Summit Meeting. Under the recognition that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is inseparable, the four leaders affirmed that they will deepen communication and cooperation with European countries and NATO members on issues in the Indo-Pacific region.
3. The four leaders affirmed their commitment to working together to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the deepening strategic alignment and cooperation among the four countries.