Japan-Germany Summit Meeting (Summary)

On July 12, commencing at 5:30 p.m., Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, who was visiting Berlin, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, for approximately 45 minutes, which included a tête-à-tête (one-on-one meeting). Commencing at 7:00 p.m., they also met over dinner for approximately 70 minutes. The overview of the meetings is as follows.

1. Beginning
(1) PM Kishida thanked the Federal Chacellor Scholz for the latter’s warm welcome and expressed his pleasure to visit Berlin for the first time since taking office as Prime Minister. He also noted that as the international community faces complex challenges, the two countries sharing values and principles, have increasingly important roles in maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law, and expressed his willingness to discuss ways to further deepen cooperation with the Federal Chancellor.
(2)Federal Chancellor Scholz expressed his welcome to PM Kishida and his willingness to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

2. Bilateral Relationship
(1) Cooperation in Security and Defense
     PM Kishida pointed out that cooperation in the field of security and defense between the two countries has been progressing in recent years, as Germany has been strengthening its involvement in the Indo-Pacific. With aircrafts of the German Luftwaffe and frigates scheduled to visit Japan, and a training fleet of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces scheduled to make a port call in Hamburg this summer, the two leaders welcomed the entry into force of the Agreement on the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) between Japan and Germany on July 12, and shared their expectations that the agreement will further promote cooperation between the forces of the two countries. The two leaders also confirmed that their governments will prepare to hold the next meeting of the "2+2" as soon as possible, in order to further strengthen cooperation in the field of security and defense, utilizing the framework.
(2) Inter-Governmental Consultations
     PM Kishida stated that the first round of the Japan-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations held in Tokyo in March 2023 was an important step in opening a new page in the bilateral relations. The two leaders confirmed that they will coordinate to hold the next meeting in Germany as early as next year, with the participation of relevant ministers from both countries.

3. Cooperation in the fields of economic security, trade and investment
     PM Kishida pointed out the importance of a united response by allies and like-minded countries to the challenges in economic security that have emerged in recent years. Sharing the recognition that cooperation between Japan and Germany, which share commonalities in industrial structure and advanced technologies, is important for maintaining and expanding a free and fair international economic order, confirmed to establish a bilateral framework for consultations in the field of economic security.
     PM Kishida emphasized the importance of promoting cooperation in trade, investment and research, and welcomed the progress being made between private sectors of the two countries in strategically important sectors such as hydrogen, clean energy, semiconductors and critical mineral resources, as well as the ongoing efforts to promote entries of start-up companies between the two countries.
     The two leaders also confirmed that they will strengthen cooperation in areas such as development of Beyond 5G/6G, cyber and the formation of international rules on AI.

4. Intellectual Exchanges
     The two leaders also shared their expectations for further development of intellectual exchanges, through the Japanese-German Forum, which has been held annually for more than 30 years, and the Japan-German Center Berlin, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year.

5. International Situation
     The two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine and shared the recognition that it is important for the international community, including Japan and Germany, to work together to continue strong support for the country.
     The two leaders also had an exchange of views on the latest developments in the Indo-Pacific as well as on cooperation with countries so-called the Global South.