[Provisional translation]
(Reporter)
I am Ito from Kyodo News. Thank you for taking my question. Madam Prime Minister, you just held a telephone meeting with French President Macron. Could you tell us what topics were discussed ?
I am Ito from Kyodo News. Thank you for taking my question. Madam Prime Minister, you just held a telephone meeting with French President Macron. Could you tell us what topics were discussed ?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
I just held a telephone meeting with French President Macron, commencing at 5:35 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes.
I just held a telephone meeting with French President Macron, commencing at 5:35 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes.
Concrete cooperation between Japan and France is progressing in areas such as security, AI, space, and economic security.
We discussed these developments, and I expressed my desire to further strengthen cooperation with France, our special partner.
In particular, I conveyed Japan's serious concerns about the EU's Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) and requested that appropriate actions be taken from the French side. We will continue to cooperate closely toward resolving this issue.
We also discussed the situation in the Middle East. We concurred that an early de-escalation and stabilization of the situation is fundamentally important and that we would cooperate toward the stability of the Middle East region as a whole.
Furthermore, we exchanged views on energy security.
We will continue to communicate closely with France on global energy security and market stability.
At a time when the international order is being significantly shaken, I intend to further strengthen cooperation with President Macron. That is all.
(Reporter)
This is Sugiyama from the Asahi Shimbun. Regarding your absence from the online G7 Leaders' Meeting on the evening of October 2, did you have any exchanges on this matter with President Macron of France, who holds the G7 Presidency?
This is Sugiyama from the Asahi Shimbun. Regarding your absence from the online G7 Leaders' Meeting on the evening of October 2, did you have any exchanges on this matter with President Macron of France, who holds the G7 Presidency?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
There were no such exchanges whatsoever.
There were no such exchanges whatsoever.
(Reporter)
(Sugiyama, Asahi Shimbun) Was the matter not raised by the French side either?
(Sugiyama, Asahi Shimbun) Was the matter not raised by the French side either?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
Not at all.
Not at all.
(Reporter)
I am Yoshino from TV Asahi. The Democratic Party has secured control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the U.S. midterm elections. Could you share your reaction?
I am Yoshino from TV Asahi. The Democratic Party has secured control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the U.S. midterm elections. Could you share your reaction?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
Yes. The Democratic Party has won a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the U.S. midterm elections. However, as this concerns the domestic affairs of another country, the Government of Japan has no particular comment to make.
Yes. The Democratic Party has won a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the U.S. midterm elections. However, as this concerns the domestic affairs of another country, the Government of Japan has no particular comment to make.
In any event, the Japan-U.S. Alliance is an extremely important cornerstone of Japan's foreign and security policy. I intend to continue working with President Trump to further strengthen Japan-U.S. relations.