Japan – Meeting of Minister Jean-Noël Barrot with his counterpart (3 May 2025)

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr Jean-Noël Barrot, received his Japanese counterpart, Mr Iwaya Takeshi, for a working lunch in Paris on 2 May 2025.

The two Ministers discussed the strengthening of every dimension of the exceptional partnership between France and Japan, including diplomacy, security, the economy and technology, and culture, as well as deepening strategic cooperation, notably in the Indo-Pacific.

The Ministers recalled the fundamental principles and values that France and Japan share and, in the context of major geopolitical instability, underlined the crucial importance of promoting and enforcing a rules-based international order and multilateral cooperation. They affirmed the shared will of France and Japan to enhance their resilience and their respective sovereignty. The two Ministers also talked about the global economic situation.

They also discussed major crises and situations around the world, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the latest developments on the Korean Peninsula. They reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine. The Minister welcomed Japan’s resolute support for Ukraine and assured his counterpart of France’s full solidarity in the face of North Korean actions.

He reaffirmed the importance of cooperation with Japan to prepare for major international events such as the third United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (UNOC3, or UN Ocean Conference), to be held in Nice in June 2025, and France’s 2026 G7 Presidency. The Minister also congratulated Japan on the successful opening and visitor numbers of the World Expo in Osaka.