Tokyo: Japan and the European Union (EU) have pledged to enhance their cooperation in response to current international challenges, particularly focusing on issues such as the situation in Ukraine and developments in the Indo-Pacific region, as reported by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
According to Kuwait News Agency, this commitment was made during a one-hour online Japan-EU Vice-Ministerial Consultation. The meeting was attended by Vice Japanese Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi and Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Bel©n Martnez Carbonell. The discussions emphasized the importance of reinforcing cooperation in national and economic security to uphold a free and open international order governed by the rule of law.
Funakoshi and Carbonell also concurred on the necessity of continued communication at various levels to further these objectives. They agreed to fortify collaboration with like-minded nations to enhance the resilience of supply chains for critical minerals, such as rare earths, which are essential for various industries.