French President Emmanuel Macron met Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Yoshihide Suga on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Tokyo on Saturday. During the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed bilateral cooperation on climate change, Indo-Pacific, COVID-19, and trade.
In a joint statement, the leaders hailed their “exceptional partnership” and highlighted the roadmap for cooperation between France and Japan, opening new horizons between the two nations. They also reviewed the progress made on the 2019 French-Japanese agreement and pledged “to work together…on priority areas such as maritime security, climate change, environment and biodiversity.” Moreover, Macron welcomed Japan’s decision to hold the Olympic Games, which symbolise unity in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The French leader praised the efforts made by Japan to ensure safety and appreciated Japan’s commitment to share valuable insights on safety, security, sustainability, inclusivity, and accessibility with the next organisers of the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
Additionally, both sides welcomed the decision taken at the COVAX-AMC Summit, organised by Gavi and Japan, on June 2. The leaders reiterated the need for increased international cooperation to counter the ongoing pandemic and discussed equitable access to vaccines. In this regard, France and Japan pledged to donate millions of vaccines and finance COVAX. While discussing economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the leaders expressed their determination to promote green, inclusive, and sustainable recovery globally, focusing on the economic recovery of poor and vulnerable nations.
Regarding the Indo-Pacific, the countries highlighted the importance of achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. In addition, both sides agreed to hold the second bilateral session of dialogue on global maritime issues at the earliest, along with having a second working group on the Indo-Pacific. As part of its presidency of the Indian Ocean Commission, France also laid out its priorities to enhance regional cooperation and deepen its partnership with Japan. Both countries pledged to deepen their defence forces after the deployment of French armies to Japan for various defence exercises.
Given its scheduled presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2022, France announced its intention to allow the European Union (EU) to strengthen its presence and action in the Indo-Pacific to promote “stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development of the region” by adhering to principles of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and international law. In addition, the two nations also acknowledged the presence of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Indo-Pacific region and pledged to seek cooperation in its priority areas.
Furthermore, the leaders discussed climate change, biodiversity, and the environment, and promised to continue their cooperation to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement. They also talked about trade and economic relations, while agreeing to develop new partnerships “in the service of innovation” by reaping the opportunities offered by the EU economic partnership agreement, signed in February 2019 by Japan. As per the joint statement, both sides also discussed parental rights while referring to a French citizen on a hunger strike to gain access to his children whom their Japanese mother allegedly abducted.
Apart from Japan, President Marcon also visited French Polynesia in the Pacific to discuss climate change and Indo-Pacific strategy.
France Reaffirms Bilateral Cooperation With Japan in Indo-Pacific
French President Emmanuel Macron met the Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, on the sidelines of the Olympic games and discussed COVID-19, trade, Indo-Pacific, and climate change.
July 26, 2021
SOURCE: THE JAPAN TIMES