Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Matsumoto, who is visiting Washington, met with senior US government officials in charge of the information and communications sector.
Bearing in mind China's rapid technological development, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperative relationships in areas such as research and development of next-generation communication standards.
On the morning of the 18th, Japan time, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Matsumoto held a meeting with Deputy Secretary of Commerce Graves on cooperation in the field of information and communications.
With China in mind, where rapid technological development is progressing, we will strengthen cooperative relationships in areas such as the realization of a free and open Internet space in which diverse businesses can easily participate, and the research and development of a next-generation communication standard called Beyond 5G. We agreed on that.
It seems that the Japanese government aims to secure leadership in the international community in this field together with the United States.
At the meeting, we also confirmed that we will cooperate for the success of the Digital and Technology Ministerial Meeting to be held in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture in April prior to the G7 Hiroshima Summit.
After that, Minister Matsumoto told reporters, "Open network space will be an important theme at the ministerial meeting. Toward the creation of common rules, it is necessary to gain the understanding of each country based on Japan-US relations. We agreed on the recognition. We would like to further advance cooperation based on this agreement."