Prime Minister Kishida held a meeting with German Chancellor Scholz during his visit to Japan and confirmed the importance of Japan and Germany uniting with like-minded countries to continue severe sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine in order to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine as soon as possible.
The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's official residence, first with only an interpreter, and then with an increase in the number of attendees for a total of about 50 minutes.
Prime Minister Kishida stated, "In addition to bilateral relations, as the chair of the old and new G7, I would like to hold frank discussions on a wide range of international situations, including Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific," to which Chancellor Scholz replied, "I would like to continue cooperation between the two countries."
The two leaders confirmed the importance of Japan and Germany uniting with like-minded countries to continue severe sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine in order to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine as soon as possible, and shared the position that Russia's threat of nuclear weapons will never be tolerated.
In addition, bearing in mind China's increasingly hehetic actions, the two leaders agreed to further strengthen concrete cooperation, including in the field of security, toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
In addition, in anticipation of the G1 Hiroshima Summit in May, we agreed to cooperate on global issues such as strengthening the functions of the United Nations, including United Nations Security Council reform, and nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Following the summit meeting, the first intergovernmental consultations with ministers from the two countries were held at the Prime Minister's Office, and the two leaders agreed to promote cooperation in the field of economic security, such as protecting critical infrastructure, countering cyberattacks, and protecting and nurturing emerging technologies, in addition to building robust supply chains for mineral resources and semiconductors.
At the joint press conference following the meeting, Prime Minister Kishida stated, "Japan and Germany will further strengthen coordination and cooperation toward maintaining and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law."
In this meeting with Chancellor Scholz, Prime Minister Kishida held summit meetings with all member countries prior to the Summit as the chair of the G7.