Japan’s new Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Thursday continuing to work closely together on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, China-related issues, as well as North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
During their 10-minute phone talks a day after Kamikawa took office, the two counterparts also agreed to cooperate to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance amid increasing severe regional security environment, based on the achievement of the Japan-US “two-plus-two” security meeting in January, the ministry said in a press release.
In addition, Kamikawa and Blinken shared the recognition that the Japan-US coordination in the economic field is widening and deepening, and concurred on further cooperation, it said.
Kamikawa expressed her hope to build a good relationship with Blinken and to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance, “which is stronger than ever.” In response, Blinken offered his congratulations to Kamikawa for her assumption of office, according to the ministry. Kamikawa also pledged that Japan will fulfill its role as the chair of the Group of Seven (G-7) to uphold and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law as the very foundation of the international order is shaking.
Source: Kuwait News Agency