Arab News Japan

TOKYO: YOSHIKAWA Yuumi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended a reception Wednesday on the French frigate “Lorraine,” which was involved in the recent extraction of Japanese nationals from Sudan.

 

The Lorraine was making a port call and Vice-Minister Yoshikawa welcomed the vessel to Tokyo and expressed her respect for the ship’s contribution to the evacuation operation in Sudan. She praised the important support and cooperation from France in the evacuation of Japanese nationals and others from Sudan.

 

She stated that Japan and France are “exceptional partners”based on common fundamental values and said she was pleased to see the close communication between the two countries through a series of high-level dialogues, including a Japan-France Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in April, the Seventh Japan-France Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting (“2+2”), and the Japan-France Summit Meeting held in May.

 

She also noted that the cooperation in the area of security and defense between Japan and France, both being Indo-Pacific nations, has become much closer in recent years, and that various joint training exercises have been conducted. 

 

She stated that the port call of “Lorraine” was a good opportunity to demonstrate the cooperation between Japan and France in the field of security and defense, as well as theircooperation for the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”