Image Credits - AFP
On February 5th, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan held a significant meeting with Giorgia Meloni, the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, followed by a working dinner. The meeting, spanning nearly two hours, underscored the importance of Japan-Italy relations and collaboration on global issues.
Prime Minister Kishida warmly welcomed President Meloni’s visit, expressing a desire for fruitful discussions to bolster Italy’s upcoming G7 Presidency and advance bilateral ties. In turn, President Meloni emphasized the continuity of Japan’s G7 leadership and pledged to further enhance bilateral cooperation.
Reflecting on Japan’s G7 Presidency in 2023, Prime Minister Kishida highlighted key achievements, including discussions on the rule of law and engagement with non-G7 partners. President Meloni commended Japan’s leadership and affirmed Italy’s commitment to build upon these accomplishments during its presidency. Both leaders affirmed their dedication to ensuring the success of the upcoming G7 Puglia Summit.
Turning to bilateral relations, Prime Minister Kishida praised the progress made in defence and security cooperation, such as joint naval exercises and the joint development of next-generation fighter aircraft. He also emphasized the importance of economic cooperation, particularly with the upcoming entry into force of the Social Security Agreement and collaboration on semiconductors.
President Meloni echoed Prime Minister Kishida’s sentiments, expressing satisfaction with the deepening of ties across various sectors and emphasizing the need for continued communication and cooperation. On regional and international issues, both leaders underscored the importance of engaging with developing and emerging countries to address global challenges. They agreed to collaborate closely within the G7 framework to develop concrete measures of cooperation.
Regarding the situation in Israel and Palestine, Prime Minister Kishida and President Meloni emphasized the need for immediate action to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and secure the release of hostages.
On the topic of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the leaders reaffirmed the G7’s pivotal role in leading the international response. They also discussed North Korea’s nuclear and missile issues, as well as the situation in East Asia, pledging to coordinate closely within the G7 framework.
Lastly, both leaders welcomed the G7’s continued focus on AI, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring the development of safe and trustworthy AI technologies.
Overall, the meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and President Meloni underscored the strong partnership between Japan and Italy and their shared commitment to addressing global challenges through multilateral cooperation.