[Epoch Times, July 24, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Xia Yu comprehensive report) Saturday (July 24), Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and French President Emmanuel Macron (Emmanuel Macron) During the Tokyo meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen security relations in order to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The two also expressed concern about human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
“Nikkei Shimbun” reported that the leaders of the two countries held a 15-minute meeting, followed by a one-on-one lunch meeting of about 80 minutes. This is the second face-to-face summit between the two following the G7 summit in the UK in June.
After the meeting, the two sides issued a “joint statement”, “seriously concerned” about the Chinese (CPC) government’s human rights violations in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. This year’s “G7 Leaders’ Communiqué” also publicly called on the CCP to respect human rights and freedoms, especially in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
The “Japan-France Joint Statement” also stated that the two countries will promote maritime security and infrastructure construction in coastal countries in the Indo-Pacific region in accordance with the Japan-France cooperation road map agreed in 2019.
Suga Yoshihide said: “I am very happy that Japan and France are developing specific cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”
Macron, who visited Japan on Friday for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, said he hopes to cooperate closely with Japan in the Indo-Pacific region. France owns territory in the Indo-Pacific region.
In May, the French “Joan of Arc” training squadron stopped in Japan. The French Army also joined the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Marine Corps to conduct outlying island defense training in Kyushu, Japan.
Suga Yoshihide and Macron also stated in the “Joint Statement” that the two countries will “strengthen dialogue by putting children’s interests first.”
Macron also praised the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. “I firmly believe in the success of the Tokyo Olympics.” He said.
France will host the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Regarding measures for the new coronavirus (Chinese Communist virus), the two leaders agreed on the importance of equitable access to vaccines. They also hope to restore cross-border flows.
Since France is the host country of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Japanese government has positioned the talks between Yoshihide Suga and Macron as a “highlight of East Olympic diplomacy.”
Editor in charge: Li Huanyu#
.