News:
Minister Nanaia Mahuta had a productive meeting in Tokyo with her Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, on 27 February. The two ministers reaffirmed our countries’ intention to further strengthen the Japan-New Zealand Strategic Cooperative Partnership. They discussed a range of regional and global issues, and reiterated our shared commitment to an open, inclusive, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. They also agreed that Aotearoa New Zealand and Japan will hold a disarmament dialogue to enhance our collaboration on global peace and security.
A centrepiece of their discussions was our countries’ partnership in support of a stable, prosperous and resilient Pacific. The two ministers released a Joint Aotearoa New Zealand-Japan Declaration on Cooperation in the Pacific (see here [PDF, 340 KB] for the text). This refreshed Joint Declaration builds on the 2019 Declaration on Pacific cooperation, and acknowledges the importance both countries place on our partnership in the region. It will help us cooperate in areas such as climate change and sustainable development as we work together on Pacific priorities in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.