On 12 March, the European Union (EU) and Japan held their annual Political Dialogue in Brussels.

The Dialogue covered a wide range of issues including EU-Japan relations as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

In light of the unprecedented global challenges, the EU and Japan committed to further strengthening the Japan-EU relationship, an ever-closer strategic partnership built on shared values and rooted in the firm commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based order.

They also agreed to continue their close coordination on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East as well as latest developments and scope for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation were also discussed, as well as security issues in East Asia.

The next high-level political dialogue will take place in Tokyo.

The meeting was co-chaired by Enrique Mora, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service, and Takehiro Funakoshi, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.