Takaichi welcomes Chancellor Merz on his visit to Japan

Good evening, everyone. First of all, I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to Chancellor Merz on his visit to Japan. Amid an increasingly challenging international situation, cooperation between Japan and Germany, two countries firmly committed to contributing together to peace and stability in the international community, is more important than ever. I am very pleased that today, as "Premium Partners" and like-minded countries sharing common values and principles, Japan and Germany can demonstrate our unwavering bonds to the world. During our summit meeting just now, Chancellor Merz and I concurred on further strengthening our strategic cooperation across a broad range of fields. The three documents we will issue following this announcement—the Japan-Germany Joint Leaders' Statement, the Japan-Germany Joint Declaration on Advanced Technology Cooperation, and the Japan-Germany Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation—reflect our determination to do so. First, in the area of security, we reaffirmed our shared recognition that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable. Japan welcomes Germany's continued active engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. We will explore opportunities and frameworks conducive to deepening cooperation between our forces, while also promoting cooperation in the defense industry, where our two countries can complement each other's strengths. Turning to industrial technology, Japan and Germany share a spirit of craftsmanship and manufacturing excellence. As two leading industrial and technological nations in Asia and Europe, respectively, cooperation between our countries carries great significance. We confirmed that we will advance concrete cooperation through public-private collaboration in advanced technology fields, including fusion and hydrogen. In particular, regarding cooperation in AI, we concurred on launching the Japan-Germany High-Level Dialogue on AI and coordinating toward the hosting of an AI Summit in Japan. Furthermore, today, we welcomed numerous business representatives from both countries, and approximately 30 memoranda of cooperation were exchanged between public- and private-sector organizations. I hope that this cooperation between Japan and Germany will also complement Japan's Growth Strategy and further drive economic growth in both countries. Cooperation in economic security is indispensable to protecting, nurturing, and further developing our advanced technological capabilities and economic strengths. Japan and Germany, whose strengths are indispensably complementary, are important like-minded partners in upholding a rules-based, free, open, and fair international economic order. Chancellor Merz and I confirmed the importance of ensuring that the interests of both countries, as trusted partners, are reciprocally taken into consideration in industrial support measures for strategic sectors. To build resilient and reliable supply chains, our two countries will diversify sources of critical minerals, develop alternative sources, and work to protect critical technologies. We also confirmed our strong cooperation on regional and international challenges, including the situations in the Indo-Pacific and Ukraine. We will deepen our discussions on these matters at the dinner that follows. As irreplaceable "Premium Partners," Japan and Germany will grow together and make substantial contributions to addressing the challenges facing the international community. Thank you, Chancellor Merz. Danke schön!