Foreign Minister Heiko Maas spoke to his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi on the telephone today (19 March). Their conversation focused on the worldwide fight against the spread of the coronavirus. Both sides agreed that they wanted to work together closely – for instance in the development of medicines and vaccines against the coronavirus and in the exchange of information. Foreign Minister Maas and Foreign Minister Motegi agreed that it was important right now not to allow supply chains to break down as this was immensely important particularly for export nations such as Germany and Japan. With a view to the corona crisis, they agreed that both countries wanted to step up their efforts to ensure the security of each other’s nationals in their respective countries.

Foreign Minister Maas and Foreign Minister Motegi also discussed the IndoPacific region. They both agreed that Germany and Japan wanted to continue to pursue their security policy cooperation in the region.