Jean Asselborn’s trip to Tokyo this week brought an occasion to celebrate the friendship between the two countries, the result of 90 years of diplomatic relations, as well as the establishment of a common stance with regards to actions by North Korea.
Ministers welcomed the entry into force this coming August of the bilateral agreement on social security, which will specify, in particular, the social security rights of Japanese citizens living in Luxembourg, as well as Luxembourg citizens residing in Japan.
Discussions turned on an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) between the EU and Japan, which both parties are keen to conclude on comprehensive and ambitious terms. Both sides reiterated their willingness to conclude at the same time a strategic partnership agreement that would allow the EU and Japan to consolidate their relationship and Challenges.
After reviewing the recent elections in South Korea, the ministers agreed on the unacceptability of North Korean nuclear tests and strongly condemned them noting their common view that they provocations should not be without consequence, especially from the Security Council.
Minister Asselborn reminded his counterpart of the EU's restrictive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea introduced in December 2006, stressing that these measures implement all the UNSC resolutions that have been adopted following the nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches by North Korea, including additional measures that have been taken autonomously by the EU.
Image: Jean Asselborn with his counterpart Fumio Kishida in Tokyo yesterday
