The European Union and Japan Thursday said “promoting peace and stability and achieving de escalation of tensions in the Middle East ” are their key priorities.
“We welcome recent initiatives in the region to resume or develop diplomatic ties and dialogue between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Iran, “they said in a joint statement after an EU-Japan summit in Brussels today.
The statement called on “Iran to refrain from destabilizing activities in the region including those involving ballistic and cruise missiles, UAVs, and transfers of such advanced weaponry to state and non-state actors.” The summit reaffirmed the EU and Japan’s ever-closer partnership in promoting peace and security, and to sustain a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
“The security of Europe and that of the Indo-Pacific are closely interlinked. We remain resolute in our support to Ukraine and our opposition to Russia’s brutal, unprovoked and illegal war of aggression,” it noted.
On China, the statement said, “we stand prepared to build constructive and stable relations with China, recognizing the importance of engaging candidly and expressing our concerns directly.” “It is important to cooperate with China, given its role in the international community and the size of its economy, on global challenges as well as areas of common interest,” said the statement.
They condemned in the strongest possible terms the “grave human rights violations in Myanmar and the ongoing violence against civilians.” EU and Japan expressed “grave concern over the increased risks to stability in Afghanistan and the deteriorating humanitarian and economic situation.” Moreover, the 55-point joint statement referred to economic, trade and energy issues, food security as well as climate change, digital technology, humanitarian aid among other topics.
“We will work toward successful UNFCCC-COP28 outcomes including on the global stock-take, mitigation, adaptation and other important agendas to resulting in global climate action,” it said.
European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, led the EU side while Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida led his country at the 29th EU-Japan Summit.
Source: Kuwait News Agency