TOKYO - Japanese and Polish foreign ministers agreed Monday at their meeting in Slovakia to coordinate support for Ukraine's recovery and to work closely together under the recognition that the security of Europe and Asia is inseparable, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski affirmed the importance of Poland as the "business hub" for Ukraine's reconstruction in the face of Russian attacks and discussed ways to promote assistance.
Motegi, on a four-nation tour that also includes Turkmenistan, Austria and Mongolia, agreed with Sikorski to cooperate with the European Union and like-minded countries in economic security to foster and safeguard critical technologies, the ministry said.
In separate talks with Slovakian Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar the same day, Motegi agreed to deepen economic cooperation. Some 60 Japanese companies, including automotive parts makers, operate in Slovakia.
Ahead of his visit to Slovakia, Motegi met Turkmenistan Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in the central Asian country on Sunday and the two agreed to strengthen bilateral ties over natural resources, energy and artificial intelligence, the ministry said.
Motegi also agreed to promote cooperation in cutting-edge technology at a separate meeting Tuesday with foreign ministers from the Visegrad 4, a regional framework comprising the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, according to the ministry.
The ministers affirmed the importance of avoiding excessive economic dependence on specific countries and building resilient supply chains, the ministry said.
