Joint Statement: Japan and Aotearoa New Zealand: a Strategic Cooperative Partnership for Common Peace, Security and Prosperity “wi beehive.govt.nz/release/joint-statement-japan-and-aotearoa-new zealand-strategic-cooperative-partnershipcommon Strengthening the Strategic Cooperative Partnership 1. The Prime Minister of Japan His Excellency KISHIDA Fumio and the Prime Minister of New Zealand the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern held a productive and substantive meeting in Tokyo on 21 April 2022. Acknowledging the Summit Meeting was taking place at a significant time as the two countries were celebrating the 70" anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations, the two leaders emphasised the close and strong bilateral relations and expressed their ambition to further enhance the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Japan and New Zealand, which is founded on common values including democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and a shared commitment to peace and security, free and open trade, countering climate change and sustainable growth. 2. Amid growing challenges to the fundamental values and principles shared by Japan and New Zealand and their like-minded partners in the region and beyond, the Prime Ministers reiterated their shared commitment to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law, to ensure that the region remains inclusive, stable and prosperous, and free from foreign intereference and coercion, and that the rights, freedoms and sovereignty of all countries regardless of size or power are protected. 3. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a serious threat to the rules-based international order, with ramifications well beyond Europe, including in the Indo-Pacific. The two leaders reiterated Japan’s and New Zealand’s unequivocal condemnation of Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine and demanded Russia’s immediate withdrawal. They strongly condemned Russian’s inhumane acts including the killing of civilians. They affirmed their consistent support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and their intention to align their support for the Ukrainian people. They will continue to raise the costs for the architects of Russia’s illegal and unjustified aggression by applying economic and financial sanctions, which target strategic and economic sectors of significance, as well as Russia’s elite. 4. Japan and New Zealand are key partners in advancing and protectingpeace and security in the Indo-Pacific. Confirming the importance of further deepening the Strategic Cooperative Partnership, the two leaders shared their commitment to enhancing information sharing between the two countries. In this context, the two leaders decided to commence negotiations on an agreement to provide a legal framework for the reciprocal protection of classified information exchanged between the Governments and enable more seamless sharing of such classified information. 1/5

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