The second-ranking diplomats of Japan and the United States held an inaugural meeting Thursday on infrastructure development cooperation in other countries, a move widely seen as linked to the two allies' efforts to counter China's inroads into Southeast Asia and elsewhere.
The Diplomacy and Development Dialogue meeting in Washington was led by Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who discussed policy coordination related to emerging and developing countries in the so-called Global South.
Okano and Campbell confirmed that the two nations "will work together to address issues in the areas of diplomacy and development by effectively utilizing the respective strengths," the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
The launch of the dialogue was agreed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington in April to bolster a free and open international order based on the rule of law as "global partners."
During the trip, Kishida and Biden also held a three-way meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and agreed that Tokyo and Washington would advance "high-impact infrastructure projects" in the Southeast Asian country, including the modernization of ports and railways.
The dialogue meeting took place ahead of trilateral talks Friday at which Okano, Campbell and South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun are expected to discuss North Korea, Russia's war against Ukraine and other major security challenges.
On Thursday, Okano met with Kim and agreed that diplomats of the neighboring countries will work closely toward upgrading relations in the coming year, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry.
Japan and South Korea in 2025 will mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties.
Among other issues, the ministry said that Okano and Kim "frankly" exchanged views on North Korea's failed attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite and test-firings of over 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles earlier this week.
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