Japan, France Agree To Boost Cooperation On Critical Mineral Supply Chains

TOKYO, April 1 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to deepen cooperation to strengthen supply chains of critical minerals under a road map the countries signed Wednesday, Kyodo News Agency reported.

The two leaders also affirmed that Japan and France will maintain close communication in support of efforts to de-escalate tensions in West Asia and for a stable supply of crude oil, Takaichi said at a joint press appearance after their meeting in Tokyo.

Calling France a "special partner sharing values and principles," Takaichi said, "Amid an increasingly severe international security environment, cooperation with like-minded countries has never been more important for the peace and prosperity of our nations and the region."

Rare earths are essential for manufacturing high-tech products including electric vehicles, semiconductors and cutting-edge weapons.

The Japan-France rare earth road map is apparently aimed at lowering their high dependency on China, which is said to mine about 70 per cent of the world's supply and refine some 90 per cent.

The road map will allow the two countries to reinforce their partnership to "diversify" their suppliers and find new resources, Macron said, adding that the partnership with Japan is "exceptional" and "a response to the disorder of the world."

Among other deals, Japan and France will establish a high-level dialogue on artificial intelligence, step up collaboration in nuclear power, such as developing fast reactors and promoting recycling of spent fuel, and work together to make this year's Group of Seven summit a success, Takaichi said.

Macron's visit comes before he is set to chair the summit in Evian in eastern France in June.

Tokyo and Paris have boosted their security collaboration in recent years, signing an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement which simplifies the process of sharing food, fuel and ammunition between their forces, and a deal on defence equipment and technology transfers.

It is Macron's first trip to Japan solely for a bilateral summit since he took office in 2017, and his fourth visit as French president, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. His previous visit was in May 2023 for the G7 summit held in Hiroshima in western Japan.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO