Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union held their first-ever vice foreign ministerial talks Thursday, agreeing to advance specific cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, according to the Japanese government. Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori and European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino, who is on his trip to Tokyo, met online with their counterparts — South Korea’s Cho Hyun-dong, Australia’s Jan Adams and New Zealand’s Chris Seed.

The five participants discussed how to maintain a free and open international order based on the rule of law and talked about the involvement of the European Union and like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific region.

The talks take place in the context that European countries are focusing on strengthening security partnerships with four Asia-Pacific countries.

Source: VOV5