METI Co-Hosts Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum with the U.S. Government

1. Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum

METI co-hosted the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum with the U.S. government, in which leaders, ministers and other delegates from 18 countries participated. 

Participants in the forum discussed energy security measures in view of the current situation in the Middle East, as well as robust energy systems that will contribute to future energy security.

From Japan, Mr. Akazawa Ryosei, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, attended this event and talked about the importance of promoting collaboration for the enhancement of regional energy security in light of the situation in the Middle East, and about Japan’s contribution to the stabilization of the global energy market. 

The results of this forum were summarized in a joint statement.

2. Bilateral meetings

(1) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Auttapol Rerkpiboon, Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Thailand

Minister Akazawa and Minister Auttapol exchanged views on energy cooperation based on the recognition that the two countries are major oil and LNG consumers. Minister Akazawa also signed a renewal of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the LNG sector, which was initially concluded in 2022, with Minister Auttapol. 

(2) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Kim Jung-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources of the Republic of Korea (ROK)

Minister Akazawa and Minister Kim exchanged views on energy and trade cooperation based on the recognition that the two countries are major oil and LNG consumers. Moreover, Minister Akazawa signed a Supply Chain Partnership Arrangement with Minister Kim. Also, a memorandum of understanding on the optimization of LNG operation, which was agreed upon by Japan’s JERA and the ROK’s KOGAS, was unveiled in the presence of the two ministers.

(3) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Doug Burgum, U.S. Secretary of the Interior and Chairman of the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC), and H.E. Mr. Lee Zeldin, the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and a Japan-U.S. ministerial meeting on investment in mining, minerals and metals

Minister Akazawa, Secretary Burgum and Administrator Zeldin exchanged views on the Middle East situation and bilateral energy cooperation.

Moreover, the Japan-U.S. Mining, Minerals and Metals Investment Ministerial was held. The two sides confirmed their cooperation on projects that contribute to strengthening critical minerals supply chains, agreed to establish a Rapid Response Group to discuss information sharing and cooperation in the event of supply chain disruptions, and agreed to further cooperation between Japan and the United Stated on critical minerals. 

(4) Meeting with H.E. Ms. Madeleine King, Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia of the Commonwealth of Australia

Minister Akazawa and Minister King exchanged views on the trends and current situation of the critical mineral and energy sectors based on the recognition that Australia is a stable supplier of resources and a reliable partner for Japan. 

(5) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Tan See Leng, Minister in Charge of Energy and Science & Technology in the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Singapore

Minister Akazawa and Minister Tan signed a comprehensive energy, framework and exchanged views on energy cooperation and economic security. 

(6) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia

Minister Akazawa and Minister Bahlil signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Cooperation in Nuclear Energy Sector and a Memorandum of Cooperation on Cooperation in Critical Minerals and agreed to foster cooperation going forward. The two ministers also exchanged views on energy cooperation, including LNG and power generation. 

Related materials

• Fact Sheet Japan–Republic of Korea Supply Chain Partnership Arrangement(PDF:120KB)
• Memorandum of Cooperation Between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia on Cooperation in Nuclear Energy Sector(PDF:184KB)
• Memorandum of Cooperation Between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia on Cooperation in Critical Minerals(PDF:151KB)

Divisions in Charge

• 
  Contact for this press release

  International Affairs Division, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

• About the Japan-ROK Supply Chain Partnership Arrangement

  Korea Office, Strategic Policy Planning Division, Trade Policy Bureau

• About thJapan-U.S. Mining, Minerals and Metals Investment Ministerial and the Japan-Indonesia Memorandum of Cooperation on Cooperation in Critical Minerals

  Mineral Resources Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau

• 
  
  About the Japan-Indonesia Memorandum of Cooperation on Cooperation in Nuclear Sector

  Office for International Nuclear Energy Cooperation, Nuclear Energy Policy Planning Division, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy