ISTANBUL 

Japan’s cooperation with Canada in joint exercises and surveillance activities is being “advanced,” the country’s top diplomat said Monday.

Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko made the statement in Tokyo, where she hosted Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly, a statement from Japan’s Foreign Ministry said.

Kamikawa welcomed that the “Japan-Canada Action Plan for contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific region has steadily progress(ed) and that new cooperation are being advanced in the joint exercises and surveillance activities of illegal, unregistered and unregulated fishing.”

She and Joly last met in Montreal early this year in January.

“Canada has a strong commitment in the Indo-Pacific region and sees the region as the new key to its growth, and is keen to strengthen cooperation with Japan,” said Kamikawa.

The two sides “concurred to continue to work together to promote bilateral cooperation on economic issues, including the establishment of a comprehensive EV (electronic vehicles) value chain.”

According to the statement, Kamikawa and Joly exchanged views on regional affairs, including China and Southeast Asian and Pacific Island countries, and the situation in North Korea, including its nuclear and missile programs and the alleged abductions of Japanese by Pyongyang.