Canada and Japan have signed a new strategic partnership agreement that aims to boost co-operation on defence, energy, trade and technology.
Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Friday, outlining a long list of areas where the two countries plan to deepen collaboration, from cyber policy to Arctic security and addressing climate change.
"We have much in common, and we're enriched by each other's cultures, perspectives and histories," Carney said during a joint media event where both leaders made statements but took no questions.
"This is a strong foundation on which we can build something even better, more prosperous, more ambitious."
Carney, who earned a smile and a clap from Takaichi by making some remarks in Japanese, touted the two countries' close economic and security partnerships, including $40 billion in two-way trade and joint efforts to patrol the Pacific.
"We do much, but we're ready to do much more," he said.
Carney said a Team Canada trade mission will travel to Japan in "the next few months."
Takaichi, speaking in Japanese, said the agreement marks "the first time our bilateral leaders' statement has laid down a strategic direction in a comprehensive way."
She said, according to a translation provided by the Japanese government, that "Canada is a like-minded partner of Japan, together promoting (a) free and open Indo-Pacific."
The strategic partnership agreements involve closer co-operation on international emergency response, joint coast guard exercises and tackling illegal fishing in the North Pacific.
On trade, the two countries said they would instruct officials to "identify immediate investment opportunities, including through pension funds" and exchange trade delegations.
They agreed to expand trade when it comes to energy projects, including liquefied natural gas, and to work closer on critical minerals, including to secure reliable supplies, among other measures.
They also announced a new cyber policy dialogue to address "growing threats in cyberspace."
The two countries are planning additional "joint operations and training exercises, including joint sails between the Royal Canadian Navy and the Japanese Navy." Japan could potentially participate in Canada’s Operation NANOOK, the release said.
Canadian ambassador to Japan Ian McKay told reporters that Canada has had a very good relationship with Japan for decades, but that it's been "almost responsive to the issues of the day."
He said that with the comprehensive strategic partnership, "this is now a relationship we need to double down on and accelerate everything we do." He cited defence and security co-operation, supply chain resilience, and increasing agricultural and energy exports and co-operation on critical minerals.
Picture Courtesy: Takashi Aoyama/Pool Photo via AP
