Japan and Ecuador on Friday pledged to work together closely to strengthen the U.N. Security Council as new nonpermanent members, the Japanese government said, as the world body struggles to deal with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
At their meeting in Ecuador's capital Quito, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and his Ecuadorian counterpart Juan Carlos Holguin also agreed to cooperate in realizing a rules-based, free and open global order, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Japan and Ecuador are among five countries starting two-year terms as new nonpermanent members on the council, which is charged with ensuring international peace and security. Mozambique, Malta and Switzerland are the other new members.
Their membership comes as Russia continues its prolonged war in Ukraine and North Korea conducts repeated test-firings of ballistic missiles.
But the world body has come to be viewed as dysfunctional in dealing with those issues, due mainly to the veto power of Russia and China, both permanent members of the 15-member council.
"Under the severe international situation, it is important to strengthen the functions of the United Nations, which should be the core of the rule of law," Hayashi was quoted as saying by the ministry.
Holguin said his nation will further boost economic relations with Japan by adopting "free trade and open door policies," according to the ministry.
Earlier on Friday, Hayashi met with Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso and discussed cooperation over the situations in Ukraine and East Asia, the ministry said.
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