日仏、重要鉱物の協力強化　閣僚会談で共同声明

　【パリ時事】斎藤健経済産業相とフランスのルメール経済・財務相は１日、パリ市内で会談し、重要鉱物分野での協力強化に関する共同声明に署名した。両国は重要鉱物の供給や採掘・製錬技術などに関する情報を共有。安定調達のため、両国の企業や投資家の連携を進めることで一致した。
　声明は「強靱（きょうじん）かつ強固で透明性のある重要鉱物サプライチェーン（供給網）の構築が不可欠だ」と指摘。レアアース（希土類）などを安定的に確保するための資源国への支援について議論を進めるとともに、日仏政府間や民間企業を交えた対話を行うと明記した。（2024/05/02-08:45）

Japanese economy minister Ken Saito and his French counterpart, Bruno Le Maire, on Wednesday agreed that the two countries will strengthen cooperation over supply of critical minerals including rare earths.
   Under the agreement, Japan and France will share information on supply chains and mining and smelting technologies and advance collaboration with companies and investors to ensure stable supply of critical minerals.
   It is crucial to build critical mineral supply chains that are resilient, strong and transparent, the two ministers said in a joint statement signed at a meeting in Paris.
   The ministers agreed that Japan and France will promote dialogue involving companies and advance discussions on providing aid to resource-rich countries.
   Critical minerals, used in such products as batteries for electric vehicles, are becoming increasingly important in terms of economic security because only a few countries are able to produce them.