MODERATOR: Thank you so much for coming here today. We're here today to mark the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on small modular reactor deployment in other countries. I will now invite Secretary Rubio to give some opening remarks, followed by Foreign Minister Motegi and Foreign Minister Cho.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you. Thank you both for being here and for being a part of this, and for this trilateral forum that we've been having for quite a while now. But it also has to show some real deliverables, things that are resulting from this engagement, and today we have a concrete one that's very important.
One of the most important issues in the world today, as we're reminded of even now with events happening in the Straits of Hormuz and in other places, is energy security. And so this Memorandum of Understanding between our three nations today allow us to move forward on joint work on small modular reactors, which is going to be in many ways the future of energy generation in a very safe, efficient way, cost-effective way that will make our economies stronger. And so - and that - so this - this will allow us to really move forward. And I think the most important point is that it is a product of our trilateral engagement.
I'm also very pleased to see that Japan and South Korea continue to engage one another with respective visits. This a very important alliance on a bilateral basis between those countries, how critical it is. I know that it's a relationship that's been tested in recent times and in the past, but it's one that I think has grown stronger over the last three to four years, and we've certainly tried to foster it because these are two very close and important allies of ours.
And so this trilateral forum is a reminder of that, but also it allows us today to sign an agreement that is actually a concrete example of the kinds of things that we can do together, jointly, and the many more things that we're going to be able to do together in the years to come. So thank you both.
FOREIGN MINISTER MOTEGI: Thank you very much. I'm pleased that we could hold the Japan-U.S.-ROK foreign ministers' meeting again. Since last October, we have been making concrete efforts, such as enhancing the supply chain resilience of critical minerals and addressing North Korea's cyber threats. Furthermore, I welcome this significant achievement of signing the Memorandum of Cooperation regarding SMR. At today's meeting, I look forward to actual (inaudible) discussion that will further advance our cooperation. Thank you.
FOREIGN MINISTER CHO: Thank you, Marco. Thank you, Motegi-san. Let me start by congratulating Marco for the 250th anniversary of America. I - it was my privilege to join the - the formal reception in Seoul, and I was able to deliver my congratulatory remarks there. It was somewhat lengthy remarks, and I believe you might have been reported about it, because it was very comprehensive and it talked about our ally relationship and also our trilateral relationship as well.
I'm delighted to be here today for this ceremony, and I'm convinced that this SMR is one of the many areas where we can work together, facing the challenges of the world. And I also appreciate, Marco, your role in making peace in the Middle East and other areas in the world. We benefit from it. I thank you, Marco.
(The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed.)
