Japan and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have announced a new collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing economic security and advancing governance frameworks for artificial intelligence amid growing geopolitical tensions. The announcement was made during a meeting on Tuesday between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann in Tokyo.

According to Japan’s Foreign Ministry, the cooperation plan seeks to reinforce a rules-based international economic order while supporting sustainable growth and fair competition. The initiative also aligns with Japan’s broader strategy to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Takaichi expressed optimism that Japan and the OECD would jointly lead global discussions focused on economic security and technological governance under the framework of the new plan. OECD Secretary-General Cormann described Japan as a vital and trusted partner and indicated his anticipation of working closely with Japan to implement the plan.

A significant focus of the cooperation is bolstering the resilience of supply chains in key strategic sectors, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies. Both parties plan to increase their joint analysis of vulnerabilities related to critical minerals and advanced technologies. They also intend to develop and enhance monitoring tools that track international trade flows, dependencies within supply chains, and export restrictions.

The initiative reflects a response to heightened international uncertainties impacting global supply chains and technological development. By strengthening collaboration on economic security and governance standards for emerging technologies, Japan and the OECD aim to contribute to a stable and transparent global economic environment.