【By Observer Net, Xiong Chaoran】Starting from July 22, EU leaders began a two-day visit to Japan. On July 23, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will hold talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, and it is expected that both sides will reach an agreement on expanding economic security and trade cooperation.

On July 23, Nikkei Asia reported that in a recent written interview with the media, von der Leyen stated that the EU seeks to establish a so-called "competitiveness alliance" with Japan, which includes cooperative mining of rare earths. She mentioned rare earths specifically, saying that the EU will explore investment opportunities in Europe with Japan, and for the first time expressed that cooperation in the mining sector has "bright prospects".

The report said that rare earths are essential for manufacturing electric vehicles and other advanced products. In March this year, France started building Europe's first large-scale rare earth recycling plant, with participation from public and private groups from both the EU and Japan. Currently, the EU is exploring mining projects in Greenland, Africa, and Europe, and cooperation with the EU will give Japan the opportunity to access these remote regions.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, Bloomberg

Von der Leyen said in a written interview: "In terms of geopolitical economics, we have witnessed increasing trade tensions and uncertainties, even among long-term partners."

The Nikkei Asia mentioned that US President Trump is pulling the US out of free trade and threatening to raise tariffs on Japan and the EU; China has introduced export control measures on key minerals such as rare earths, putting pressure on its trading partners.

Von der Leyen said: "For strategic partners like Europe and Japan, this means making our relationship closer to adapt to the realities of the times and shape the future."

She believes that the EU and Japan should "set global trade and technology rules based on our shared values of fairness and openness," and she envisions an "EU-Japan alliance" that will oversee supply chains, especially those for critical materials, batteries, and semiconductors.

Additionally, the EU and Japan will establish a "2+2" framework composed of economic and foreign ministers, and begin finalizing related projects this summer. Von der Leyen also hopes to cooperate with Japan and other members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). She said that this cooperation will not only "defend free trade" but also "shape trade and ensure its fairness."

"Cooperation between the EU and CPTPP members can lead the World Trade Organization (WTO) to meaningful reforms," she added.

The report said that the WTO is an institution that helps resolve international trade disputes, but it has been struggling due to a lack of US support. During Trump's first term, the US blocked the appointment of new judges to the WTO's highest appellate court, causing the organization's dispute settlement mechanism to stall. Von der Leyen said she hopes the EU and CPTPP can set new trade rules applicable to current issues.

Meanwhile, von der Leyen is also trying to bring the EU and Japan closer together in the security field.

"For generations, the security of Europe and the 'Indo-Pacific region' has never been more closely linked," von der Leyen said. In this context, she said that cooperation between the EU and Japan "is not only valuable but also crucial." She revealed that the EU and Japan are about to hold their first defense industry dialogue to address the serious reliance of the industry on American suppliers. European and Japanese companies will also discuss establishing partnerships to strengthen supply chains, and both sides will consider joint development of equipment.

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