Japan's Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has told his Mexican counterpart that Japan wants close bilateral cooperation in a bid to strengthen an international order based on the rule of law.

Hayashi met Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard in Mexico on Thursday. Mexico is the first leg of Hayashi's ongoing tour of the United States and countries in Latin America.

Hayashi told Ebrard that Mexico is attracting attention as an investment destination in rebuilding and enhancing the resilience of supply chains. The move comes at a time of global shifts amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tension over trade between the US and China.

With increasingly assertive moves by China and other issues in mind, Hayashi noted that an international order based on the rule of law needs to be strengthened. He expressed hope for Japan's close cooperation with Mexico, which has strong economic ties with the US.

Speaking at a joint news conference after the meeting, Hayashi said he hopes that bilateral friendship across the Pacific will be further strengthened, through cooperation in a wide range of fields, including digital and green transformations.