PARIS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko on Tuesday reaffirmed in a joint statement their "strong" support for Renault-Nissan alliance after its chairman Carlos Ghosn's arrest over financial misconduct.
Over phone talks, the two ministers reiterated both governments'support to the alliance which they described as "a world-leading car manufacturer and one of the greatest symbols of French-Japanese industrial cooperation."
Le Maire and Seko also "shared wish to maintain this winning cooperation," the statement added.
Ghosn, chairman and chief executive of Renault, the country's second largest auto maker and in which France is a 15-percent stakeholder, was arrested Monday in Japan on allegations of financial wrongdoings, sending the group's stocks tumbling and investors on edge.
The 64-year-old car business leader was also chairman of Nissan Motor Co and Mitsubishi Motor Corporation.
Earlier on Tuesday, Le Maire stressed the necessity to appoint an interim governance "as soon as possible" as "Carlos Ghosn is no longer in a position where he is capable of leading Renault," he told France info radio.
According to local media, Renault's board will meet later on Tuesday to discuss temporarily replacing Ghosn.
