Japan-Lithuania Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Banquet

November 4, 2010
Japanese

On November 4 (Thu), Mr. Seiji Maehara, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, had a meeting and banquet with H.E. Mr. Audronius Ažubalis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, for about an hour and a half from 18:15 at Iikura House. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

General Overview
At the start of the meeting, Minister Maehara welcomed Minister Ažubalis’ first visit to Japan, noting the steady development of bilateral relations in the past two decades as demonstrated by the visit to Lithuania by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan in 2007, the posting of a resident Japanese ambassador to Lithuania in 2008, and the cooperative relationship between the two countries in assistance for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. He expressed his expectation that this visit will serve as an opportunity to further develop the bilateral relationship.
Bilateral Economic Relations
Minister Ažubalis said that 11 companies, mainly laser-related companies, are accompanying him for this visit, and requested Japan’s cooperation in building a legal framework (tax treaty, investment agreement, and science and technology agreement) in order to make this visit an opportunity to develop bilateral economic relations.
In response, Minister Maehara said, in relation to the project to build a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania, that Japanese technologies focused on safety and environmental friendliness can be utilized in the future for the country’s further economic development, and that such a symbolic project may stimulate the development of inter-corporate activities and economic exchanges. He noted that the holding of a seminar by the visiting companies will be an ideal opportunity for Japanese companies to know the advantages and needs of Lithuanian companies.
Afghanistan
Minister Ažubalis expressed a high regard for Japan’s assistance, especially civilian activities, through the provincial reconstruction team (PRT）in Chaghcharan, Ghor Province, and thanked Japan for its announcement to attend the ministerial conference for development assistance to Afghanistan on November 12 hosted by Lithuania.
In response, Minister Maehara noted that the PRT lead by Lithuania, to which Japanese civilians are dispatched, has been most effective, and expressed an intention to cooperate with Lithuania also in the context of the Japan-EU framework.
Japan-EU EPA
Minister Ažubalis said that Lithuania is eager to strengthen economic relations with non-EU countries toward assuming the presidency of the EU in the second half of 2013. In response, Minister Maehara said, in relation to the Japan-EU economic partnership agreement (EPA), that Japan has been making all-government efforts in meeting the EU’s requests including those on non-tariff measures, and asked for support in starting the negotiation to this end at the Japan-EU summit meeting next year. Minister Ažubalis said in response that he will support the enhancement of Japan-EU relations as long as he remains to be a politician, and proposed to hold a foreign ministers’ meeting between the Baltic states and Japan in Lithuania in order to increase supporters within EU.
The ministers also exchanged views on Central Asia, Russia, China, and other issues.

(END)

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