Japan-Belgium Relations (Basic Data)

June 2012

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:: Established in 1866 with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce.
Japanese Nationals:: Number of Japanese nationals residing in Belgium: 4,936 (Oct. 2000); Number of Belgian nationals residing in Japan: 486 (Dec. 1999)
Trade with Japan: Exports: 198 billion yen (automobiles, automobile parts, electric equipment); Imports: 569 billion yen (diamonds, automobiles, medical supplies, cobalt)
Direct Investment from Japan: 14.1 billion yen (1999)

VIP Visits

From Japan to Belgium

Year	Name
1990	His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu with his wife Foreign Minister Taro Nakayama
1991	Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu International Trade and Insustry Minister Eiichi Nakao Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Motoji Kondo
1993	Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress (twice)
1994	Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata
1996	Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda
1997	Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda
1999	Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and Crown Princess
2000	Foreign Minister Yohei Kono International Trade and Industry Minister Takashi Fukaya Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tokuichiro Tamazawa
2001	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
2002	Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi
2003	Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi

From Belgium to Japan

Year	Name
1990	Their Majesties King Baudouin and the Queen Deputy Prime Minister Dehaene
1991	Deputy Prime Minister Claes
1992	Their Majesties King Baudouin and the Queen Foreign Minister Claes
1993	His Royal Highness Prince Albert Prime Minister Dehaene
1994	His Royal Highness Crown Prince Philip
1996	Their Majesties King Albert and Queen Foreign Minister Derycke
1997	His Royal Highness Crown Prince Philip
1998	Deputy Prime Minister Di Rupo
1999	His Royal Highness Crown Prince Philip
2000	Their Royal Highness Crown Prince Philip and Princess Mathilde
2001	Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt

Cultural Exchanges

Main cultural events between Belgium and Japan are;

1989	"Europalia" Japan (introducing Japanese art and culture)
1993	Antwerp was nominated as the Cultural Capital of Europe, and events were held to introduce Japanese culture.

In addition to the above, there are many Japanese cultural events held in Belgium, organised by the Japan Foundation, the Japanese Embassy, and so forth. There are many Japanese participants in the Elisabeth International Music Festival, being held annually in Brussels (In 1997, 29 out of 152 participants were from Japan).

Recent Trends

Belgium and Japan are enjoying close friendship between the two royal families.
Belgium economic missions often visit Japan, headed by His Royal Highness Crown Prince of Belgium (recent visit is in may 1999). From Japan, the mission of the Federation of Economic Organisations, headed by Shoichiro Toyoda, visited Belgium in 1995. Since 1983, business conferences have been held almost annually, organised by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the Belgium Ministry of Economic Affairs.

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