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JAPAN-POLAND JOINT PRESS STATEMENT

October 1, 2008, Tokyo
Japanese

  1. H.E. Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and H.E. Mr. Radoslaw Sikorski, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland held a meeting and discussed a wide range of issues, including the bilateral relations and global issues of mutual interest on October 1, 2008 on the occasion of Minister Sikorski's visit to Japan from October 1 to 5 at the invitation of the Government of Japan. His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince will receive in audience Mr. Radoslaw Sikorski on October 2, 2008.
  2. Recalling the Joint Statement towards Strategic Partnership between Japan and the Republic of Poland issued in August, 2003 on the occasion of Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to the Republic of Poland, and the Foreign Ministers' Meetings between Japan and the Republic of Poland in May 2006 as well as in May 2007, both sides reviewed the achievements up to the present and exchanged views on the future direction of the bilateral relations.
  3. Recalling the fact that both countries successfully celebrated the 50th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2007, both sides shared the view that the historically good relationship between the two countries should be further developed in many fields in 2009 on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as well as in 2010 on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Chopin. Both sides confirmed their intention to expand interactions in various fields to deepen mutual understanding between the two peoples.
  4. Confirming the recent active interactions between the two countries in various areas such as foreign policy dialogues, defense exchanges, science and technology, culture, development cooperation, and the exchange of diplomats, both sides shared the view that the two countries should further develop such cooperation. Both sides resolved to hold the next bilateral policy dialogue at the earliest timing possible and emphasized their willingness to cooperate in such fields as energy efficiency and clean energy as a way of tackling climate change.
  5. Both sides welcomed the close bilateral relations in the area of investment and trade. The Polish side appreciated the activities of many Japanese companies in the Republic of Poland and expressed expectation that the business relation would be further strengthened by taking into account new opportunities for the Japanese firms, especially in the field of research and development. The Japanese side acknowledged the efforts made by the Polish side to improve the business environment, and, recalling the Joint Statement towards Strategic Partnership between Japan and the Republic of Poland issued in 2003, emphasized the importance of further efforts to be made by the Polish side in this regard. The Polish side emphasized that exports of Polish agricultural and other products to Japan could contribute to boosting bilateral trade relations.
  6. The Japanese side highly appreciated that the Polish side has positively tried to contribute to the area of development cooperation based on its own experience of transition toward a market economy. Evaluating the cooperation between the two countries in the field of development cooperation for third countries (trilateral cooperation) implemented through Polish Japanese Institute of Information Technology (PJIIT) and the Poland Japan Energy Conservation Technology Centre (ECTC), which were established and developed by Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA), both sides confirmed their intention to seek a possibility of concrete cooperation in this area for third countries such as Ukraine, making effective use of these existing institutions. Both sides also expressed their expectation to pursue possible cooperation in other countries of mutual interests such as Afghanistan.
  7. Both sides welcomed with satisfaction the progress recently made in negotiations on the Exchange of Notes on Japan Culture Volunteers Program and expressed their expectations that the diffusion of Japanese language in the Republic of Poland and the cultural exchanges between the two countries will be further promoted by the activities of Japan culture volunteers through the program.
  8. As regards climate change, the Polish side highly appreciated the outcome of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit and Leaders Meeting of Major Economies, as well as the Japanese initiative "Cool Earth 50" and "Cool Earth Promotion Programme." The Japanese side highly appreciated the achievements of the Polish side in the greenhouse gas emission reductions. Sharing the view that it is important to achieve at least 50% reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, both sides reaffirmed to cooperate in establishing an effective global framework beyond 2012 in which all major economies participate in a responsible way. Both sides reaffirmed that the bottom-up sectoral approach is useful to identify the technically possible national mitigation potentials based on aggregated sectoral reduction amounts, and contributes constructively to setting cost-efficient, fair and equitable targets, together with an approach that takes into account the potential costs of mitigation and financial capabilities of countries. Both sides shared the view that it is necessary to differentiate non-Annex I Parties under appropriate categories based on indicators, such as economic development stage, capacity to implement their nationally appropriate mitigation actions, capacity to respond to adverse effects of climate change and emission shares in the world, and to consider the concrete contents of mitigation actions by those Parties. Both sides confirmed close cooperation for the success of the 14th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP14) and 4th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP4), which will be held in Poznan, the Republic of Poland in December 2008 as well as expressed their willingness to foster a dialogue in the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) through Issue-Based Leadership on Climate Change.

    Both sides confirmed to strive for the progress in negotiation for the Joint Statement on the Cooperation for Joint Implementation (JI) and Green Investment Scheme (GIS) and expressed their expectations that two countries will conduct concrete cooperation in this field.
  9. Both sides expressed their expectations for close cooperation at UN bodies. They expressed their determination to work together actively for early realization of the United Nations Security Council reform, including the expansion of both the permanent and non-permanent membership of the Security Council. The Polish side expressed its strong support for Japan's permanent membership of the Security Council and the Japanese side expressed its appreciation for the support.
  10. Both sides discussed international and regional issues of mutual interest, such as situations in Asia and in Europe. The Polish side explained its own initiative within the EU, "the Eastern Partnership". Both sides also discussed the situation in Georgia and confirmed that this issue should be resolved peacefully based on an internationally approved principle of territorial integrity. Regarding North Korea, the Japanese side expressed its position to seek to normalize its relation with North Korea, by comprehensively resolving the outstanding issues of concern with North Korea, including the abduction, nuclear and missile issues and settling the unfortunate past, to which the Republic of Poland expressed its utmost support. The Japanese side reiterated its opposition to a lifting of the EU's arms embargo on China. The Polish side emphasized that export control issues deserve careful consideration in the light of the international and regional security.
  11. Both sides confirmed their determination to cooperate in the sphere of nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). They jointly support strengthening of the international response against a threat posed by WMD proliferation and will continue close cooperation in the framework of the Proliferation Security Initiative, which was inaugurated in Cracow in May 2003.
  12. Both sides confirmed their intentions to continue and strengthen the V4+Japan dialogue and cooperation in such areas as international issues, investment promotion, tourism and development cooperation. Both sides decided to hold a V4+Japan dialogue during the Polish presidency.
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