• Register Email Updates

• >> Advanced Search
• Help

Japan-Romania Relations (Overview)

March 2013

Overview on Bilateral Relations

1. Japan has been traditionally enjoying cordial relations with Romania since its first diplomatic contact in 1902, when the Envoys Extraordinary of the two countries at Vienna held an informal consultation for establishing the diplomatic relations (Romania established its legation at Tokyo in 1921, while Japan established its legation at Bucharest in 1922). In 2002, a series of cultural events were held in both Japan and Romania to commemorate the anniversary of the century-long relationship between the two countries. The anniversary in 2002 was highlighted when the President of Romania, H. E. Mr. Ion Iliescu visited Japan, while from Japanese side, H. I. H. Princess Sayako visited Romania.
2. In 2005, H. E. Mr. Traian Basescu, the President of Romania visited Japan as a guest of the World Expo Aichi and had a summit meeting with Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, the Prime Minister of Japan.
3. In January 2007, Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan visited Romania. The Prime Minister of Romania, H. E. Mr. Calin Popescu-Tariceanu paid a visit to Japan for the first time as the Romanian Prime Minister in February 2007.
4. In 2009 Japan and Romania celebrated 50 years anniversary of diplomatic relations resumed in 1959. The anniversary in 2009 was highlighted when T.I.H. Prince and Princess Akishino visited Romania. On September 1st, 2009, exactly 50 years after the exchange of letters between both countries regarding the resumption of diplomatic relations, the experimental exemption of visa of Romania citizens, for a period of two years, was initiated, and in 2012 it was extended for a period of one year. In March 2010, H.E. Mr. Traian Basescu, the President of Romania, visited Japan.

Economic Relations

1. Japan started its economic cooperation such as the Technical Cooperation and Cultural Grant Aid, in 1991, in order to support Romania's transition efforts toward democracy and the market economy. On the occasion of the visit of H. E. Mr. Emil Constantinescu, the President of Romania, in 1996, the Japanese Government decided to provide Yen Loan credit and General Grant Aid for Romania. Japanese Yen Loan projects in Romania include "Port of Constanta-South Development Project" ($ 111mil.), "Road Improvement Project" ($ 80 mil.), "Railway Rehabilitation Project of Bucharest-Constanta Line" ($ 223 mil.), and "Turceni Thermal Power Plant Pollution Abatement Project" ($ 250 mil.). In addition, Japan has been dispatching Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) since 1997 as a form of cooperation at grass-root level. Japanese Economic Cooperation has been highly appreciated by the Romanian Government and by the Romanian people. However it is almost diminished, taking into consideration the economic progress of Romania after it became a member of the European Union. Currently, only Bucharest International Airport Rail Access Link Project ($ 418 mil.)is in progress as a final Yen Loan Credit project to Romania.
2. The volume of bilateral trade between Japan and Romania amounts to 71.5 bil. yen in 2011 (36.6 bil. yen of export from Japan and 34.9 bil. yen of import from Romania). The export from Japan consists of car components, electrical circuits, motor vehicles etc. while the import from Romania contains wood, clothes, wood furniture etc. Japanese investments in Romania have been made mainly in manufacturing, especially in automobile-related industries. Some Japanese companies such as JTI, Koyo Romania, SEWS-R or YAZAKI, have made investments mainly around Bucharest and in the Transilvania region (north-western part of Romania). In July 2010, Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Nippon Keidanren) dispatched a mission to Romania to seek further business / investment opportunities.

Cultural Exchanges

Japanese culture is widely regarded with much interest in Romania, and thus it is often the case that Japanese cultural events receive much appreciation and reputation. The Japanese language is also getting more and more popular, and currently over 2,000 pupils and students are studying Japanese. In 2005, an MA program in Japanese studies was established at University of Bucharest, and furthermore, the Center for Japanese Studies, which is expected to become a center of the Japanese language and Japanese study, was established in August 2010 at University of Bucharest. From January in 2009 to February in 2011, many volunteers were dispatched from Japan to Romania in order to teach Japanese and Japanese culture. In 2009, both countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations resumed in 1959, organizing many events. In November 2011, the Embassy of Japan in Romania organized "Japan Month", a series of events through which Japan expressed the gratitude for the assistance from Romania and presented the attractiveness of Japan to Romanian people.

Recent VIP Visits

1. From Japan to Romania

2. From Romania to Japan