• Register Email Updates

• >> Advanced Search
• Help

Japan-Lebanon Relations (Basic Data)

January 2011

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:

Established in November 1954

1954 Delegation of Japan opened in Lebanon

1957 Delegation of Lebanon opened in Tokyo

1959 Both delegations upgraded to Embassies

1986 For security reason, the embassy staff in Beirut evacuated to a temporary office in Damascus (local staff was placed in the Beirut office).

1995 The embassy staff in the temporary office was returned to Beirut

Bilateral Treaties and Agreements:

1953 Japan Lebanon Aviation Agreement was signed

1969 Maritime Traffic and Aviation Mutual Income Tax Exemption Agreement was signed

Number of Residents:

Number of Japanese nationals residing in Lebanon: 74 (October 2008)

Number of Lebanese nationals residing in Japan: 98 (December 2007)

Trade with Japan (2009):

Exports: $2 million (nonferrous metal (aluminum))

Imports: $668 million (cars, electrical machinery)

Direct Investment from Japan:

None (2008)

Japan's Economic Cooperation (cumulative total until fiscal 2008):

List of Exchange of Notes

Loans: 13 billion yen

Grants: 2.85 billion yen

Technical cooperation: 1.16 billion yen

Cultural Exchange:

Besides exchanging cultural figures and specialists, Japan has been providing cultural grants. Also, as one of overseas embassy cultural projects, "Japan Week" was held in the city of Tripoli in November 2008 and attracted approximately 2000 people. In Beirut as well, Japan Film Festival screened 6 films in May 2009 and gained popularity.

Friendship League:

Japan-Lebanon Liberal Democratic Parliamentary League was established in 1996.

VIP Visits

From Japan to Lebanon

Year	Name
1995	Vice Foreign Minister, Yasuo Fukuda
1997	Chairman of Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives, Ichiro Aizawa
	Chairman of the Japanese-Lebanese Interparliamentary Friendship Group, Yoshirou Mori with the members of the group
1999	Foreign Minister, Masahiko Koumura
2001	Vice Foreign Minister, Seiken Sugiura
2002	Special Envoy for the Middle East, Tatsuo Arima
2004	Parliamentary Vice Foreign Minister, Kazunori Tanaka
2009	Special Envoy for the Middle East, Yutaka Iimura

From Lebanon to Japan

Year	Name
1996	Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Fuad Siniora
	Minister of Electricity and Water Resources, Elie Hobeika
	Prime Minister, Rafic Hariri
1997	Prime Minister, Rafic Hariri
2000	Chairman of the Lebanon-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association, Talal Merabi
2001	Prime Minister, Rafic Hariri
	Minister of Economy and Trade, Basel Fleihane
2002	Prime Minister, Rafic Hariri
	Minister of Economy and Trade, Basel Fleihane
	Chairman of the Lebanon-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association, Yashin Jaber
2004	President of Finance and Budget Committee of the Parliament, Samir Azar

Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal 1975-2008)

437 million yen (Cultural Grant Aid)
22.9 million yen (Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects)