Japan-Syria Relations (Basic Data)

October 2012

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:: 1953 Diplomatic relations opened; 1954 Legation of Japan in Syria opened; 1962 Legation of Japan upgraded to Embassy of Japan; 1978 Embassy of Syria opened in Tokyo; Bilateral relationship has been stable and favorable. Japan has been dispatching self-defense force to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Golan Heights since 1996. The total number of Japanese personnel dispatched is 46 and 15 out of them are engaging in the mission in Camp Faouar on the Syrian side.
Bilateral Treaties and Agreements:: 1953 Trade arrangements was signed; 1957 Legal assistance agreement was signed; 1967 Japan Oversees Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) arrangement was signed; 1985 Technical Assistance Agreement was signed
Number of Residents:: Number of Japanese Nationals residing in Syria: 216 (2008); Number of Syrian Nationals residing in Japan: 200 (2010)
Economic Assistance from Japan to Syria (up to 2008):: Loan Assistance: 156.3 billion yen; Grant Aid: 27.4 billion yen; Technical Assistance: 26 billion yen (based on JICA expense); List of Exchange of Notes; Japan has been implementing various types of assistance based on the needs of local people (electrical, agricultural, medical and water situation). As in the loan assistance form, 3 power plant construction projects (about 30% of the total electricity supply within the country) had been conducted.
Economic Relations:: Exports to Japan: 1.5 billion yen (2008) (cotton wool, soap etc.); Imports from Japan: 66.9 billion yen (2008) (automobiles, general machinery); Traditionally, Japanese companies that advance in Syria were mainly corporations, but as of now in 2009, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ltd is the only company that advanced in Syria.
Culture Exchange:: In the role of Japanese educational institution, there are Japanese Language Department in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Japanese language section in the Higher Language Institute of Damascus University and Japan Center for Academic Cooperation at the University of Aleppo. The 11th Japanese speech contest was held in 2008 and 28 Japanese learners participated.; Japan also has been promoting and introducing its own culture within Syria and organizes Japan Fair annually in major cities like Damascus and Aleppo.
Friendship Leagues:: 1991---Japan-Syria Parliamentary Friendship League; 1991---Syrian-Japanese Parliamentary Friendship Association

VIP Visits

From Japan to Syria

Year	Name
1990	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Taro Nakayama
1994	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Koji Kakizawa
1995	Prime Minister, Tomiichi Murayama
1996	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yukihiko Ikeda
1999	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Masahiko Koumura
2000	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yohei Kono
2003	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yoriko Kawaguchi
2007	Vice Foreign Minister, Katsuhito Asano
2009	Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yasutoshi Nishimura

From Syria to Japan

Year	Name
1992	Minister of Foreign Affairs, Farouq Al-Shara'
1995	Minister of Foreign Affairs, Farouq Al-Shara'
1997	Minister of Culture, Najah Al-Attar
1999	Minister of Foreign Affairs, Farouq Al-Shara'
2001	Deputy Foreign Minister, Walid Al-Muallem
2002	Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Ghassan Al-Rifai
2003	Minister of Electricity, Muneeb Al-Daher
2004	Deputy Foreign Minister, Iisa Darweesh
2009	Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fayssal Mekdad (January)
	Minister of Culture, Riad Naasan Agha (November)
	Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Abdullah Dardari (December)

Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal 1975-2008)

964.8 million yen (Cultural Grant Aid)
17.6 million yen (Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects)

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