Japan-Serbia Relations
Japan-Serbia Summit Meeting


On October 21, commencing at 2:45 p.m. for approximately 10 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held a Summit Meeting with H.E. Ms. Ana Brnabić, Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, who is visiting Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows. The meeting was attended on the Japanese side by Mr. OKADA Naoki, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr. HAYASHI Hajime, Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr. HASEGAWA Eiichi, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Public Relations Secretary, and others, and on the Serbian side by H.E. Mr. Nenad Glišić, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Serbia to Japan, Mr. Djordje Milošević, Adviser to the Prime Minister, and others.
1. Opening remarks
Prime Minister Abe welcomed Prime Minister Brnabić’s visit to Japan, and reiterated his gratitude for the warm hospitality he received from Serbia when he visited the country in January 2018. Prime Minister also appreciated her heartfelt message of sympathy to those affected by Typhoon Hagibis. In response, Prime Minister Brnabić expressed a congratulatory address to the His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne as well as expressed again her heartfelt condolences regarding the damage brought on the Typhoon.
2. Bilateral relations
Prime Minister Abe stated, “The Government of Japan is making collective efforts to strengthen Japan-Serbia relations, and supports Serbia’s reforms aimed at accession to the European Union (EU).” “New investments and advancement by Japanese companies in Serbia have increased since I visited Serbia last year, and I welcome development of our bilateral economic relations.” In response, Prime Minister Brnabić stated, “I welcome that since last year that the Prime Minister Abe’s visit to Serbia for the first time in the last 31 years as a Japanese Prime Minister, an economic relationship between our two countries has been strengthened and some specific investments have been realized in various fields. Japanese investment has positive impact and important to our country, to implement some reforms on the rule of law and the governance that the President Vučić initiated.”
3. Western Balkan situation
The two leaders exchanged views regarding the Western Balkan situation. Prime Minister Abe stated, “Japan supports a strongly unified Europe that shares fundamental values” and “Under the Western Balkan Cooperation Initiative, Japan will support the EU accession of the Western Balkan countries.” In response, Prime Minister Brnabić stated,“I appreciate the Western Balkan Cooperation Initiative, which was launched by Prime Minister Abe yourself. Involvement by Japan to this region is highly important and Japan’s pragmatism provides positive influence for a direction the Western Balkans to be leading”.