Japan-Ukraine Relations
Courtesy Call on Prime Minister of Ukraine Shmyhal of Ukraine by Foreign Minister Iwaya
November 16, 2024
On November 16, commencing at 4:10 p.m. local time (11:10 p.m. Japan time) for approximately 45 minutes, Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi, who is visiting Ukraine, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine. The overview is as follows.
Following the courtesy call, the Agreement on the Security of Information between Japan and Ukraine was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Shmyhal and Minister Iwaya. Both parties welcomed the signing of the agreement, which will serve as the institutional basis for information sharing between the two governments.
- At the outset, Prime Minister Shmyhal welcomed Minister Iwaya's visit and expressed his gratitude for Japan's support to date. In response, Minister Iwaya expressed his respect for Prime Minister Shmyhal’s efforts to promote policies supporting the lives of the citizens in various fields during the extremely difficult wartime. Minister Iwaya emphasized that Japan's stance of "standing with Ukraine" remains unchanged and that he visited Ukraine as part of his first foreign visit since assuming office.
- Minister Iwaya stated that Japan will steadily implement the support it has previously announced and expressed concern over Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure. He conveyed Japan's continued support in the energy sector. Furthermore, referring to the Ukraine Mine Action Conference held in October in Switzerland, which Prime Minister Shmyhal attended, both parties concurred to cooperate toward the next conference to be hosted by Japan next autumn.
- Minister Iwaya reaffirmed Japan's policy of supporting Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction through a public-private partnership remains unchanged. He highlighted the progress made after the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction held in February this year, including the opening of the JETRO Kyiv office and support for Japanese companies' engagement through JICA and UNIDO. Prime Minister Shmyhal emphasized that the visit of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko to Japan in December will be an opportunity to boost economic relations, and both parties agreed to cooperate to ensure the success of this visit. They also agreed to accelerate negotiations on the amendment of the Bilateral Investment agreement.
- Additionally, the two sides exchanged views on Ukraine's reform efforts, including anti-corruption measures, Japan-Ukraine intergovernmental collaboration, and the expansion of human exchanges.