Japan-Austria Relations
Courtesy Call on Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs IKUINA Akiko by H.E. Mrs. Sigrid BERKA, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Japan
October 20, 2026
On October 20, commencing at 10:45 a.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Ms. IKUINA Akiko, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, received a courtesy call from H.E. Mrs. Sigrid Berka, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Japan.
- At the outset, Parliamentary Vice-Minister IKUINA expressed her pleasure that between Japan and Austria, research and business cooperation in advanced technology fields, such as semiconductors, has been expanding, in addition to sister-city exchanges and cultural exchanges, particularly in music, and that our bilateral relations have developed in a multi-facetted manner, referring as well to the outcomes of the recent Japan-Austria Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
- Furthermore, Parliamentary Vice-Minister IKUINA noted that, as a follow-up to the Foreign Ministers’ meeting, the “Japan-Austria Committee for Issues of the Future ” was held this month in Krems, Austria, and expressed her intention to strategically utilize this committee—the only bilateral forum bringing together industry, government, and academia—as a platform for exchanging information and opinions, particularly regarding cutting-edge technologies.
- In response, Ambassador Berka, also referring to the progress in bilateral relations including the recent Foreign Ministers’ meeting, stated that she would continue to strive to further strengthen bilateral relations, including in the cultural sphere and through people-to-people exchanges, while highlighting recent exchanges at the prefectural and state levels, as well as the ties between Japan and the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
- The two sides also exchanged views on various regional challenges, including the situation in East Asia and responses to North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, as well as the issue of abductions. The two sides concurred on strengthening cooperation in the international arena, particularly in light of Austria’s upcoming term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council beginning next year.