Japan-Belgium Relations
Prime Minister Abe and Mrs. Abe Host a Banquet to Welcome Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians and Prime Minister Abe Meets with His Majesty the King of the Belgians
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
1. On October 12, commencing at 7:00 p.m. for approximately 75 minutes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Mrs. Abe held a banquet at the State Guest House to welcome His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians, and Her Majesty Queen Mathilde, Queen of the Belgians, who are paying a State Visit to Japan.
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
2. In addition to His Majesty King Philippe and Her Majesty Queen Mathilde, Japanese and Belgian leaders from business, academics, culture, and other fields attended the banquet, including H.E. Mr. Pieter De Crem, Federal Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Mr. Tetsushi Sakamoto, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan (Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Group between Japan and Belgium), and Mr. Kimikazu Sugawara, Representative Director and Chairman of the Board of Kaneka Corporation (Vice Chairman of the Japan-Belgium Society).
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
3. Before the banquet, Prime Minister Abe had a meeting with His Majesty King Philippe for approximately 20 minutes. In the discussion, Prime Minister Abe welcomed the State Visit by His Majesty King Philippe to Japan on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the Japan-Belgium Friendship and noted that the close relations between the imperial household of Japan and the royal family of Belgium are the symbol of the friendly ties between the two countries. Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe said that the signing of a new tax treaty between the two countries today was an excellent outcome.
4. In response, His Majesty King Philippe expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and voiced his expectations for the further deepening of exchanges between Japan and Belgium in a variety of fields, noting that in addition to officials from the federal government as well as regional and community governments, economic and academic delegations were also participating in this visit.
5. Additionally, Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan would like to lead international initiatives for counter-terrorism measures, working hand-in-hand with Belgium, which responded in a resolute attitude to the terrorist attacks that occurred in March.