Japan-Finland Relations
Courtesy Call on Former President Halonen of Finland (WPL Global Advisory Member) by Foreign Minister Kamikawa
January 9, 2024
On January 9, commencing at 11:00 a.m. local time (same day, 6:00 p.m. JST) for approximately 45 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, during her visit to Helsinki, Finland, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Ms. Tarja Halonen, Former President of the Republic of Finland and WPL Global Advisory Committee Member. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, former President Halonen expressed her sympathy to the victims of the recent Noto Peninsula earthquake, and Minister Kamikawa expressed her gratitude. Minister Kamikawa responded that she was extremely honored to pay a courtesy call on former President Halonen, who is a mentor figure as a member of parliament and as a foreign minister, and also touched on her activities as Japanese ambassador for the WPL, she stated her view that it is important to specifically work on issues surrounding women and WPS with an awareness of the aspect connecting individual countries and organizations.
- Minister Kamikawa stated that, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, she is vigorously promoting WPS as part of Japan's main foreign policy. And she explained that she visited Kiev and Warsaw until yesterday to hear firsthand the stories of Ukrainian women and children, she stated that it renewed her feeling that we must move forward with WPS in Ukraine in a concrete way. Former President Halonen appreciated Minister Kamikawa's efforts and explained the current status of gender equality in Finnish society, and they frankly exchanged opinions on topics such as the respective roles of women, WPS, and international affairs, including the situation in Gaza