Japan-France Relations
Dinner Discussion with Japanese Business Representatives in France
May 3, 2024
On May 3, commencing at 07:05 p.m. local time (01:05 a.m. on May 4, Japan Time) for approximately 60 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Paris, France to attend the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting, participated in the Dinner Discussion meeting with Japanese business representatives operating in France. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Minister Kamikawa stated that she was pleased to be able to exchange views with Japanese business representatives operating in France on the occasion of her first visit to France as Minister for Foreign Affairs, and expressed her hope that this exchange of views will lead to the strengthening of JapanFrance and Japan-Europe economic relations, as well as to Japan-France cooperation in Africa.
- In addition, Minister Kamikawa conveyed her intention to support, not only at the national level but also at the regional level, Japanese companies that are expanding globally, through the officials in charge of cross-border economic affairs, whose assignment was announced prior to the trip and to encourage Japanese companies based in France to expand their business to Africa. Minister Kamikawa also introduced the library that Japan and France jointly supported in Madagascar as a good example of Japan-France collaboration, and stated that she would like to strengthen the dissemination of the contents of the Japan Cultural Institute in Paris in the form of utilizing them in libraries and other institutes in third countries.
- In addition to explaining their experiences in African business, participants mentioned the importance of the role of the Embassies in doing business in Africa, the importance of Japanese language education and the training of Japanese language teachers, and the significant influence of manga on the younger generation in France.
- In closing, Minister Kamikawa stated to the participants that she would like to work together to promote the overseas expansion of companies through public-private cooperation.