Japan-Türkiye Relations

On October 14, State Minister Nakasone attended the opening ceremony of the Turkish-Japanese Science and Technology University (TJU) as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy and delivered a speech (link). In his speech, he expressed his deep respect and gratitude to Rector Prof.Dr.Kök and all other stakeholders from both countries who dedicated their efforts toward the opening of the university. He also expressed his strong hope that, through bilateral educational cooperation at TJU, researchers from both countries would leverage Japan's experience, knowledge, and technology to lay the foundation for building a resilient society of the future, while also expressing his expectations for TJU students to serve as new bridges connecting Japan and Türkiye.

On October 14, State Minister Nakasone paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Cevdet Yılmaz, Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, at the Presidential Complex. State Minister Nakasone handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister Takaichi addressed to President Erdoğan. He also touched upon the fact that at the Japan-Türkiye Summit Meeting held on the occasion of the UN General Assembly last month, the leaders agreed to develop cooperation in a wide range of fields, such as economy, education (including the opening of TJU), and defecse, expressing his desire to elevate the strategic partnership between the two countries to even greater heights. Furthermore, he stated that Japan wishes to work toward an early conclusion of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which is currently under negotiation between the two governments, taking into account the requests from the business community. In response, Vice President Yılmaz stated that he would like to continue to promote TJU as a truly joint project for both countries, that the relationship between Türkiye and Japan can be further enhanced by leveraging its potential, and that he would convey the matter regarding the EPA to the relevant Turkish ministries to find common ground.

On October 14, following the TJU opening ceremony, State Minister Nakasone held a meeting with H.E. Ms. Berris Ekinci, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, at the university. State Minister Nakasone expressed his expectation that, through research at TJU, cooperation and exchange between the two countries would also deepen in areas such as measures against natural disasters, including earthquakes. He also stated that Japan wishes to accelerate efforts on both sides toward the early conclusion of the EPA and the Social Security Agreement, which are currently under negotiation, and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan will closely coordinate to strengthen cooperation in the fields of defecse and defecse equipment. In response, Deputy Minister Ekinci welcomed the continuation of high-level visits and contacts. She also emphasized the importance of, and expressed strong expectations for, strengthening collaboration in existing areas of cooperation, as well as formulating new cooperative projects in the fields of energy and transport infrastructure, and projects through Japan-Türkiye cooperation in third countries.

On October 14, State Minister Nakasone held a meeting with Mr. Hulki Cevizoğlu, Chairman of the Türkiye-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group, and other members of the group at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. State Minister Nakasone welcomed the active inter-parliamentary exchanges and stated that Japan attaches great importance to the activities of the parliamentary friendship groups in both countries in order to further enhance the strategic partnership between the two nations and elevate it to a new stage. In response, Chairman Cevizoğlu expressed his expectation that bilateral cooperation in the fields of science, technology, and education would accelerate through the newly opened TJU.

On October 14, State Minister Nakasone held an exchange of views with representatives of Japanese companies operating in Türkiye. They discussed ways to further develop economic relations between the two countries, including the characteristics and the latest situation of the market in Türkiye, challenges associated with business activities in Türkiye, and expectations toward the conclusion of the EPA.