Japan-Canada Relations
Visit of State Minister for Foreign Affairs HORII to Canada
From May 2 to 4, Mr. HORII Iwao, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan visited Toronto (May 2–3) and Ottawa (May 3–4), Canada. The overview of the visit is as follows.
1. Discussions with Representatives of Japanese Businesses (May 2)
On May 2, State Minister Horii met with representatives of Japanese businesses operating in Toronto and exchanged views on the local situation and business environment.
2. Visiting the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station and Meeting with Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines Lecce (May 3)
On May 3, State Minister Horii visited the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario and its construction site for a small modular reactor (SMR) project in which a Japanese company is participating.
At Darlington, he held a meeting with the Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines of Ontario, who accompanied part of the onsite tour. State Minister Horii stated that the SMR project is a landmark collaboration involving Japanese and Canadian companies, and expressed his desire to further promote cooperation between Japan and Canada, particularly Ontario in the economic field, including energy and critical minerals. Both sides concurred on the need to collaborate on supply chain resilience for critical minerals.
3. Discussions with Former JET Programme Participants (May 3)
On May 3, State Minister Horii met with former JET Programme participants residing in Toronto. State Minister Horii expressed his appreciation to the participants for having taken part in the JET Programme and for continuing to maintain ties with Japan after returning to Canada, thereby making important contributions to the development of Japan-Canada relations. A meaningful exchange of views took place regarding the significance of the JET Programme and the future of cooperation in the people-to-people exchanges area.
4. Meeting with Members of the Executive Committee of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group (May 4)
On May 4, State Minister Horii met with members of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, including the Hon. Krista Ross, Co-Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group and Senator of Canada, and Mr. Terry Sheehan, Co-Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group and Member of Parliament of Canada. State Minister Horii and the members of the Inter-Parliamentary Group exchanged views on the current international and regional situation, as well as on how to strengthen Japan-Canada relations.
State Minister Horii asked for understanding and cooperation regarding the priority agenda of the Takaichi administration, including the update of the vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), the immediate resolution of the abductions issue, the review of the defense equipment transfer framework, the need to cooperate on energy and critical minerals, and the promotion of exports of Japanese agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food products. Both sides agreed to continue active exchanges among parliamentarians of both countries, with an eye toward the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2028.
5. Meeting with Senator Boehm, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Others (May 4)
On May 4, State Minister Horii met with The Hon. Peter Boehm, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Senator of Canada, and The Hon. Peter Harder, Deputy Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Senator of Canada, and exchanged views on Japan-Canada relations and the international situation.
6. Meeting with Canadian Experts (May 4)
On May 4, State Minister Horii held a luncheon meeting with Mr. Brian Lee Crowley, Managing Director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI); Ms. Vina Nadjibulla, Vice President of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APFC); and Mr. Jonathan Berkshire Miller, Head of Geopolitical Advisory at Pendulum, and exchanged views on the strategic significance of Japan-Canada cooperation as well as the evolving international and regional situation.
7. Meeting with Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Oliphant (May 4)
On May 4, State Minister Horii held a meeting lasting approximately 50 minutes with the Hon. Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada.
Taking into account the upgrading of bilateral relations to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" during Canadian Prime Minister Carney's visit to Japan in March of this year, they exchanged views on advancing concrete initiatives between the two countries in the areas of security, economy, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as on the current international situation. Notably, State Minister Horii and Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant explored avenues to advance cooperations further, including on the priority agenda of the Takaichi administration, such as the review of the defense equipment transfer framework in light of the current strategic environment, and the cooperation in energy and critical minerals.
State Minister Horii also asked for Canada’s understanding and cooperation regarding the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.
Both sides concurred to continue working in close cooperation to elevate the Japan-Canada cooperative relationship to the next level, with an eye toward the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2028.
8. Meeting with Executive Vice President Holmes of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (May 4)
State Minister Horii met with Mr. Matthew Holmes, Executive Vice President, International & Chief of Public Policy of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. They exchanged views on Japan-Canada economic relations, the current state of Canadian economy, and discussed opportunities for Japan-Canada business cooperation in sectors such as energy, critical minerals, the defense industry, and advanced technologies. Furthermore, the State Minister briefed him that the promotion of exports of Japanese agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food products is a priority agenda of the Takaichi administration, and asked for understanding and cooperation.