Press Releases
Japan-Luxembourg Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Working Dinner)
January 26, 2024
On January 26th, for about 60 minutes from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, hosted a dinner for H.E. Mr. Xavier BETTEL, Vice Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, who is visiting Japan, at the Iikura Guest House. The overview is as follows.
Prior to the dinner, the two Ministers exchanged the Notes Verbale concerning the introduction of Japan-Luxembourg Working Holiday Programme.
- At the outset, Minister Kamikawa welcomed Vice Prime Minister Bettel’s visit to Japan as his first trip to Asia following his appointment as Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. She also stated her expectation that exchanges between the two countries will be further deepened through the utilization of Working Holiday Programme for which the two Ministers had just exchanged the Notes Verbale as well as the Agreement between Japan and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for Air Services, which has been agreed in principle. She also welcomed Luxembourg’s preparations for the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, as a frontrunner, and expressed her hope that the Expo will widely promote Luxembourg’s attractions in Japan and create further business opportunities for companies from both countries.
- In response, Vice Prime Minister Bettel expressed his sympathy for the recent Noto Peninsula Earthquake. He then expressed his pleasure in visiting Japan and attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Vice Prime Minister Bettel expressed that he is convinced that in a year's time, the world will be paying attention to Osaka and that the Expo will be a success as a meeting place. He also stated his intention to work towards further strengthening relations with Japan, including cooperation for the success of the Expo.
- The two Ministers shared the view that the close relationship between the Imperial Household and the Grand Ducal Household is the cornerstone of excellent bilateral relations and concurred to further deepen friendly bilateral relations. On the economic front, the two Ministers welcomed the progress of concrete cooperation in a wide range of fields, including finance, space, pharmaceuticals and business start-up cooperation. The two Ministers concurred to strengthen cooperation particularly in the space field, including activities on the Moon and assistance to developing countries.
- The two Ministers affirmed that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific are inseparable. Vice Prime Minister Bettel stated that he highly appreciates Japan’s support for Ukraine, including Minister Kamikawa’s visit to Ukraine. In addition, they exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and East Asia, including China, Taiwan, and North Korea, and concurred to work closely together.