Press Releases
Japan-Belgium Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
May 29, 2024
On May 29, commencing at 5:00 p.m., for approximately 35 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with H.E. Ms. Hadja LAHBIB, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions of the Kingdom of Belgium. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Lahbib stated that she was pleased to have the opportunity to talk with Minister Kamikawa for the first time since assuming office, and that she had good memories of her visit to Japan in 2022 when accompanying the economic mission led by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of the Kingdom of Belgium, and expressed her intention to further strengthen Japan-Belgium relations. Minister Kamikawa stated that Belgium is a strategic partner with which Japan shares values and principles, and that Japan would like to closely coordinate with Belgium to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
- The two Ministers concurred to strengthen the bilateral relations between Japan and Belgium and cooperation toward Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai in the coming year and the 160th anniversary of Japan-Belgium friendship in 2026. The two Ministers, both as female foreign ministers, also concurred to collaborate in the field of gender, including the promotion of WPS in the international community.
- Minister Lahbib highly appreciated Japan`s support for Ukraine, and the two Ministers exchanged views on regional affairs in East Asia, including the recent missile launch by North Korea using ballistic missile technology, Ukraine and the Middle East and concurred to work together.