Japan-Poland Relations
Japan-Poland Foreign Ministers' Meeting
January 8, 2024
On January 8, commencing at 1:05 p.m. local time (same day, 9:05 p.m. JST) for approximately 85 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting the Republic of Poland, held a foreign ministers’ meeting with H.E. Mr. Radosław SIKORSKI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Kamikawa stated that she was delighted to meet Minister Sikorski for the first time. She stated that Poland is a strategic partner that shares values and principles, and that cooperation among like-minded countries is more important than ever amid deepening divisions and confrontations in the international community. She expressed gratitude for receiving words of condolences on the Noto Peninsula Earthquake and the airplane accident at Haneda Airport.
- She expressed her willingness to continue to strengthen bilateral relations in order to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law. Minister Kamikawa also stated that Poland's role as “the leading country in Central and Eastern Europe” and their cooperation in regional multi-frameworks such as Bucharest 9 (B9) and the Tri-Seas Initiative (3SI) (which are dramatically increasing in geopolitical importance) will continue to be important.
- Minister Sikorski welcomed Minister Kamikawa to Poland, being the first high-level visit from Japan. He stated that she would like to continue the strategic partnership with Japan. As this year marks the 30th anniversaries of the founding of the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology and the opening of the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology (the "Manggha" Museum) in Krakow, both sides shared the view to use these events including legislative exchanges as an opportunity to deepen bilateral relations.
- Minister Kamikawa welcomed the new administration's willingness to cooperate with the EU. She explained Japan's efforts to support Ukraine, noting that she visited Ukraine on January 7. Both sides shared the view that the two sides will continue to work closely together on assistance to Ukraine, including the involvement of the private sector in reconstruction assistance.
- The two ministers discussed regional affairs, including the situation in East Asia, and shared the view to continue to work closely.