Japan-Iraq Relations

Diplomatic Relations:

• 1939: Japan opened its Legation in Baghdad
• 1955: Iraq opened its Legation in Tokyo
• 1960: Both Legations were upgraded to Embassies
• 1991: Japan ceased Embassy functions temporarily after all Japanese diplomats evacuated from Iraq
• 2004: Japan recognized the Iraqi Interim government
• 2017: Japan opened its consulate office in Erbil

Trade with Japan:

• Exports: 4.1 billion yen (2023 Ministry of Finance of Japan)
• Imports: 119 billion yen (2023 Ministry of Finance of Japan)

Japan's Economic Cooperation to Iraq:

• (1) At the International Donors' Conference on the Reconstruction of Iraq held in Madrid in 2003, Japan announced its financial assistance package totaling $5 billion. The package comprises $1.5 billion of grant aid and up to $3.5 billion in ODA loans. Japan achieved this international pledge in 2012.
• (2) As for Grant Aid, about $2 billion has already been disbursed in the fields of health, water and sanitation, security among others.
• (3) Regarding Japanese ODA loans, the Exchange of Notes (E/N) for 35 loan projects (worth up to $11 billion) have been signed in such areas as construction of ports, bridges, roads, oil facilities and power plants.
• (4) Moreover, the Government of Japan and the Government of Iraq signed the agreement upon the debt reduction totaling approximately $6.7 billion, which was completed in 2008.

Joint Statements:

• (1) In January 2009, "Declaration on Establishing a Comprehensive Partnership between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Iraq (PDF)" was signed on the occasion of the visit by H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Japan, to Iraq.
• (2) In June 2009, "Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Japan and the Republic of Iraq" was issued on the occasion of the visit by H.E. Mr. Hoshyar Mahmoud Zebari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, to Japan.
• (3) In Novermber 2011, "Joint Statement by the Prime Minister of Japan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq -Towards a New Stage of the Japan-Iraq Comprehensive Partnership" was issued on the occasion of the visit by H.E. Mr. Nouri Kamil al- Maliki, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, to Japan.
• (4) In January 2017, "Joint Press Release on the Enhancement of Bilateral Relationship Between Japan and the Republic of Iraq (PDF)" was issued on the occasion of the visit by H.E. Mr. Kentaro Sonoura, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, to Iraq.

Bilateral Agreements entered into force:

Trade Agreement (1964), Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement (1968), Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (1974), Cultural Agreement (1979), Aviation Agreement (1979), Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investment (2014)