As part of a four-day visit to Japan, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, had a meeting today with the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Yasuo Fukuda. Both Prime Ministers focused on new opportunities for cooperation between Slovenia and Japan, especially in the fields of science, technology, culture and tourism.

 

(Foto: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

The Slovenian Prime Minister and his Japanese host agreed that there had been good bilateral cooperation in the last sixteen years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and advocated that it be strengthened further. To that end, they have agreed to hold consultations involving senior officials from their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs on a regular basis, in principle once a year, in each country on an alternating basis.

 

Both leaders welcomed progress in the fields of economic cooperation and investment, expressing their willingness to intensify cooperation of this kind. In this respect, the Japanese Government welcomed Slovenia’s efforts to obtain full membership of the OECD.

 

(Foto: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

Both leaders shared the view that bilateral relations should reflect the needs of the twenty-first century, highlighting in particular the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the fields of science and technology. They expressed their commitment to stimulating the mutual flow of capital, technology and services. The Slovenian and Japanese Prime Ministers firmly believe that there can also be good cooperation between the two countries in the field of culture and tourism. In this area, promotion of the Slovenian and Japanese languages can contribute to enriching the understanding of both peoples.

 

(Foto: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

Slovenia and Japan will work actively together to achieve reform at the earliest opportunity of the United Nations Security Council, including extending both its permanent and non-permanent membership with a view to increasing the UN’s representation and effectiveness. Prime Minister Janez Janša reiterated Slovenia’s support for Japan’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council. In turn, the Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, expressed his appreciation of Slovenia’s active role at the United Nations.

 

(Foto: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

Both leaders paid particular attention to the issue of human security and expressed their willingness to cooperate and join efforts to this end in various international organisations, including the United Nations. The Slovenian Premier took the opportunity to make the Japanese Prime Minister a gift of Idrija lace, a symbol of Slovene cultural heritage.

 

 Joint Press Statement