This week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krišjānis Kariņš, will be on an official visit in Japan, where he is to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yoko Kamikawa; the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi; the Chair of the Latvia-Japan friendship group in the Japanese Parliament, Hirofumi Nakasone; and prominent Japanese business people. At the University of Tokyo, the Foreign Minister will deliver a lecture on Latvia’s perspective of Europe today and in the future. Krišjānis Kariņš will be accompanied by a business delegation.
Krišjānis Kariņš: “Latvia and Japan are connected by shared values and understanding of democracy, the rule of law, free trade and a rules-based international order. Latvia is interested in developing closer relations with Japan, especially in economy, security and culture.”
On Wednesday, 7 February, the Foreign Minister will travel to the U.S. 7th Fleet base in Yokosuka to familiarise himself with the security situation in the region. In Tokyo, he will visit the Mitsui & Co. corporation and meet with its leadership.
On Thursday, 8 February, in Tokyo, Krišjānis Kariņš will have a meeting with the Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoko Kamikawa, to discuss bilateral relations between Latvia and Japan.
On the same day, Krišjānis Kariņš will meet with the Chair of the Japan-Latvia parliamentary friendship group, Hirofumi Nakasone, and the President of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Susumu Kataoka. The Foreign Minister will also take part in the launch of a round-table discussion between Latvian and Japanese businesses.
On Friday, 9 February, the Foreign Minister will deliver a lecture at the University of Tokyo, as well as having meetings with the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, the leadership of the Marubeni Corporation, and senior officers at Keidanren, the Japan Business Federation.
The Foreign Minister’s interviews have been scheduled with leading Japanese media outlets as part of his visit.