Federal Chancellor Scholz in Japan
On his visit to Tokyo, Federal Chancellor Scholz underlined the close partnership between Germany and Japan. Scholz stressed the importance of the partnership, not only with a view to supporting Ukraine but in its wider context of the Indo-Pacific region and challenges for the future of the whole world such as climate protection.
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Federal Chancellor Scholz travelled to Japan to harmonise policy objectives on current issues with Germany’s close G7 partner and strengthen the good relationship between the two countries.
Photo: Federal Government/Bergmann
Federal Chancellor Scholz travelled to Japan to harmonise policy objectives on current issues with Germany’s close G7 partner. In a joint press conference at the end of their first meeting on Thursday, Federal Chancellor reflected on the initial outcomes of his talks with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Both leaders were unanimous in their condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Germany and Japan are “shoulder to shoulder”
The Federal Chancellor expressed Germany’s gratitude to Japan for joining sanctions against Russia and for the support it is providing to Ukraine. Scholz said Germany and Japan were “shoulder to shoulder” in defending the United Nations Charter, the rules-based international order and human rights.
On the issue of Ukraine, Prime Minister Kishida said that the international status quo must not be changed through violence and unilateral action – something that also applied to the Indo-Pacific region. Kishida went on to say Japan was helping Ukraine in a range of ways. He expressed his gratitude for Germany’s offer to take Japanese aid supplies for Ukraine back on the Federal Chancellor’s official aircraft.
Agreement on regular government consultations
The two heads of government underlined the close cooperation between Germany and Japan, not only in supporting Ukraine but also on other political issues such as global challenges around climate protection, securing supply chains and preserving free trade routes. Bilateral relations would be intensified and improved through regular government consultations starting next year, the two leaders said.
Tokyo, 28 April 2022: Federal Chancellor Scholz travels to Japan. Arrival at Tokyo Haneda airport.
Japan is the third largest economy in the world after the US and China. Like Germany, it is an industrial nation.
The visit began with a visit to the German-Japanese Business Dialogue conference. Although the volume of trade between Germany and Japan recovered slightly in 2021 after the pandemic decreased, it has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
“These recent developments – debt crises, states isolating themselves, inflation, war – show us that free trade, fair competition and open markets cannot be taken for granted,” said Federal Chancellor Scholz in an appeal for globalisation to be smarter, more sustainable and more supportive.
The Federal Chancellor was received with military honours at the Kantei, the official residence of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Before meeting his counterpart, Federal Chancellor Scholz said he was delighted to receive Prime Minister Kishida's invitation and he was looking forward to their talks.
Scholz: At the present time our good relationship is shaped by our close collaboration within the G7 and our condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At the subsequent press conference, the two leaders underlined their close cooperation, not only in supporting Ukraine but also on other political issues.
Scholz explained the two leaders had agreed to intensify and enhance their bilateral relationship by holding regular government consultations starting next year.
Kawasaki, 29 April 2022: On the second day of his trip, Federal Chancellor Scholz still had time to visit the Toa Keihin refinery, a short distance outside Tokyo, before flying back to Germany. A hydrogen generation plant belonging to the Chiyoda Corporation is located at the facility.
The business uses a process that combines hydrogen with a solvent. This allows it to be transported in conventional containers and cargo ships. Later the hydrogen can be separated from the solvent and used by industry.
G7: Japan takes over Presidency in 2023
Scholz and Kishida also stressed the importance of close coordination between the two countries within the framework of the G7, which provides for cooperation between the world’s major industrial nations. Germany currently holds the G7 Presidency, which Japan will take over next year.
Federal Chancellor attends business conference
Federal Chancellor Scholz began his visit to Japan on Thursday by taking part in the German-Japanese Business Dialogue conference. Following their one-to-one meeting, the Federal Chancellor and Prime Minister Kishida met senior business representatives. That evening the Federal Chancellor attended a dinner hosted by the Japanese Prime Minister.
Before returning to Germany on Friday, Scholz also visited a hydrogen production facility in the city of Kawasaki. The Federal Chancellor stressed Germany and Japan’s ambitious goals for climate challenges, “so it will also be important for us to collaborate on technology, such as on issues of the hydrogen energy economy”. For Scholz it was a matter of “developing a new global trade that simultaneously helps our countries become climate neutral industrial nations”.