(L-R): PM Luc Frieden; Japan's PM, Shigeru Ishiba;
Credit: ME
Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden was on working visit to Japan from Tuesday 22 to Friday 25 April 2025; following his meeting with a number of companies at the X-Nihonbashi Tower in Tokyo, and visiting the Expo 2025 in Osaka, Prime Minister Frieden met with Japan's Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, who received him with military honours.
According to Luxembourg's Ministry of State, the objective of this meeting was to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss key international issues.
"In a world marked by growing divisions, long-standing friendships are of particular importance. Despite their geographical distance, Luxembourg and Japan are united by shared values and principles, as well as by common economic interests in financial services, the data economy, aviation services, and space," said the Prime Minister.
The visit to Japan was part of the Luxembourg government's desire to strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation with Japan and to consolidate its partnerships with countries that share the same values and principles.
"Luxembourg and Japan believe in the rules-based multilateral order, the rule of law, and free trade," said Prime Minister Frieden. "That is why I wish to strengthen our cooperation with strategic partners, including those beyond Europe, such as Japan."
The Prime Minister also met with several key representatives from the Japanese political and economic worlds to highlight opportunities for cooperation and deepen relations with Japan.
He had a working breakfast with Yoshimasa Hayashi, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister's Office of Japan and Chairman of the Japan-Luxembourg Parliamentary Friendship Group, and also met with Toshiaki Higashihara, Director, Executive Chairman and Representative Executive Officer of Hitachi Ltd. for a round-table discussion, with Michel Leesch, Luxembourg' ambassador to Japan.
The Prime Minister's visit to Osaka for Expo 2025 (Osaka also hosted the first World Expo to be held in Asia, 55 years ago, in 1970), where he visited the Luxembourg and Japanese pavilions, was also an opportunity to highlight the shared commitment between Luxembourg and Japan to innovation and technological progress. "Thanks to Japan, the world is brought together in all its diversity at this World Expo, symbolising the unity our world needs more than ever," said the Prime Minister.
For details of the first part of PM Frieden's visit to Japan, see https://chronicle.lu/category/abroad/54511-pm-frieden-meets-japan-pm-visits-expo-2025-in-osaka
