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Minster Flanagan welcomes announcement of Japanese Foreign Minister's visit to Ireland
"I am delighted that the Foreign Minister of Japan, Mr. Fumio Kishida, will visit Ireland in early January, in what will be the first visit by a sitting Japanese Foreign Minister in more than 25 years. It will be a great honour for Ireland, and for me personally, to welcome Minister Kishida to our shores.
2017 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Japan, and this visit by the Japanese Foreign Minister is a fitting way to launch the celebrations for the anniversary year.
Ireland and Japan have enjoyed a close friendship over the past 60 years, based on shared values. Japan is a valued trading partner – Ireland’s largest export market in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2015 bilateral trade between Ireland and Japan totalled €9.8 billion. There are 79 Japanese companies in Ireland, and 50 Irish companies in Japan. I am looking forward to meeting with Minister Kishida to discuss ways to further strengthen and deepen our ties in the coming years."