Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday pledged his country’s long-term engagement in Ukraine’s reconstruction, calling it a future investment, as Japan stressed its commitment to supporting the war-torn country ahead of the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
Quick Read
- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged long-term engagement in Ukraine’s reconstruction, viewing it as a future investment, emphasizing Japan’s commitment to support Ukraine ahead of the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
- Kishida highlighted the importance of inclusivity, humanitarianism, and the transfer of technology and knowledge in the partnership between Japanese public and private sectors and Ukraine.
- More than 50 cooperation agreements were signed between Japanese and Ukrainian entities, and a new Japanese government trade office is set to open in Kyiv.
- Japan announced 15.8 billion yen ($105 million) in new aid for Ukraine, aimed at demining and urgently needed reconstruction projects in energy and transportation.
- Kishida framed support for Ukraine’s reconstruction as an investment in the future of Ukraine, Japan, and the global community, emphasizing the ongoing war’s impact and the importance of economic reconstruction.
- Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed gratitude and saw the cooperation as a new beginning, drawing inspiration from Japan’s post-WWII reconstruction and economic growth.
- Shmyhal called for Japanese investment in Ukraine’s farming, natural resources, digital hub ambitions, and automotive manufacturing.
- The Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction was co-organized by both governments, Keidanren, and JETRO, focusing on economic stability and long-term support for Ukraine.
- Japan and Ukraine issued a joint communique emphasizing the continuation of tough sanctions against Russia and discussed revising a bilateral investment pact and easing travel restrictions for Japanese business visitors to Ukraine.
- The conference underscored Japan’s national security concerns, with Kishida warning that the situation in Ukraine could foreshadow future conflicts in East Asia, highlighting Japan’s stance against Russia’s invasion and unilateral forceful changes in status quo.
- Japan’s contributions to Ukraine, totaling $12.1 billion over two years, have been primarily financial and humanitarian, contrasting with the larger military support provided by Western countries, particularly the United States.
The Associated Press has the story:
Japan hosts Ukraine reconstruction conference to showcase its support
Newslooks- TOKYO (AP) —
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday pledged his country’s long-term engagement in Ukraine’s reconstruction, calling it a future investment, as Japan stressed its commitment to supporting the war-torn country ahead of the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
In his keynote speech at a conference Japan co-organized with the Ukrainian government and business organizations, Kishida said Japanese public and private cooperation will be a long-term partnership based on inclusivity, humanitarianism as well as technology and knowledge.
Kishida stressed the importance of investment across industries for the future of that country’s development and ensuring that the support caters to Ukraine’s needs. More than 50 cooperation deals were signed by Japanese and Ukrainian government agencies and companies, and Kishida announced an opening of a new government trade office in Kyiv.
Among the deals was Japan’s pledge of 15.8 billion yen ($105 million) in new aid for Ukraine to fund demining and other urgently needed reconstruction projects in the energy and transportation sectors, the Foreign Ministry said.
Support for Ukraine’s reconstruction is about “investing in the future,” Kishida said. “The war in Ukraine is still going on at this very moment and the situation is not easy. The promotion of economic reconstruction, however, is not only an investment for the future of Ukraine but also investing in Japan and the whole globe.”
Japan hopes to build momentum for global support for Ukraine as the war drags on and attention has diverted to the conflict in Gaza. Japan’s focus on reconstruction — in part due to its legal restraints on providing lethal weapons — contrasts with many Western countries, whose largely military support faces increasing scrutiny over costs. A new U.S. aid package to Ukraine is stalled in the Congress.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who led his country’s delegation of more than 100 people, expressed thanks for the encouragement and said that “today is the new start of cooperation between the two countries.”
“By combining our powers … we can change this challenge into an opportunity for future growth and prosperity,” he said. “Japan’s experiences in reconstruction (from World War II) and its economic miracle provide us with inspiration.”
All eyes are on Ukraine, and “dictators and potential invaders” are also turning their eyes to see how Russia’s violation of the international law is seen and how the world will react to it.
Shmyhal said Ukraine’s reconstruction goes far beyond removal of landmines and debris. He emphasized his country’s strength in farming, rich natural resources and ambition to be a digital hub of Europe with its information and cybersecurity expertise. He also urged Japanese automakers to open factories in Ukraine.
About 300 people and 80 companies were to attend from the two countries, Japanese officials have said.
The Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction is co-organized by the Japanese and Ukrainian governments, Japan’s powerful business organization Keidanren, and Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO.
In a joint communique, the two sides stated Japan’s long-term support in helping Ukraine achieve economic stability. The two countries also noted the importance of maintaining tough sanctions against Russia. Japan announced the start of talks toward revising a bilateral investment pact and easing of travel restrictions for Japanese business visitors to Ukraine.
The conference is largely about reconstruction and investment in Ukraine, but it’s also about Japan’s national security.
Kishida repeatedly said that “Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow,” and it is crucial for Japan to advocate its objection to Russia’s invasion and to the one-sided change of the status quo by force. Its support for Ukraine comes amid fear of China’s increasingly assertive military actions in the region.
“It is extremely important that we demonstrate our solidarity to Ukraine in our uniquely Japanese way,” Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told reporters Friday.
Japan’s $12.1 billion contribution to Ukraine over the past two years is mostly financial and humanitarian as its military equipment provisions are limited to non-lethal weapons, and much smaller compared to $111 billion the United States has provided in weapons, equipment, humanitarian assistance.
Japan’s government has chosen seven target areas — including removal of mines and debris; improvement of humanitarian and living conditions; farming; biochemical manufacturing; digital and information industry; infrastructure in power and transportation sectors; and anti-corruption measures.
Japan, in cooperation with other Group of Seven members, hopes to link the Tokyo conference to a separate Ukraine reconstruction conference to be held in Germany in June.
