The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced today that the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio, will visit Ottawa on January 12, 2023. This will be Prime Minister Kishida’s first bilateral visit to Canada since he assumed office in October 2021, and it is expected to be a highly significant visit that will strengthen the already close ties between the two countries.
Canada and Japan have a long history of cooperation and friendship, and the two countries enjoy a strong and dynamic relationship. In recent years, Canada and Japan have deepened their economic ties through the Canada-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into force in 2017. The agreement has helped to increase trade and investment between the two countries and has provided a framework for cooperation on a range of issues, including innovation, the environment, and social and cultural exchange.
The visit by Prime Minister Kishida to Ottawa is expected to focus on further strengthening the Canada-Japan partnership and exploring new opportunities for cooperation. The two leaders are expected to hold a series of meetings and discussions on a range of issues, including trade, investment, security, and regional and global challenges.
One of the main areas of focus for the visit is expected to be trade and investment. Canada and Japan are both major trading partners, with Japan being Canada’s third-largest trading partner in Asia and Canada being Japan’s ninth-largest trading partner overall. In 2020, two-way merchandise trade between the two countries reached $25.6 billion, and there is significant potential for further growth.
The Canada-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement has played a major role in deepening economic ties between the two countries, and Prime Minister Kishida’s visit is expected to provide an opportunity to review the progress of the agreement and explore ways to further enhance cooperation. This could include discussions on expanding market access for Canadian and Japanese firms in each other’s markets, as well as exploring opportunities for collaboration in areas such as innovation, research and development, and infrastructure development.
Another key area of focus for the visit is expected to be security and regional challenges. Japan and Canada are both key players in the Asia-Pacific region and have a shared interest in promoting regional stability and prosperity. The two countries have a strong partnership on security and defense issues, and the visit by Prime Minister Kishida is expected to provide an opportunity to discuss ways to further enhance cooperation on these issues.
This could include discussions on issues such as the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the situation in the South China Sea, and the stability of the region more broadly. It could also include discussions on broader global security challenges, such as terrorism and cyber threats, and ways in which Canada and Japan can work together to address these challenges.
In addition to discussing specific issues, the visit by Prime Minister Kishida is also expected to be an opportunity to further strengthen the overall Canada-Japan partnership and explore new avenues for cooperation. This could include discussions on areas such as education, culture, and social exchange, as well as exploring opportunities for collaboration in areas such as science, technology, and the environment.
Overall, the visit by Prime Minister Kishida to Ottawa is expected to be a highly significant event that will strengthen the already close ties between Canada and Japan and explore new opportunities for cooperation. The two countries have a strong and dynamic relationship, and the visit is expected to further enhance the partnership and contribute to the continued prosperity and security of both nations.
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