OSCE Secretary-General Helga Maria Schmid concluded a visit to Japan, where she met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi and other officials and also took part in the Munich Security Conference Leaders’ Meeting hosted by Japan ahead of the G7 Summit.
Over the course of the visit, Secretary-General Schmid met with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Yamada, Director-General for Global Issues Takeshi Akahori, and a team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency led by Senior Vice President, Neoki Ando. The trip also included meetings with Keiko Okada, Director General of the Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office and Takehiro Kano, Director General of International Peace Cooperation Headquarters Cabinet Office.
Throughout the meetings, the Secretary General highlighted the value of co-operation between the OSCE and Japan. She commended the generous contributions Japan has made to OSCE projects including the Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe, and the unique expertise Japan offers, including on inclusive disaster risk reduction.
“Japan has been a leading example of the value of co-operating beyond borders. Since becoming our first Asian Partner for Co-operation in 1992, the country has continuously played a vital role in sharing its unique perspectives and experience as well as in providing dedicated support to projects and activities,” said Secretary-General Schmid.
“As one of our leading extra-budgetary donors, Japan has contributed greatly to the work the OSCE is doing to address common challenges. This ranges from strengthening border security in Central Asia to supporting women’s leadership in humanitarian responses in Ukraine. I am confident that the discussions held during this visit will help to advance this co-operation even further,” she stressed.
Japan was the first Asian country to be invited to a meeting of the then Conference for Security and Co-operation in 1992. Japan continues to play a role as an OSCE Partner for Co-operation and will host the 2024 OSCE Asian Conference, which was last held in the region in 2019.
