State Minister TSUGE’s Visit to Switzerland
2024/11/8
Mr Yoshifumi TSUGE, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited Switzerland from 16 to 20 October to attend the Ukraine Mine Action Conference and other meetings.
On 17 October, State Minister TSUGE attended the Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC) co-organized by Switzerland and Ukraine in Lausanne.
State Minister TSUGE also stated that he seriously takes the fact that landmines injure people and make it difficult for local communities to recover and reconstruct, and expressed his strong resentment at the situation that drives local communities into difficult situation, based on his own experience. State Minister TSUGE stated that Japan will continue to provide robust support to Ukraine based on “Comprehensive Package of Assistance to Humanitarian Mine Action” and “Japan-Cambodia Landmine Initiative”, announced in July this year.
State Minister TSUGE took the stage at the Closing Plenary Session, and following the addresses by H.E. Ms. SVYRYDENKO and H.E. Mr. Gordan GRLIC RADMAN, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, delivered his speech as the next host country of the Conference, in which he welcomed the success of this round of Conference, introduced Japan's contribution to date, and announced that Japan will host the Ukraine Mine Action Conference next year for which Japan makes preparations a platform for all attendees to share the latest experiences and knowledge regarding rehabilitation and reconstruction of Ukraine.
At the closing plenary session, State Minister TSUGE succeeded the ‘Lausanne Call for Action’ adopted at the Conference from H.E. Mr. CASSIS and H.E. Ms. SVYRYDENKO who co-hosted the Conference.
On the same day, State Minister TSUGE observed a demining demonstration together with H.E. Mr. CASSIS and H.E. Ms. SVYRYDENKO. During his visit, State Minister TSUGE received detailed explanations from experts while having a look at a simulated demining operation, and had opportunities to gain a better understanding of the latest challenges regarding mine action together with H.E. Mr. CASSIS and H.E. Ms. SVYRYDENKO in their conversations.
On the same day, State Minister TSUGE paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Ignazio CASSIS, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, noting that the two countries could celebrate the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Switzerland on the occasion of the visit of H.E. Ms. Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation, to Japan in August this year, and welcomed the development of Japan-Switzerland relations through high-level visits, such as three visits to Japan by incumbent Swiss Presidents, including H.E. Mr. CASSIS, over the past few years.
In response, H.E. Mr. CASSIS expressed his wish to continue proceeding cooperation with Japan in various fields, referring to bilateral initiatives in economic relations and people-to-people exchanges.
The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and other regional situations, shared the importance of cooperation between like-minded countries, and agreed to strengthen their ties as important partner countries with shared values and principles in the face of severe challenges in the international community.
On 18 October, State Minister TSUGE visited the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) of the Embassy of Japan in Switzerland to exchange views with members of KIZUNA , a networking organization among former Swiss students who studied in Japan.
State Minister TSUGE stated that he looked forward to hearing about successful activities of former Swiss students to Japan, stressing that he was aware of the importance of people-to-people links from his own experience, and that he had a strong desire to promote study-abroad exchanges, where young people can serve as bridges between countries.
The participants then introduced their experiences in Japan, their current activities and the current state of KIZUNA, and a lively exchange of views took place between State Minister TSUGE and the participants on how to promote study in Japan and how to strengthen the network of former Swiss students in Japan.
In conclusion, State Minister TSUGE expressed his hope that each participant would make a further contribution to strengthening relations between Japan and Switzerland, and extended his encouragement to the participants.
On 19 October, State Minister TSUGE exchanged views with Mr Masahiko METOKI, Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). State Minister TSUGE expressed his gratitude for meeting with Mr METOKI, and expressed his high regards for Mr METOKI’s leadership and his continued support for Mr METOKI. In response, Mr METOKI expressed his appreciation for the Japanese Government's contribution to the management of the UPU, and stated that he continues to attach importance to the relations with Japan, an important partner of the UPU, and would like to further strengthen cooperation. They exchanged views on further strengthening the relationship between Japan and the UPU and confirmed that they would continue to work closely together.
Furthermore, State TSUGE expressed his encouragement to the Japanese UPU officials who attended at the exchange of views.
1 Attendance at the Ukraine Mine Action Conference
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On 17 October, State Minister TSUGE attended the Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC) co-organized by Switzerland and Ukraine in Lausanne.
(1) Press Conference
State Minister TSUGE held a press conference together with H.E. Mr. Ignazio CASSIS, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, and H.E. Ms Yuliia SVYRYDENKO, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, and expressed his concern that Ukraine became one of the most mine-buried countries in the world as a result of Russian aggression, and stressed that Russia's aggression is a unilateral change of the status quo by force and an outrage that shook the foundations of international order, and that he would continue to strongly support Ukraine in the future.State Minister TSUGE also stated that he seriously takes the fact that landmines injure people and make it difficult for local communities to recover and reconstruct, and expressed his strong resentment at the situation that drives local communities into difficult situation, based on his own experience. State Minister TSUGE stated that Japan will continue to provide robust support to Ukraine based on “Comprehensive Package of Assistance to Humanitarian Mine Action” and “Japan-Cambodia Landmine Initiative”, announced in July this year.
(2) Closing Plenary Session
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State Minister TSUGE took the stage at the Closing Plenary Session, and following the addresses by H.E. Ms. SVYRYDENKO and H.E. Mr. Gordan GRLIC RADMAN, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, delivered his speech as the next host country of the Conference, in which he welcomed the success of this round of Conference, introduced Japan's contribution to date, and announced that Japan will host the Ukraine Mine Action Conference next year for which Japan makes preparations a platform for all attendees to share the latest experiences and knowledge regarding rehabilitation and reconstruction of Ukraine.
At the closing plenary session, State Minister TSUGE succeeded the ‘Lausanne Call for Action’ adopted at the Conference from H.E. Mr. CASSIS and H.E. Ms. SVYRYDENKO who co-hosted the Conference.
2 Observation of demining demonstrations
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On the same day, State Minister TSUGE observed a demining demonstration together with H.E. Mr. CASSIS and H.E. Ms. SVYRYDENKO. During his visit, State Minister TSUGE received detailed explanations from experts while having a look at a simulated demining operation, and had opportunities to gain a better understanding of the latest challenges regarding mine action together with H.E. Mr. CASSIS and H.E. Ms. SVYRYDENKO in their conversations.
3 Courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Ignazio CASSIS, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation
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On the same day, State Minister TSUGE paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Ignazio CASSIS, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, noting that the two countries could celebrate the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Switzerland on the occasion of the visit of H.E. Ms. Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation, to Japan in August this year, and welcomed the development of Japan-Switzerland relations through high-level visits, such as three visits to Japan by incumbent Swiss Presidents, including H.E. Mr. CASSIS, over the past few years.
In response, H.E. Mr. CASSIS expressed his wish to continue proceeding cooperation with Japan in various fields, referring to bilateral initiatives in economic relations and people-to-people exchanges.
The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and other regional situations, shared the importance of cooperation between like-minded countries, and agreed to strengthen their ties as important partner countries with shared values and principles in the face of severe challenges in the international community.
4 Exchange of views with members of “KIZUNA”, an organization of former Swiss students to Japan
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On 18 October, State Minister TSUGE visited the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) of the Embassy of Japan in Switzerland to exchange views with members of KIZUNA , a networking organization among former Swiss students who studied in Japan.
State Minister TSUGE stated that he looked forward to hearing about successful activities of former Swiss students to Japan, stressing that he was aware of the importance of people-to-people links from his own experience, and that he had a strong desire to promote study-abroad exchanges, where young people can serve as bridges between countries.
The participants then introduced their experiences in Japan, their current activities and the current state of KIZUNA, and a lively exchange of views took place between State Minister TSUGE and the participants on how to promote study in Japan and how to strengthen the network of former Swiss students in Japan.
In conclusion, State Minister TSUGE expressed his hope that each participant would make a further contribution to strengthening relations between Japan and Switzerland, and extended his encouragement to the participants.
5 Courtesy call by the Director General of the International Secretariat of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), Mr METOKI
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On 19 October, State Minister TSUGE exchanged views with Mr Masahiko METOKI, Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). State Minister TSUGE expressed his gratitude for meeting with Mr METOKI, and expressed his high regards for Mr METOKI’s leadership and his continued support for Mr METOKI. In response, Mr METOKI expressed his appreciation for the Japanese Government's contribution to the management of the UPU, and stated that he continues to attach importance to the relations with Japan, an important partner of the UPU, and would like to further strengthen cooperation. They exchanged views on further strengthening the relationship between Japan and the UPU and confirmed that they would continue to work closely together.
Furthermore, State TSUGE expressed his encouragement to the Japanese UPU officials who attended at the exchange of views.