Visiting key companions in Asia: Foreign Minister Wadephul travels to Japan and Indonesia

Germany and Japan are many hours away from one another by airplane. And but the 2 nations and societies are very shut – we share values and pursuits with Japan, and our financial ties are numerous. There can be shut political coordination regularly: in codecs such because the G7 or at joint intergovernmental consultations, which happened for the primary time in 2023.

After his arrival in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Wadephul will meet his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya for a strategic dialogue and can then have talks with different representatives of the Japanese Government. The focus can be on safety points: to be extra exact, safety in Europe, which is beneath risk resulting from Russia’s struggle of aggression in opposition to Ukraine. Despite its geographical distance from Europe, Japan is offering Ukraine with appreciable assist – amongst different issues, Japan has assisted Ukraine with the procurement of important Patriot air defence techniques.

Focus on financial safety

During the Minister’s talks in Japan, the safety of the German and European economies can be mentioned, as will worldwide buying and selling routes, on which main economies resembling Germany and Japan are notably reliant. In the Indo-Pacific, China is being more and more assertive in striving for regional hegemony and on this course of can be calling ideas of worldwide legislation into query. This exhibits that the liberty, safety and prosperity of Europe and the Indo-Pacific are intently interlinked. That is why Germany stays dedicated to strengthening the rules-based worldwide order within the Indo-Pacific area. Foreign Minister Wadephul will due to this fact as soon as extra champion the ideas of free transport routes, of open markets and free commerce throughout his go to.

Japan is main the way in which with regards to the diversification of provide chains and sources of uncooked supplies.

Japan internet hosting the world on the EXPO in Osaka

The Minister will journey on the Shinkansen, Japan’s high-speed prepare, to the nation’s second largest metropolis, Osaka, which lies additional to the west. The prepare takes solely 2 hours and 11 minutes for the journey, which is simply over 500 kilometres.

Japan is internet hosting the world in Osaka this 12 months at EXPO 2025. As a window to the long run, the world exhibition exhibits how we will make our societies extra resilient and higher geared up for the long run via modern know-how and cooperation. Foreign Minister Wadephul will go to each the Japanese and the German pavilions within the EXPO grounds. The German pavilion is specializing in the round financial system: the cylindrical buildings have been constructed in a completely round style, which signifies that all of the supplies used could be re-used or recycled.

Indonesia: Economic energy with nice potential

After his go to to Japan, Foreign Minister Wadephul will journey on to Indonesia. With greater than 280 million inhabitants, the nation is the fourth most populous nation on earth. Indonesia is thus an essential democratic companion within the area and our relationships are shut and pleasant. In Jakarta, Foreign Minister Wadephul may have political talks together with his colleague Sugiono.

As a rising financial energy, Indonesia holds nice potential for Germany. Following ten years of negotiations, the EU and Indonesia solely lately agreed on a free commerce settlement, which is anticipated to be signed within the autumn. Many German corporations are already efficiently investing in Indonesia. Among different issues, Foreign Minister Wadephul will go to a manufacturing plant in Jakarta operated by the German business automobile producer Daimler Truck.

Indonesia additionally performs a key position within the area: the headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a gaggle of ten states within the area which have joined collectively to coordinate political and financial issues, is in Jakarta. Alongside Indonesia, member states embrace Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore. Foreign Minister Wadephul will meet ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.