“I am extremely happy to be here after our brief meeting in Johannesburg and our telephone conversations. This is the third time that I have come to Japan in the 3 years that I have been in government and it was not a coincidence, it was a choice”. The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, said this at the opening of the bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanea Takaichi at the Kantei in Tokyo, underlining that from her third visit “the message is that we believe a lot in this alliance, we believe a lot in this cooperation, we believe a lot in this friendship”.
The strategic partnership
“The first time I came here – recalls the Italian Prime Minister – we elevated our relations to the level of a strategic partnership. The second time I was here as part of the G7 in Hiroshima we took the opportunity to discuss a three-year action plan for 2024-2027 to give us objectives that were clear, defined and with time deadlines, which we respected. I am coming back here for the third time, I am the first European leader to come here since she took office and we take advantage of once again elevate our bilateral relations to the level of a special strategic partnership.”
The anniversary of bilateral relations
Her third visit to Japan, adds the prime minister, is held on the occasion of “the 160th anniversary of our bilateral relations which also tells how deep, how long-lasting and continuous our relations have been”.
The point on the global crisis
“This is also an opportunity to take stock of the many open crises at a global level, on the many global issues on the agenda to confirm our common commitment to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, to consolidate the peace process in the Middle East, to guarantee the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific” said Meloni. Takaichi hosted a lunch for the Italian delegation at the prime minister’s official residence (Kantei) in honor of Meloni’s visit.