Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged Monday to continue offering reconstruction support to war-torn Ukraine in collaboration with the private sector, leveraging its experience and technological know-how in recovering from earthquakes.
At the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction held in Tokyo ahead of the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of its neighbor, Kishida said the situation is “not easy” but that helping Kyiv recover is an “investment in the future.”
During the one-day meeting, Kishida and his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal witnessed the signing of more than 50 memorandums of cooperation between the public and private sectors of the two countries in a range of fields.
They include infrastructure rebuilding, demining, agricultural expansion, improvement of the humanitarian situation, development of biotechnology, industry and information technology, and governance enhancement, Japanese government officials said.
In his keynote speech, Kishida said the two nations will conclude a treaty to eliminate double taxation and start negotiations to revise an investment pact to enable Japanese firms to join reconstruction projects in Ukraine.
Kishida added his government will establish an office of the Japan External Trade Organization in Kyiv to bolster business ties between the two countries, with the Foreign Ministry saying Tokyo has eased its travel restrictions to boost investment in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to deliver remarks via a video message, but this was canceled, with Kyiv not elaborating on the reason.
In his address, Shmyhal called on Kishida, who traveled to Ukraine in March 2023 to hold talks with Zelenskyy before hosting the Group of Seven summit in May in Hiroshima, to visit Ukraine again.
In a joint communique, Kishida and Shmyhal reaffirmed that intensifying sanctions against Russia is a crucial and effective measure to deter Moscow’s military activities.
The conference involving about 300 government and corporate officials from Japan and Ukraine is held as concern is mounting that support for Kyiv from Western nations may peter out with Russia seemingly committed to a war of attrition.
In the United States, opposition to aid for Ukraine from Republicans ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November has caused delays in the administration of President Joe Biden reaching a deal for the latest funding package for Kyiv.
Japan, one of the key supporters of Ukraine, has shown its commitment to supplying financial assistance to Kyiv as the provision of military equipment is restricted under its war-renouncing Constitution.
At the G7 summit in his home constituency of Hiroshima, Kishida confirmed with other leaders that they will maintain “unwavering support” for Ukraine, with Zelenskyy participating in sessions on the closing day of the three-day gathering.
The World Bank has estimated the cost of rebuilding Ukraine at $411 billion over the next decade, which Kyiv is likely to fund through loans, representing business opportunities for firms across the globe, including in Japan.
As Japanese citizens have been advised by their government not to visit Ukraine, calls are growing from the private sector for the relaxation of the advisory to allow participation in reconstruction projects.
BY: KYODO
