Meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and H.E. Mr. Didier Burkhalter, Former President of the Swiss Confederation

On September 26, commencing at 1:30 p.m., Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Didier Burkhalter, Former President of the Swiss Confederation who visited Japan to attend the State Funeral for the Former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo, for approximately 15 minutes. The overview of the meeting is as follows. At the end of the meeting, Mr.Burkhalter presented Prime Minister Kishida with photos of himself with former Prime Minister Abe and Prime Minister Kishida taken during the former's visit to Japan in 2014.

1. At the beginning, Prime Minister Kishida appreciated Mr. Burkhalter for his visit to Japan, who has close ties with Japan and whom he had met as a fellow foreign minister, to attend the Sate Funeral for Former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo. Prime Minister Kishida also expressed his desire to further develop friendly relationship with Switzerland, an important partner with which Japan shares fundamental values. 

2. Both sides welcomed the fact that both countries will serve together as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for the 2023-24 term, when Switzerland will become a member for the first time, and shared the view that it is important to strengthen bilateral ties as the international order based on the rule of law is under significant challenges. 

3. Furthermore, both sides confirmed that they will cooperate with each other to further expand the wide range of exchanges between the two countries, taking the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2024 and the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai as opportunities.