Moreover, the meetings centered on strengthening Japan’s economic and trade ties with Greece and the European Union, as Japan is the world’s third largest economy.
Special emphasis was placed on expanding cooperation in tourism, energy, shipping, and financial services, as well as on telecommunications and logistics services, where Greece has comparative advantages due to its geostrategic location. In addition, Mr Varvitsiotis highlighted the issue of the resumption of the direct air link between Greece and Japan, which is of primary importance for boosting tourist flows and enhancing investment interest.Lastly, the Alternate Minister raised with his interlocutors the issue of Greece’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term.
The discussions focused on recent developments regarding Russian invasion of Ukraine, which endangers not only the security of Europe but also global peace and stability. As a result, as Mr Varvitsiotis pointed out, sanctions against Russia must be implemented by everyone, including Turkey. Furthermore, he added that revisionism and attempts to overturn the existing security system in the Eastern Mediterranean region must be strongly condemned.On the last day of his official visit to Tokyo, Alternate Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis sent a message of deepening bilateral relations between Greece and Japan, as well as mutual understanding on issues concerning the Law of the Sea,After briefing his interlocutors on Turkey’s provocative and unlawful actions, the Alternate Minister explained that Turkey’s foreign policy is inspired and exercised on the basis of a destabilizing, revisionist neo-Ottoman vision, in contrast to Greece, which is guided by dialogue, peaceful resolution of differences, the principles of good neighborliness, and respect for International Law, including the Law of the Sea.
He also emphasized that these are fundamental principles shared by Greece and Japan, “a predominantly peaceful and insular state facing similar challenges”.In particular, Mr.Varvitsiotis, who represented the Greek government at the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday, met with his Japanese counterpart, Kenji Yamada, the State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Toshiro Toyoda, the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee, House of Representatives, Minoru Kiuchi, and Mr. Yoichiro Nakao, Vice President of ANA Holdings, a businessman.
