[Title] Joint Communique on Deepening of the Japanese-Ukrainian Cooperation for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction of Ukraine
On February 19, 2024, the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction was held in Tokyo by both Prime Ministers of Japan and Ukraine with the participation of public and private sectors from both countries.
Following the outcomes of the Conference, Prime Minister of Japan Kishida Fumio and Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal reaffirmed the commitment of both sides to strengthen and deepen comprehensive cooperation based on the Special Global Partnership between Japan and Ukraine, as it was decided by the Leaders of the two countries in the relevant Joint Statement on March 21, 2023.
Prime Minister Shmyhal expressed his deepest condolences to the victims, their families and those who suffered from the recent Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
Prime Minister Shmyhal highly appreciated Prime Minister Kishida for his strong leadership under the Japanese G7 Presidency in 2023, especially at the G7 Hiroshima Summit that the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy also attended. Both Prime Ministers expressed their intention to further strengthen cooperation under relevant international fora.
Both Prime Ministers emphasized the significance of the decision reached in the Conference, which lays the grounds for Japan's participation both in emergency recovery projects and in the large-scale reconstruction of Ukraine. Prime Minister Shmyhal highlighted the importance of Japan's advanced technology and Japan's unique experience in post-war reconstruction and recovery after devastating natural disasters for the implementation of projects in Ukraine.
Both Prime Ministers underscored importance of the implementation of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda as well as the needs of children in every phase of the reconstruction to alleviate sufferings of women and children of Ukraine, and in this context, they highlighted the need for further empowerment of women and promotion of their leadership for the reconstruction activities.
It is also critically important to restore the situation where all displaced Ukrainians, including women and children return to home safely and promptly.
Prime Minister Kishida reconfirmed readiness of the Japanese side to heed the needs of Ukrainian people and actively contribute to the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, by taking multi-stakeholder approach through engagement of various actors, including representatives from the private sector to these processes towards the ultimate goal of Ukraine's self-sustaining and sustainable development. In particular Prime Minister Kishida highlighted the roles of Japanese major companies with leading worldwide expertise in relevant fields as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, including start-ups with high-end technologies.
In this regard, both Prime Ministers welcomed the LOIs, MOCs and contracts unveiled in the Conference that highlight business alliances and cooperation for emergency recovery projects and for the large-scale reconstruction as well as economic reconstruction and growth of Ukraine between private companies in the two countries.
Both Prime Ministers instructed the relevant ministries and agencies of each side to follow up on the progress to ensure efficient implementation of the decision reached in the Conference and to promote further cooperation. Relevant authorities will be assigned by the respective Governments for coordination of such efforts.
Prime Minister Shmyhal expressed his deep gratitude to the Government of Japan and its people for their steadfast support for Ukraine and for provision of the financial, humanitarian and technical assistance.
Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed Japan's commitment to supporting Ukraine and its people in defending its freedom and independence and restoring territorial integrity, as well as to providing the necessary long-term assistance to ensure the stability of Ukraine's economy, with the aim of achieving comprehensive economic development from the primary to tertiary sectors in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Kishida expressed Japan's continued support in all phases of reconstruction starting from the initial emergency recovery assistance phase, such as land mine action and debris clearance as well as improvement of the humanitarian situation and livelihood reconstruction, to economic reconstruction and industrial enhancement, such as development of agriculture, innovative manufacturing, including biotechnology, as well as digital and IT/ICT. He also emphasized the importance of creating fundamental basis for recovering energy and transportation infrastructure development assistance as well as anti-corruption and strengthening of governance. Both Prime Ministers stressed that engaging their private sectors is the key to materializing concrete projects to further the cooperation between the two countries.
Both Prime Ministers concurred that maintaining and intensifying sanctions against Russia is a crucial and effective measure to deter the Russia's military activities and confirmed their determination to take necessary actions to prevent circumvention of sanctions measures.
Both Prime Ministers underscored the need to sustain important international initiatives aimed at ensuring global food security, in particular the humanitarian initiative of President Zelenskyy "Grain from Ukraine".
Both Prime Ministers acknowledged that both countries have substantial unrealized potential for further expanding bilateral partnership in many areas, namely deepening trade and economic ties, enhancing agricultural and infrastructure development, advancing digitalization and green transition initiatives, fostering collaboration in scientific and cultural domains, and promoting interpersonal connections.
Both Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the Convention between the Government of Japan and the Government of Ukraine for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance. They also welcomed the announcement of commencement of negotiations for a review of the Agreement between Japan and Ukraine for the Promotion and Protection of Investment. These international agreements will contribute to economic growth and reconstruction of Ukraine through further promoting mutual investments and economic exchanges between Japan and Ukraine.
Both Prime Ministers shared the view that in sustaining economic stability, promoting economic growth and reconstruction of Ukraine, it is important to realize bankable projects by making maximum use of financing and guarantees through not only relevant institutions in both countries but also international financial institutions.
In this regard, Prime Minister Shmyhal highly appreciated Japan's swift delivery of its financial support including credit enhancement for the World Bank's loans and the grant support. Moreover, Prime Minister Shmyhal expressed his deep gratitude for Japan's leading role in reaching a consensus on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)'s capital increase, as well as its Governors' approval, to meet reconstruction needs in Ukraine. Prime Minister Shmyhal also thanked Japan's contribution to the Ukraine Capacity Development Fund established in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help Ukraine enhance domestic resource mobilization and its planned contribution to the newly-established Ukraine Window in the International Finance Corporation (IFC)'s Comprehensive Japan Trust Fund to promote private sector investment and innovation.
Prime Minister Shmyhal also welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) to provide two-step loan.
Both Prime Ministers welcomed that Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) has established new credit lines for overseas investment and export insurance for Ukraine.
Both Prime Ministers concurred on the importance of maintaining the Japan-Ukraine Finance Dialogue initiated on August 2, 2023, between the Ministry of Finance of Japan and the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, as well as of deepening cooperation between relevant ministries and agencies of the two countries in the field of transport, infrastructure, energy, digital technologies, agriculture and environment.
Prime Minister Shmyhal underscored the important role of the activities of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the implementation of the projects, including Grant Aid and Technical Cooperation Projects in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Kishida affirmed Japan's commitment to establishing a representative office of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Kyiv, following the request from the Ukrainian side.
Prime Minister Shmyhal expressed readiness to provide comprehensive support for the establishment of the JETRO office in Ukraine. Both Prime Ministers confirmed the importance for such collaboration to intensify and enhance bilateral economic cooperation between Japan and Ukraine.
Both Prime Ministers recognized that it is important to intensify the activities of the Committee on Ukraine of Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) and the Coordinating Council for Economic Cooperation with Japan under the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and welcomed signing of the Joint Arrangement between Keidanren and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine for Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation.
Prime Minister Kishida announced the intention of the Japanese side to relax visa requirements for nationals of Ukraine, with the aim of promoting visits by the representatives of Ukrainian private sector.
Both Prime Ministers recognized that both countries have a large potential for further expanding their bilateral partnership in the field of science as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and welcomed signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of education, science and technology.
Both Prime Ministers also welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Joint Crediting Mechanism between the Government of Japan and the Government of Ukraine as a part of the joint efforts in order to enhance bilateral cooperation in addressing climate change.
Both Prime Ministers confirmed Japan's support for Ukraine in cooperation with the international community and recognized the importance of working with third countries and international organizations to promote economic growth and reconstruction of Ukraine.
Recognizing the outcomes of the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which was held in London last June, both Prime Ministers confirmed the importance to consolidate the international support for Ukraine by highlighting the deliverables of the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction in the preparation of the Ukraine Recovery Conference hosted by Germany scheduled for June this year.
Tokyo, February 19, 2024
Prime Minister of Japan
KISHIDA Fumio
Prime Minister of Ukraine
Denys SHMYHAL