[Title] Japan-Italy Action Plan (2024-2027)
Since the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership in January 2023, Japan and Italy have further strengthened their bilateral cooperation as like-minded countries with shared values and principles. Japan, which held the G7 Presidency in 2023, and Italy, which assumed the G7 Presidency in 2024, will further strengthen their relationship going forward, taking advantage of the momentum generated by their cooperation in the international arena and by their strong leadership for the G7's achievements and commitments.
Both nations underscore the importance of a free and open international order based on the rule of law. With a common recognition that the security of Europe and that of the Indo Pacific are inseparable, and with the shared goal of contributing to the safeguarding of international peace and stability, Japan and Italy will continue to work together to address today's global challenges. Both nations will support Ukraine against Russia's aggression for as long as necessary and firmly oppose any attempt to undermine the principles of the UN Charter. Sharing serious concerns about rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, both nations reiterate the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and both nations emphasize their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion anywhere in the world. Both nations also reiterate the importance of the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions, of the full implementation of all the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and of the immediate resolution of the abductions issue. Both nations will work together to contribute to the prosperity and growth of the African continent and ease the tensions in the Middle East and beyond, through humanitarian aid and resolute support for diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving sustainable political solutions. In the face of today's global challenges, including migration, the governance of Artificial Intelligence, climate change, energy security, and food security, both nations will also continue to promote international cooperation, at the bilateral level and in all relevant multilateral fora.
Based on this common recognition of today's international situation, pursuing concrete cooperation in the following areas between 2024 and 2027, Japan and Italy confirm their commitment to;
1 Diplomacy
(1) Japan-Italy Foreign Ministry Strategic Dialogue
- Institutionalize the consultation mechanism as a yearly "Japan-Italy Foreign Ministry Strategic Dialogue", building on the momentum of the Japan-Italy Vice Foreign Minister - Secretary General Consultations, which have been held consecutively since 2022.
(2) Strengthening of existing consultation frameworks
- Ensure that existing consultation mechanisms, such as the bilateral UN consultations and the bilateral and G7 policy planning dialogues, are employed to their full extent, on a regular basis.
(3) African Development
- Explore ways to contribute to sustainable development and good governance in Africa by sharing information and making use of each country's experience in cooperating with African partners.
- Enhance collaboration based on initiatives such as the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Mattei Plan for Africa.
2 Defense and Security
(1) Politico-Military (PM) Dialogue and Military-to-Military (MM) Dialogue
- Establish a timeframe for regularly holding the PM Dialogue, building on the momentum of the first PM Dialogue held in March 2024.
- Continue to hold the MM Dialogue, which has been held continuously since 2012.
(2) Joint Exercises between Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Italian Armed Forces
- Explore avenues for further bilateral cooperation and joint activities in the field of defense and security, in the context of Italy's increasing engagement in the Indo Pacific, including through port calls in Japan.
(3) Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP)
- Maintain close coordination to ensure the smooth implementation, in a spirit of equal partnership, of the project to develop a next-generation fighter aircraft by 2035 and promote industrial cooperation utilizing the advanced technologies of both nations, taking advantage of the GCAP.
(4) Participation of Japan Air Self-Defense Force Personnel in the Italian Air Force Flight Education Course
- Continue to ensure the participation of Japan Air Self-Defense Force pilots in the Italian Air Force Flight Training Course organized by the International Flight Training School.
3 Economic Resilience and Economic Security
(1) Further Coordination on Economic Resilience and Economic Security
- Building on the relevant G7 commitments, in particular the G7 Leaders' Statement on Economic Resilience and Economic Security of May 20, 2023, and the G7 Leaders' Statement of June 2024, further strengthen bilateral coordination in:
-- upholding the free and open rules-based multilateral trade system with the WTO at its core;
-- addressing economic coercion and non-market policies and practices, such as opaque and harmful industrial subsidies, in line with our respective legal systems and in conformity with the WTO agreements and other relevant international laws;
-- building and enhancing supply chain networks among trusted partners, based on the Principles on resilient and reliable supply chains, namely transparency, diversification, security, sustainability, and trustworthiness and reliability as confirmed by the G7 Leaders in Hiroshima;
-- making coordinated efforts among G7 partners to strengthen the supply chains of strategic goods in terms of both supply and demand;
-- promoting and protecting critical and emerging technologies including efforts to enhance research security and integrity; and
-- enhancing security and resilience in critical infrastructure, through cooperation with like-minded countries, including through efforts within the G7 framework.
(2) Cooperation on Critical Minerals
- Strengthen cooperation and reinforce efforts to build resilient and reliable critical mineral supply chains, needed to make progress toward the clean energy transition, at the bilateral level and through initiatives such as the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement (RISE) partnership.
(3) Cooperation on Semiconductors
- Enhance collaboration on semiconductor technologies, leveraging the respective strengths of both nations.
- Work together to improve the resilience of the semiconductor supply chain through bilateral and international cooperation.
(4) Economic Resilience and Security consultations
- Hold consultations in the field of economic resilience and security on various channels.
4 Economy
(1) Strategic Dialogue in Economy and Industry
- Hold regular economic consultations at Director-General level with the aim of implementing a Strategic Dialogue at Ministerial level, based on the Joint Statement between the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry of Japan and the Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy of the Italian Republic, issued in December 2023.
(2) Further Promotion of Bilateral Investment, Industrial Cooperation and Trade
- Facilitate bilateral investment and trade through the framework of the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and maintain close coordination in its implementation.
- Promote, in particular, cooperation in areas of priority interest for both nations, such as automotive, transportation and mobility, energy and green transition, aerospace, agritech, medicine and pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and other new technologies, including the launch of new projects for Japanese and Italian companies in third countries.
- Strive to improve the investment environment in both nations by implementing a dialogue between the relevant Ministries and institutions of both nations. ➢ Promote cooperation regarding innovation and startups, under a revised Memorandum of Cooperation to be forged between the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).
(3) Deepening and Expanding the Activities of the Italy-Japan Business Group (IJBG)
- Promote cooperation between companies of both nations, with particular regard to the strengthening of industrial partnerships, ensuring high-level attendance at the IJBG General Assembly and meetings by both Japan and Italy.
- Promote business matching through JETRO and ITA to take advantage of the opportunities arising within the IJBG, including startups.
(4) Clean Energy Transition
- Work together to ensure sustainable, inclusive and resilient economic growth and the development of a circular society, through a technologically neutral approach.
- Strengthen Japan-Italy cooperation in the clean energy sector, while supporting the role of natural gas in the path towards clean energy transition, emphasizing the importance of simultaneously achieving net-zero, economic growth, and energy security, while acknowledging various pathways.
(5) Cooperation in the Space Sector
- Promote further cooperation under the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), building on the progress of cooperation in disaster risk management and the CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) on the International Space Station.
- Support further cooperation between the space-related industrial sectors of both nations.
(6) Cooperation in the Textile Industry
- Promote cooperation in the textile industry through exhibitions such as Milano Unica.
(7) Cooperation for EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
- Conduct campaigns in both nations to increase public interest in EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and work together to make the EXPO a success.
5 Cultural and People-to-People Exchange
(1) Arts and Cultural Exchange
- Promote arts and cultural exchange between Italy and Japan, including in contemporary art, building on successful examples such as the Japan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, the Japan Foundation's Japan Cultural Institute in Rome and the Italian Cultural Institutes in Tokyo and Osaka.
- Take advantage of the entry into force of the Japan-Italy Film Co-Production Agreement and use it to further promote the appeal of both nations and foster people to-people exchange.
(2) Implementing the Japan-Italy Working Holiday Agreement
- Ensure a prompt entry into force of the Japan-Italy Working Holiday Agreement and promote youth exchange utilizing the Agreement.
(3) Promoting Cooperation in the Field of Tourism
- Further enhance opportunities to exchange views in the field of tourism and strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors, by taking advantage of the direct flight service between Japan and Italy.
(4) Cooperation on the Conservation of Cultural Heritage
- Strengthen cooperation on inscription and on the protection of UNESCO World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage and enhance bilateral collaboration in the field of conservation of cultural heritage.
(5) Sports Exchange
- Promote sports exchange between Japan and Italy, taking advantage of the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
6 Cooperation in Academic, Scientific and Technical Fields
(1) Academic and research exchange and joint research projects
- Promote and support cooperation activities based on new and existing technical arrangements between Japanese and Italian academic institutions and research centers, in the context of the Agreement between Japan and Italy on Cooperation in Science and Technology, signed in 1988, and of the bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation in the fields of Scientific and Technological Research, signed in 2023.
- Welcome the two joint research collaborations decided by the competent Ministries and research institutions, related to energy storage technologies and gravitational waves, with a view to beginning research activities within the end of 2024.
- Further develop joint bilateral and multilateral research projects, mutual learning exercises, academic and research exchange and mobility programs, and networking opportunities for researchers and experts.
(2) Mutual Exchange between Institutions of Higher Education
- Introduce Japanese/Italian culture and promote Japanese/Italian language education in higher education institutions.
- Encourage intellectual exchange and cooperation between the two nations in the fields of common interest, such as social and natural sciences.
(3) Promoting Cooperation in the Field of Long Span Bridges
- Promote bilateral technical cooperation in the field of the construction, operation and maintenance of long span bridges to support the implementation of infrastructural projects in both nations.
7 Food and Agriculture
(1) Expanding Food-Related Exchange
- Strengthen the promotion of the diverse food cultures of both nations and support agritourism and agribusiness in both nations.
(2) Strengthening Collaboration on Import/Export of Agricultural Products
- Promote the further expansion of imports and exports by ensuring the full implementation of the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.
(3) Geographical Indications
- Strengthen collaboration in taking appropriate measures to protect geographical indications in both nations, in the framework of the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.
14th June 2024