Japan to ease visa rules for Georgia
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono: “Japan regards Georgia as an important partner." Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
Japan has decided to ease visa requirements for Georgian citizens to promote people to people connections and deepen relations between the two countries.
Foreign Affairs Minister of Japan Taro Kono announced the initiative at a joint press conference with Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani in Tbilisi today.
The ministers commented on several other issues discussed at the meeting.
“Japan regards Georgia as an important partner, we share fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. During the meeting with Minister Zalkaliani we discussed how Japan and Georgia can cooperate more closely to advance our bilateral relations."
"For example, Japan plans to cooperate with Georgia in fostering young diplomats, lawyers and other experts who are key players in state building through people to people exchanges. Japan has also decided to ease visa requirements for nationals of Georgia,” underlined Taro Kono and stressed that his first visit to Georgia will strengthen relations between the two countries.
He also said that an agreement concerning a bilateral investment treaty between Japan and Georgia had been reached.
Kono and Zalkaliani also discussed Japan’s Caucasus initiative, with includes two key points:
- Assistance for human resource development for state building
- Support for infrastructure and business environment improvement
“The Caucasus region is a gateway connecting Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Stability in the Caucasus is not only a matter of concern at a regional level, but essential for peace and security of the international society as the whole,” Kono stated, explaining the reason behind the Japanese government’s special approach to the Caucasus region.
Japan will also allocate about $343 million to help Georgia develop its major transport artery, the East-West Highway. The agreement was signed today.
Import procedures for Georgian wines to Japan will be simplified, announces the Georgian National Wine Agency.
The Foreign Ministries of Germany, Japan and Denmark joined the world countries which have commemorated the Russia-Georgia 2008 war and condemned Russia’s illegal actions on historic Georgian lands.The German Foreign Ministry reports that the Federal Republic of Germany supports Georgia’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
The Japanese government and the corporation Mitsubishi have gifted 96 hybrid and electric cars to Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. In his speech delivered today at a special ceremony in Tbilisi, Kvirikashvili thanked the Japanese government, the Embassy of Japan to Georgia and the Mitsubishi corporation for the "very significant” gift.
Thousands of dollars has been allocated by the Embassy of Japan in Georgia to improve the lives and living conditions of vulnerable people in Georgia’s regions.
Georgia is ready to start negotiations with Japan on a free trade agreement, Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze announced at a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Japan Taro Kono yesterday.
Bakhtadze says the agreement would help Georgia, which already has free trade deals with the EU, EFTA and China, to better integrate into the global economy.
The Japanese government has allocated funds to clear territory near the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region of explosive debris and mines that remain from the Russia-Georgia 2008 War.
Georgia and Bahrain are easing visa requirements, supporting political-economic relations and boosting tourism ties, announces the Foreign Ministry of Georgia.
/free-trade-deal-with-uk.jpg)
The government of Japan has signed four agreements with Georgia today to finance three green policy and one demining projects, the total cost of which is $293,264.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, who is visiting Japan, says that the signing of a bilateral investment deal between Georgia and Japan in the future will further encourage economic relations between the two countries.
The Embassy of Japan to Georgia has gifted Japanese cherry (Sakura) saplings to different Georgian universities today. Georgian Minister of Education Mikheil Chkhenkeli, rector of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), George Shervashidze and Japanese Ambassador to Georgia, Tadaharu Uehara have planted some of the saplings in the inner yard of the 1st building of TSU.