Press Advisories

24. 10. 201915:51

Prime Minister Babiš meets the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe

The Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš continued his visit to Japan on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 October. He and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe discussed boosting trade between their two countries, and he also met with representatives from major companies.

On Wednesday Andrej Babiš met the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić. They discussed the situation in Europe, opportunities to extend bilateral relations, and Czech support for integrating the Western Balkan countries into the EU.               

At the Future Expo held at Aomi Hall in Tokyo the Prime Minister visited the Toyota stand, which is investing in the Czech Republic as part of the PSA Group. The Prime Minister was interested to hear Toyota’s plans for further investments in the Czech Republic, including investments into developing alternative fuels.

Today the Czech Prime Minister met the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe. “It was probably the most important meeting I’ve had here. We consider Japan a very important economic partner and investor. There are 266 Japanese companies in the Czech Republic, where they employ around 51,000 people, and there’s great potential for cooperation. Next year we’ll be celebrating the 100th anniversary of opening diplomatic relations. I’ve invited Prime Minister Abe to visit us, and we hope he can come. During this visit we’d like to work out and sign a programme for strategic cooperation,” Andrej Babiš said. Greater cooperation should include introducing Industry 4.0, applications for artificial intelligence and investments in the high-tech sector.

The Czech Prime Minister also visited NEC (Nippon Electric Company). “They’ve got unique facial recognition systems. This technology can be used for instance at airports to speed up the check-in process. They’ve already trialled it in the USA, where they’re working with Delta Airlines. We can cooperate in this field,” Mr Babiš reported afterwards.

During a meeting with Japanese companies that are part of Keidanren, the Japan Business Federation, the discussion mainly concerned greater bilateral cooperation. Companies like Toyota and NEC have their European head offices in London. “I explained that in my view the Czech Republic is the best place to invest, that they could relocate to our country because of Brexit. We’re one of the most stable economies. I also tried to persuade the Japanese side to open direct flights between Tokyo and Prague,” the Prime Minister added.

Today the Prime Minister ended his four-day visit to Japan, where he represented the Czech Republic at Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement ceremony.