Ambassador's Weekly Column
Japan as No.32? (No.30)
On January 26, I went to the Hotel des Finances to sign the Protocole modifying the Convention on Avoidance of Double Taxation between Japan and Belgium, together with the Vice Premier and Minister of Finance Mr. Didier Reynders.
Japan thus became the 32nd country with which Belgium has signed such a protocol which would allow for a better information exchange between the tax authorities of the Parties to the protocol. Belgium is in the process of concluding such protocols with a large number of countries, so even though we are number 32, there seems to be many many more to follow.
I have already reported to you that I have signed a letter modifying the Schedule to our Air Transport Agreement, that time with State Secretary Schouppe. Contrary to that one, the protocol that I have signed needs to be approved by the Diet, in Japan’s case, and unless those necessary domestic procedures are completed in both countries, it will not come into effect.
This was an occasion for me to check the treaty relationship that exists between our two countries. Checking the web page of my Ministry, I have found out the following: Agreement on Visas (1956), Air Transport Agreement (1959), Agreement on Commerce (Japan-Benelux) (1960), Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation (1968), Protocol Amending it (1988), Agreement on Cultural Affairs (1973), Agreement on Social Security (2005). (The titles of these agreements given here are approximations and are not the official ones.)
Of course, both countries are party to many multilateral conventions, which means that we are linked in a dense web of treaty relationship which governs many aspects of our activities.
I will have to skip next week’s column because I will be in Tokyo to attend the conference of Ambassadors sent to Europe. It will be an occasion for me to see and feel first hand how much my country has changed since I left it about 7 months ago while the Liberal Democratic Party was still in power.
27th January 2010
Jun YOKOTA
Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Belgium
