Japan-Belgium Relations

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  • Basic Data


    • Diplomatic Relations:

      Established in 1866 with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce. Belgium actively seeks to strengthen and expand relations with Japan. An extremely close relationship exists between the Japanese imperial family and the Belgian royal family.

    • Japanese Nationals:

      Number of Japanese nationals residing in Belgium: 5,335 (Oct. 2011)

    • Trade with Japan (2013)

      • Exports to Japan: 242,4 billion yen (Medicine, Material of Transport, Diamond, etc.)
      • Imports from Japan: 516,7 billion yen (Material of transport, Machine for construction and for mine, Organic compound etc.)

    • Number of compagnies entering the Market

      • From Japan to Belgium 241
      • From Belgium to Japan 76

    • Friendly twin towns between Japan and Belgium

      • Himeji (Hyogo) --- Charleroi (since 1965)
      • Kanazawa (Ishikawa) --- Gent (since 1971)
      • Komatsu (Ishikawa) --- Vilvoorde (since 1974)
      • Itami (Hyogo) --- Hasselt (since 1985)
      • Nagakute (Aichi) --- Waterloo (since 1992)
      • Hanyu (Saitama) --- Durbuy (since 1994)
      • Hida (Gifu) --- Libin (since 1996)
      • Yuki (Ibaraki) --- Mechelen (since 1996)

    • Diplomatic missions (2014)

      • Ambassador of Japan in Belgium, H.E.Mr. Masafumi Ishii
      • Ambassador of Belgium in Japan, H.E. Mr. Luc Liebaut

  • VIP Visits


    From Japan to Belgium
    1990 His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, Prime Minister Kaifu with his wife, Foreign Minister Nakayama
    1991 Prime Minister Kaifu
    1993 Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress (twice)
    1994 Prime Minister Hata
    1996 Foreign Minister Ikeda
    1997 Foreign Minister Ikeda
    1999 His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and Princess, Former Prime Minister Hashimoto
    2000 Foreign Minister Kono, International Trade and Industry Minister Fukaya, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tamazawa
    2001 Prime Minister Koizumi
    2002 Education and Science Minister Toyama, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi
    2005 Foreign Minister Machimura, Foreign Vice Minister Onodera and Ito
    2006 Foreign Minister Aso, Foreign Vice Minister Iwaya, Minister of State for Regulatory Reform Chuma
    2007 Prime Minister Abe
    2009 Foreign Vice Minister Nishimura
    2010 Prime Minister Kan
    2011 Prime Minister Kan, Foreign Minister Matsumoto, Minister of Financial and Postal Issues Jimi
    2013 Foreign Vice Minister Matsuyama
    2014 Foreign Minister Abe


    From Belgium to Japan
    1990 Their Majesties King Baudouin and the Queen, Deputy Prime Minister Dehaene
    1991 Deputy Prime Minister Claes
    1992 Their Majesties King Baudouin and the Queen, Foreign Minister Claes
    1993 His Royal Highness Prince Albert, Prime Minister Dehaene
    1994 His Royal Highness Prince Philip
    1996 Their Majesties King Albert and Queen, Foreign Minister Derycke
    1997 His Royal Highness Prince Philip
    1998 Deputy Prime Minister Di Rupo
    1999 His Royal Highness Prince Philip
    2000 Their Royal Highness Crown Prince Philip and Princess Mathilde
    2001 Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt
    2002 His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Minister of Finance Reynders
    2003 His Royal Highness Prince Laurent, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, Minister of Development Cooperation Verwilghen
    2005 His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, Foreign Minister De Gucht, Minister of Finance Reynders, Minister of Economy Verwilghen
    2006 Chief of Diffence Van Daele
    2008 Minister for Simplication and administration Van Quickenborne
    2010 Prime Minister Yves Leterme, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Vanackere
    2012 His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minster Reynders
    2013 His Royal Highness Princess Astrid
    2014 His Royal Highness Princess Maria Lora

  • Bilateral Treaties and Agreements


    • 1956: ECHANGE DE NOTES ENTRE LE GOUVERNEMENT DU JAPON ET LE GOUVERNEMENT DE LA BELGIQUE CONSTITUANT UN ARRANGEMENT CONCERNANT L'ABOLITION RECIPROQUE DES VISAS ET TARIFS DE PASSEPORT
    • 1959: ACCORD RELATIF AUX SERVICES AERIENS ENTRE LE JAPON ET LA BELGIQUE
    • 1960: AGREEMENT ON COMMERCE BETWEEN JAPAN ON THE ONE HAND AND THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS AND THE BELGO-LUXEMBURG ECONOMIC UNION ON THE OTHER HAND
    • 1968: CONVENTION BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME
    • 1973: ACCORD CULTUREL ENTRE LE JAPON ET LE ROYAUME DE BELGIQUE
    • 1988: PROTOCOL AMENDING THE CONVENTION BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME (2010: NOT EFFECTED)
    • 2005: AGREEMENT BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM ON SOCIAL SECURITY

  • Cultural Exchanges


    Main cultural events between Belgium and Japan are;

    • 1989 "Europalia" Japan (introducing Japanese art and culture)
    • 1993 Antwerp was nominated as the Cultural Capital of Europe, and events were held to introduce Japanese culture.
    • 2005 Japan-EU people-to-people exchange year were held in the 25 EU contries. In Belgium 74 cultural events took place as a part of this special year.

    In addition to the above, there are many Japanese cultural events held in Belgium, organised by the Japan Foundation and the Embassy of Japan.
    Please see the event calendar in Belgium